This post is part of the initiative “100 cities to home swap before you die” from Knok.com
Best Kept Secret – Wollongong City
There are many places in Australia that could be called “Best Kept Secret” yet I am not able to talk about them all!!! There would be far too many because we are such a vast and varied country. For the moment this is our New Backyard!
But I still think that Wollongong City is the Best Kept Secret, where too few people stay for longer periods of time to explore all there is.
Can you keep a secret because this is between you and I ~ here is what you will find in and around Wollongong City::
There are 17 Patrolled Beaches and 9 Public Pools between Stanwell Park and Windang,
Over 15 Restaurants in the inner city (too many to mention but here are a few)….Harbour Front Restaurant, Windjammers Restaurant, The Anchorage Restaurant, Michale’s Trattoria, OneOne2 Rydges Wollongong…and the list could go on.
Tours ::
If you are wanting to explore the tourist attractions there are Bicycle Tours, Canoe Tours, Illawarra Fly Treetop, Jamberoo Action Park, or even Skydiving.
For those wanting to explore the surrounding Illawarra there are over 40 Fantastic Walks waiting in the coastal and hinterlands. Also National Parks, Lookouts Falls, Rainforests, Trails, Reserves, Lagoons, Lighthouses and so much more.
Wollongong city name is an Aboriginal Word meaning “The Sound of the Sea”. Which is so fitting because there seems to be so much water where ever you go!
Wollongong Harbour
Walking up to the Flagstaff Hill you will see three Cannons in a row. They were set there to protect the harbour in the late 1860’s. There is also the Breakwater Lighthouse which is still in operation.
There is evidence of the Cramped Stockade where in 1834, 300 Convicts were housed while constructing the first harbour in Wollongong. This led to the area being called Stockade Point.
Near the Cannons are steps down to a plaque where you will find information about the Coke Ovens which are buried beneath the ground.
You will find this and so much more when walking along the easy 5Km walk of the inner Wollongong Harbour. Its an easy walk and suitable in all weather, mind you because you are close to the ocean it gets very windy and you it be ideal to bring a jacket!
Driving
The Gong location is ideal because you are an easy 30 minutes drive to Kiama. Where they have the Famous Kiama Blow Hole, and the Little Blow Hole.
If you are wanting to explore more out of the area and have a car then you could explore Shellharbour, Berry – Famous for its Donuts, Nowra, Bowral, Moss Vale, Bundanoon, or even drive further south to Jervis Bay, Ulladulla or gorgeous Batemans Bay.
The Gong is 80 KM south of Sydney, an easy train ride. On a Sunday the transport system has a great deal – $2.50 tickets which allow you to travel on Trains, Buses, Ferries for the one price. That is the beauty of travelling slowly around Australia – finding the best places to explore and finding out how to get to them.
Inner City ::
In the City of Wollongong you will find Art in the Park, Autumn Food Gardens Workshop, Grapple in the Gong at Yours and Owls, Friday Markets (in the City Centre), School Holiday Programs, Ratatouille Ratbagz – Kids Cooking Classes, Vintage Bazzar, High Tea at Seacliff Restaurant not to mention the life performances from Bands and live theatre shows.
There is also the Nan Tien Buddhist Temple where they provide weekend retreats, vegetarian cooking classes, meditation and T’ai Chi. Lets not forget the Art Gallery, Museums, Libraries, Surf Life Savers Clubs, Science Centre, Sports Clubs, The Australian Motorlife Museum,Cafe’s and Boutique Stores…catering for everyone’s taste.
Lets not forget the awe inspiring lookouts :: Mount Kiera lookout, Sublime Point and Bulli Pass Lookout, Bald Hill, Hill 60 and Sea Cliff Bridge lookout. Where you can see from high above all that the “Gong” has to offer.
The Best Kept Secret is now out of the Bag! Wollongong City is a slice of Australia, only a small slice of all that is on offer, yet is one that I highly recommend you stop in for awhile, take the time to explore.
Discover for yourself what will become your favourite….will it be the Harbour Walk, or the Restaurants, the Lookouts or even the bush walks? Since we have been here we would have to say Hill 60 is high up on must see list due to its glorious views, or Mount Kiera where you can read the Love Lockets, see all of Wollongong and explore the walking tracks.
Wollongong City is the Best Kept Secret.
Have You Explored The Area?
If so What Do You Recommend As A Must See?
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Thanking you Knok for letting me part of your great project ~ it was good to reflect back on why we love Wollongong 🙂
Cheers
Lisa
New Life on the Road.
If you enjoy bush walking Mt Keira and Mt Kembla are lovely and the look outs are pretty. Minnamurra Falls are lovely as well.
I hope you enjoyed your visit in my city. 🙂
We have been to Mt Keira to the lookout but yet to do the walk 🙂
I sure want to do some bush walking – just need to work out a great weekend when its not raining!!!
And we are really enjoying all Wollongong has to offer. Thanks Bec.
Oh dear, I whizz right through Wollongong on a regular basis… but think there’s a seminar there later in the year which I plan to go to. That’ll be a chance to explore. Must stay in that Buddhist Temple one day, must and shall!
Seana – Sydney, Kids, Food + Travel recently posted..When To Climb Sydney Harbour Bridge And Why – Our Family Story and Review
I so want to go the Buddhist Temple one day soon, never seem to find the right time!
You will so love Wollongong – its really pretty, and the beaches are stunning 🙂
Well who would have thought, you have found so many treasures and shared them so vividly especially all the beaches and pools (I won’t be swimming over here for a while lol ).
I have many black and white photos of myself and my brothers as children often sitting on statues, they are priceless. Treasured memories you are creating for the family xxx love to the gang x
Its been so good to discover the best of the best in Wollongong and we are connecting with some amazing families through homeschooling groups.
Yeah I wouldn’t be swimming over there anytime soon!!!
Take care – love sent right back to you guys. Love following your journey. xxx