Wollongong's Best Beaches And Swimming Spots

There are a lot of great places to swim in Wollongong, making it one of NSW’s greatest seaside cities

From sun-drenched sea pools to long, sandy beaches where you can surf or swim under a wide-open sky, here is the ultimate guide to the best beaches and swimming spots in Wollongong and the Illawarra.

In short

Choose Windang Beach for the win if you are in Wollongong with the family. Set at the entrance to Lake Illawarra, this gentle curve of sand is backed by a large grassy foreshore with playgrounds, barbecues and shaded picnic areas. Families can also pitch their tent at Windang Beach Tourist Park, one of the best places to camp in Wollongong.

Austinmer Beach

Best for: Families looking for patrolled beaches and dog owners drawn to the off-leash Little Austinmer Beach

This compact stretch of sand is bracketed between two headlands, giving it a sheltered, village-like feel. The beach is patrolled during summer, and there are two rock pools for those looking for a chill swim. When you’re done, wander up to the Headlands Austinmer Beach hotel for a well-earned brew with a view. It’s a great local pub and one we’ve featured in our best bars and pubs in Wollongong guide.

Coledale Beach

Best for: Families who want the option to pull the pin if things go pear-shaped

Patrolled year-round, Coledale Beach ranks as one of the most versatile Wollongong swim spots. Families set up here to play Frisbee and French cricket. The small campground at the southern end of the beach has views of the crashing waves, which adds to the holiday feel. The beach is a popular spot for surfers as it offers consistent right and left-hand breaks. It’s also home to Rosie’s one of the best places for fish and chips in Australia.

Thirroul Beach

surfing at Thirroul — Hit the waves at Thirroul Beach. (Credit: Destination NSW)

Best for: Surfers, lap swimmers and holidaymakers flitting between the beach and the local cafes

The wind-whipped one-kilometre-long Thirroul Beach picks up swell from most directions. It’s a popular spot for surfers and day-trippers from Sydney who set up camp near the sandy seafront and make the most of a day dipping in and out of the sea. Swimmers gravitate to the Art Deco Olympic Pool, built in the 1930s, where backstroke laps come with uninterrupted views of the Illawarra Escarpment.

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Windang Beach

Best for: Young families and picnickers

Windang Beach is where Lake Illawarra meets the sea. This gentle curve of sand at the entrance to Lake Illawarra, some 15 kilometres south of Wollongong’s CBD, is a popular spot with families. There is a large foreshore park with a playground, barbecues, and covered picnic areas. The beach also has great views over the famous Five Islands off the Wollongong coastline. It’s one of the best places to swim in Wollongong on a sunny day.

Stanwell Park Beach

Best for: Families who want space and seasoned surfers

Stanwell Tops is well known as a place for hang-gliding and paragliding. Take in the views from Lawrence Hargrave Lookout, which offers panoramic views of the coastline, before corkscrewing down to the base of the cliffs. That’s where you will find Stanwell Park Beach , a sheltered cove popular with families who cluster near the barbecues in the park. The scenic Wollongong swim spot is also popular with surfers due to the shifting beach break that works best in an east or northeast swell.

Sandon Point

Best for:  Surfers – both first-timers learning to surf and experienced swell chasers

Sandon Point is an exposed point break prized for its clean, consistent waves, particularly through winter. When the swell eases, micro grommets beeline into the shallows at Sandon, often guided onto their first waves by the instructors at Happy Days Surf School or Pines Surfing Academy . It’s one of the best things to do in Wollongong. The beach sweeps for 900 metres between Bulli and Waniora points, so there’s plenty of space for swimmers to spread out on busy days.

Wollongong City Beach

the Wollongong Head Flagstaff Lighthouse — The majestic Wollongong Head Flagstaff Lighthouse overlooks the Tasman Sea. (Credit: Destination NSW)

Best for: Families who want an easy day at the beach with playgrounds, rock pools and cafes close by

Wollongong City Beach is one of the city’s most popular beaches. The broad beach that fronts the city curls 3.1 kilometres from Flagstaff Point to the Port Kembla seawall. It’s the city’s most central swimming spot and it’s backed by a foreshore reserve stubbled with coastal grasses. Head to the northern end of the beach in low tide to check for treasures in the rock pools. The beach is adjacent to a park with a playground and picnic tables.

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Woonona Beach

Best for: Cyclists, surfers and lap swimmers

Ride your bike along the Wollongong shared cycleway to check the surf, which works best at the northen end on a northeast swell. Woonona Beach also has a handsome 50-metre pool with diving blocks and a historic Art Deco pavilion. BYO goggles and hedge your bets between a calm lap swim or open-water adventure, before refuelling at one of the local restaurants.

Coalcliff Beach

Best for: Families and those in need of a protected swimming spot

Coalcliff Beach is another coveted spot for families. Whether you’re looking for a calm stretch of sand to build a castle or a sheltered place to swim, the small beach feels protected and intimate. The beach in the northern suburbs of Wollongong is surrounded by craggy cliffs and rock platforms, which make it a popular fishing spot. Swimmers also seek out the beautiful ocean pool tucked beneath the cliffs where dense emerald-green bushland spills down to the sea.

Port Kembla Beach

Best for: Lap swimmers and families with small children

Port Kembla Beach stretches for about 6.6 kilometres, making it popular with joggers who love to run barefoot. We love this beach for its dinky dressing sheds, which were constructed in 1912, and its Olympic-sized pool carved into the northern corner of the cliff face. All up, there are three pools: a toddler’s pool, paddling pool and slightly deeper kiddies pool.  The beach is one of the best places to swim in Wollongong with kids. it is only 11 kilometres from Wollongong’s CBD.

Bulli Rock Pool

Best for: Lap swimmers partial to a sunrise dip

Word has well and truly spread about just how good the lifestyle is in Wollongong and the Illawarra. Kick off your day with a few laps at the Bulli Rock Pool where you are bound to meet smug sea-changers. Ask them about their new lifestyle and they will happily tell you they haven’t looked back since shrugging off their big-city stresses. You will want to join them after a few lazy laps in the 50-metre pool, which dates back to the 1930s.

Bellambi Beach

Best for: Early risers and swimmers of mixed ability

Bellambi has a rock pool set into the southern rock shelf of the two-kilometre-long beach, which is a popular spot for swimming, surfing and fishing off the boat ramp. Hire a bike and cycle along the shared pathway, which makes the beach accessible from Wollongong. A small creek runs along the back of the beach and there are a few cafes nearby. Come to the beach early when there is zero swell to see the sunrise and start the day with a refreshing dip.

Discover the magic of a Sydney staycation in summer at The Fullerton Hotel Sydney.

Sydney City is magical in summer. Warm summer evenings beg to be spent sipping cool cocktails at one of many al fresco and rooftop bars. Ferries and buses are ready to transport travellers to the best nearby beaches for salty days on the sand. National parks and rainforests are waiting to be explored. And the city’s events calendar is packed, from live music to cultural attractions. All elements that call for a Sydney staycation.

Discover where to eat, stay and play for the perfect local getaway.

Where to stay

The Fullerton Hotel Sydney

Amid the bustle of the perfect Sydney staycation, one needs a place to escape to and recharge. Enter, The Fullerton Hotel Sydney . The hotel is an icon in its own right – nestled inside the 151-year-old building that was originally Sydney’s General Post Office, its heritage-listed sandstone walls and Victorian renaissance grandeur have been carefully preserved – providing a rare chance to sleep within Sydney’s history.

Despite its fascinating history, the hotel isn’t short on modern, luxurious comforts. Rooms and suites are available in both the modern high-rise with gorgeous views over the clock tower and lively city below, or inside the historical post office building itself.

the Fullerton Hotel Sydney Heritage Long Suite bathroom — Heritage rooms maintain their old-world style.

Either way, guests can enjoy sophisticated touches, including a deluxe bed and pillow menu, Harman Kardon Bluetooth speakers, a digital concierge, a Vittoria coffee machine and amenities from the Balmain bathroom collection.

The team at this five-star hotel provides excellence and a quality experience for all their guests, while amenities like a gym help with a well-rounded stay. For a peaceful moment with sweeping city views, enter The Fullerton Club Lounge on level 28. This private haven for dining and relaxation is available to any guests staying on the hotel’s club floors and suites.

Add to this a central location in the CBD’s Martin Place, with easy access to Sydney’s top attractions, and convenience meets style.

Where to drink & dine

1. The Bar

the Fullerton Hotel afternoon tea at the bar — Indulge in the Fullerton Signature Afternoon Tea.

Inside The Fullerton Hotel Sydney’s lobby, The Bar does more than sling a few delicious cocktails (although it certainly does that well). Its brown leather chairs and glass ceiling create the perfect, almost al fresco, setting for the Fullerton Signature Afternoon Tea .

Served daily from 12 to 4 pm, the afternoon tea is a nod to the cherished social occasion it once was during the Victorian Renaissance era. People like to dress up for this afternoon tea, and if you’re lucky, a pianist often sits down at the on-site grand piano, just adding to the elegance.

The afternoon tea is served high tea style, offering reimagined British flavours of the Victorian Renaissance era with a unique blend of Australia’s culinary heritage. A sweet layer offers delights like a Malted Milk Envelope (a milk mousse layered between two biscuits), Bakewell Pudding (a super tasty egg-based pudding), and Apple Charlotte.

On the savoury layer, expect finger sandwiches with fillings like cucumber, egg and smoked salmon. While classic pinwheels and stuffed eggs almost make the menu. And, of course, all finished off with traditional scones served with cream and mixed berry jam.

Can’t fit in a whole afternoon tea? Be sure to at least order a slice of the 32-layered chocolate cake, a decadent mix of dark chocolate crémeux, fresh whipped cream, and Valrhona Azélia chocolate sauce. ⁣

2. The Place

the Fullerton Hotel the place dining — Dine in the stunning GPO atrium.

On level one of The Fullerton Hotel Sydney lives The Place – the hotel’s restaurant, in an atrium overlooking the former GPO. Here, dine on Modern Australian cuisine – think fresh, local seafood and a Riverina steak sandwich – along with a touch of Singaporean signature dishes, like Thai-style green curry or chicken satay. All in the shadow of the GPO clock tower, enjoying the GPO atrium’s natural light.

3. Local gelato

Couple enjoying ice-creams at First Fleet Park, The Rocks — Enjoy ice cream in the sunshine. (Image: Destination NSW)

What is summer without ice cream and/or gelato? Luckily, there are plenty of options just a short walk from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, whether you’re craving a midday pick-me-up or an after-sun treat.

What to do/see

1. GPO Heritage Tour

the Fullerton Hotel Sydney lobby — Be awed by the building’s history.

Want to know more about the building you’re staying in? The Fullerton Hotel Sydney offers a complimentary 90-minute GPO Heritage Tour. Follow a knowledgeable tour guide to discover the stories, tales and legends of the former Sydney General Post Office building.

From the iconic clock tower (completed in 1891) to the black-and-white tiled staircase at 1 Martin Place, which was once the main entrance to the GPO and today serves as a prominent feature of the building to the 24 stone faces (mascarons) on the Martin Place side of the building. Part of the 1880s-era facade (designed by architect James Barnet), each represents different states, countries and continents.

2. Circular Quay

aerial of circular quay sydney — Catch a ferry from Circular Quay. (Image: Destination NSW)

An easy walk or light rail ride away from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, lies the bustling Circular Quay. Here, you can sit for a drink and nibbles at the Opera Bar, or head into the iconic house itself for a show. It’s also a major ferry port, becoming your gateway to Sydney’s beaches, Luna Park and even Sydney Zoo.

3. Royal Botanic Gardens

view of circular quay from Sydney's Royal Botanic Garden — Wander through Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden. (Image: Destination NSW)

Just beyond Circular Quay, discover Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden. Wander through this 30-hectare, heritage-listed, botanical garden – exploring its differing sections, from Australian native botanicals to garden beds of vibrant flowers to towering groves of international trees.

It’s also the perfect place for a picnic, so pick up supplies before you come and enjoy a spot on the grassy meadow looking out into the harbour.

4. Theatre Royal

Just a one-minute walk from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, take in a show at Theatre Royal. Built in 1976, the theatre has been offering a broad range of entertainment since the 1990s. Expect a show roster that ranges from the classics (like Cats) to the modern) like Pretty Woman: The Musical).

Start planning a summer stay in Sydney worth remembering at fullertonhotels.com/fullerton-hotel-sydney.

The best beaches and swimming spots in Wollongong and the Illawarra