Beachfront bliss meets elevated comfort at this sleek coastal stay that balances location, views and refined dining in equal measure.
Novotel Wollongong Northbeach is a modern coastal escape that practically dips its toes in the Pacific. Set opposite one of the Illawarra’s best stretches of sand, this contemporary hotel brings together breezy design, sweeping views and elevated dining. Whether you’re here for a relaxing weekend, a family getaway or a work trip, this laid-back yet luxurious spot invites you to slow down, take in the view and let the sea air do the rest.
From oceanfront suites and sunset cocktails to slow mornings and standout dining, Novotel Wollongong Northbeach delivers all the luxe coastal vibes.
The location
It doesn’t get much closer to the beach than this. (Image: Emily Murphy)
It doesn’t get much closer to the ocean than this. Novotel Wollongong Northbeach is perched directly across the road from North Wollongong Beach on Dharawal Country, with uninterrupted views over the Pacific. Just a short drive or 15-minute walk from Wollongong CBD, the hotel is well-placed for both seaside serenity and urban convenience. Directly opposite the sand, it’s also an easy base for beach walks, surfing or simply lazing by the shore.
Style and character
The hotel is a coastal classic. (Image: Emily Murphy)
While the Novotel is part of a global hotel group, this particular outpost feels like its own coastal classic. A multi-million-dollar refurbishment in 2021 has transformed it into a sleek, contemporary stay with soft seaside tones, plush furnishings and curated finishes that make the most of its beachside location. Large windows and balconies invite the ocean in, while subtle nods to coastal living, like timber panelling, nautical blues and sandy beiges, enhance the relaxed aesthetic. It’s polished without being pretentious and perfectly pitched for both leisure and business travellers.
Facilities
Adrift Pool Bar is a summer hotspot. (Image: Emily Murphy)
The hotel is generously equipped with all the essentials and a few elevated extras. There’s a compact fitness centre, a swimming pool, an onsite convenience store and beach towels available at reception. With over a dozen event spaces including ballrooms, boardrooms and outdoor terraces, it’s also a popular wedding and conference destination. Parking is available onsite and reception is open 24/7.
Rooms
The panorama suite is true to its name. (Image: Emily Murphy)
There are 209 rooms and suites at Novotel Wollongong Northbeach, ranging from coastal-view standard rooms to sweeping top-floor suites. I stayed in the panorama suite (room 1002) on the 10th floor and can confirm it lives up to its name. Floor-to-ceiling glass doors open onto a wraparound balcony with panoramic views of the ocean, and a freestanding bathtub positioned by the bedroom window offers a luxuriously uninterrupted view of the coastline below.
Relax in the freestanding tub. (Image: Emily Murphy)
While the bathroom is a little dated, the living area is roomy and comfortable with couches and a dining table, there’s a coffee pod machine and two non-smart TVs – but honestly, the real entertainment is the view.
Food and drink
North Bar is the place for creative small plates and cocktails. (Image: Emily Murphy)
Dining is a highlight here, with five venues onsite. North Bar is the place for creative small plates and cocktails in a chic, coastal-inspired setting. I started with Sydney rock oysters, followed by prawn and lobster rolls and juicy pork and garlic chive dumplings.
For something more refined, Palisade Kitchen & Bar offers elevated modern Australian fare with a focus on fresh seafood and local produce. The charcuterie board set the tone, but the standout was the seared yellowfin tuna with white soy dashi, charred mandarin, nori paste and rice crackers – a dish that felt as artful as it was flavourful.
The pan-fried Spring Creek barramundi is delicious. (Image: Emily Murphy)
Other highlights included grilled Spencer Gulf king prawns with miso garlic butter and yuzu sesame, and pan-fried Spring Creek barramundi with kipfler potatoes, beurre blanc and shaved fennel. I finished with a decadent Biscoff and ricotta New York-style baked cheesecake.
Access for guests with disabilities?
Yes, there are accessible rooms available featuring roll-in showers, lowered amenities and wider doorways. The main areas of the hotel, including reception, lifts, restaurants and event spaces, are wheelchair accessible, with staff available to assist as needed. There are also accessible parking spaces near the entrance.
Family-friendly?
Absolutely. The hotel offers family rooms and interconnecting rooms, and there’s a kids’ menu available at both North Bar and Palisade. The beachfront location makes it easy for little ones to play by the sea, and the staff are welcoming to guests of all ages.
Details
Best for: Couples, weekenders and anyone who wants ocean views with elevated dining.
Address: 2-14 Cliff Rd, North Wollongong, NSW
Cost: From around $270 per night for a standard room.
Emily Murphy is Australian Traveller's Email & Social Editor, and in her time at the company she has been instrumental in shaping its social media and email presence, and crafting compelling narratives that inspire others to explore Australia's vast landscapes. Her previous role was a journalist at Prime Creative Media and before that she was freelancing in publishing, content creation and digital marketing. When she's not creating scroll-stopping travel content, Em is a devoted 'bun mum' and enjoys spending her spare time by the sea, reading, binge-watching a good TV show and exploring Sydney's vibrant dining scene. Next on her Aussie travel wish list? Tasmania and The Kimberley.
NSW’s beach towns take on a new kind of magic when the cooler months hit.
Autumn and winter cast a whole new light on the New South Wales coastline. The sun hangs lower, the shadows stretch longer and the air is crisp and fresh. The frenetic summer crowds are gone, and the rhythm slows to the pace of a leisurely winter bush walk through still, damp quiet. From wineries pouring winter reds to the annual whale migration up the ‘humpback highway’, here’s why winter on the New South Wales coast is better.
Winter on the NSW South Coast
Winter down south means misty dawns, sipping a flat white on the beach. The thrill of a whale spotting from the headlands and evenings spent slowly savouring Shoalhaven’s wines by the fire.
Start in Kiama, where waves crash into the famous Blowholes. This natural spectacle is achieved when underground pressure and swell unite, sending sea spray soaring above the basalt cliffs. This means, due to larger waves, you’re even more likely to see an explosive display in winter.
See Kiama’s blowholes in full force. (Image: Destination NSW)
Inland, the Minnamurra Rainforest Walk in Budderoo National Park is all subtropical forest and trilling lyrebird song. Make sure to walk silently along the elevated boardwalks, past winter-swelled creeks and the tangled roots of fig trees. You might just hear one of the musically talented birds mimicking your footsteps.
Feeling adventurous? Book a session at Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventures for a wobbly walk through the canopy on Australia’s highest zipline.
Walk among the tallest trees. (Image: Destination NSW)
Next, it’s time to take the speed down a notch with a drive over to the historic village of Berry. It’s been a beloved stop for generations of Sydneysiders heading south, as has the obligatory stop at its famous doughnut van for crisped, cinnamon goodness. If you’re ready for something a little more chunky, stroll right past the boutiques (okay, go on, just one quick peek) to Milkwood Bakery . Their flaky pastries and all-day breakfasts are best enjoyed under cream-coloured fringed umbrellas.
Back in Kiama, you’ll also find modern Middle Eastern share plates at Miss Arda , and next-level burgers on The Hungry Monkey ‘s extensive menu: an ode to everything pattie-shaped.
End the day at The Sebel Kiama on the harbour. The apartment-style rooms come with full cooking facilities — a welcome addition for families looking to test out the local produce they picked up along the way. Including, but not limited to, vintages from nearby Crooked River Wines .
Sleep by the harbour.
Winter on the Mid-North Coast
A trip up north is a gentle one at this time of year. You’ll still feel that sunshine warming your shoulders, but the lower temperatures make space for rainforest walks, vineyard lunches and long coastal hikes. All without that pesky humidity.
First stop? It has to be the town of Port Macquarie. Start by marking out a stretch of the nine-kilometre coastal walk you want to tackle (or do the whole thing), which winds from Town Beach to the lighthouse along rugged headlands and quiet beaches. Hot tip: binoculars. Don’t forget them if you want to partake in some close-up sightings of dolphin pods or whales migrating up the ‘humpback highway’.
Wander the Port Macquarie Coastal Walk. (Image: Destination NSW)
Swap sea for canopy at the Sea Acres Rainforest Boardwalk , one of the last remaining pockets of coastal rainforest in the state. The accessible elevated trail passes under climbing ferns and tangled strangler figs, and is alive with scarlet robins, goannas and diamond pythons – if you’re lucky, you might see one slipping through the leaf litter.
Afterwards, lunch is sorted at Cassegrain Wines , where crisp whites and elegant reds are grown using a blend of French winemaking tradition and Australian innovation. After a tasting, saddle up for a horse ride through the estate.
Meet Koala Hospital inhabitants at their temporary home. (Image: Destination NSW)
The beloved Koala Hospital is rebuilding, so meet its furry patients in their temporary bushland abode at Guulabaa – Place of Koala . Here, you can see rehabilitation up close and learn how one of Australia’s most iconic animals is being carefully rewilded and protected.
Back in town, Whalebone Wharf serves up fine dining with serious views to go with your oysters. Prefer something breezier? Bills Fishhouse + Bar does everything from blue swimmer crab toast to zucchini noodles drizzled in basil and wattleseed pesto. Down by the waterfront, Little Shack slings ceviche, mushroom burgers and fish tacos with casual aplomb.
At the end of it all, check in to Mercure Centro Port Macquarie , right in the heart of town. From here, everything’s walkable. Just park the car, pop your keys in your pocket, and stroll down to the beach.
Check in to Mercure Centro Port Macquarie.
Winter on the Central Coast
On the Central Coast, expect to explore oyster farms that sit on estuaries, beaches that stretch empty for miles, and the kind of surprise sightings of whale sprays that can stop a hiker in their tracks.
The best way to settle into this slower rhythm is with the Bouddi Coastal Walk , an 8.5km trail that dips through rainforest and eroding cliffs. It’s made for unhurried walkers and long-lens photographers.
Up the coast in Terrigal, it’s prime time to spot humpbacks on the move. Join a cruise or find your own perch — Crackneck Lookout and Norah Head Lighthouse are both local favourites.
Travelling with kids? It would be sacrilege not to visit the Australian Reptile Park . Here, Elvis the saltwater crocodile reigns supreme, and the venomous snake talk somehow manages to be simultaneously terrifying and fascinating.
If that isn’t enough to wear them out, zip and climb your way through Treetops Adventure Central Coast , a ropes course in the canopy of Ourimbah State Forest. Afterwards, steady your nerves with a garden tasting at Firescreek Botanical Winery , where fruit- and flower-infused wines are served under the trees.
Switch earth for sea and hop on a boat tour with Broken Bay Pearl Farm . Once you’re out on the water, you’ll learn how pearls are cultivated and have a hands-on lesson in grading and shucking.
Get a hands-on pearl lesson. (Image: Destination NSW)
As the day winds down, grab a seat at Yellowtail in Terrigal , which takes seasonal native produce and presents it with Asian flair. Prefer something simple? Award-winning Mount White restaurant Saddles is a quintessential Australian dining destination. Find an impressive breakfast and lunch menu, dedicated to country-style cooking and seasonal produce.
Stay the night at Pullman Magenta Shores , between the ocean and the lake. There are plenty of ways to relax, with a massage at the day spa, a poolside beanbag and a round or two at the golf course.
Eat well at Pullman Magenta Shores’ restaurant. (Image: Destination NSW)
Winter in Wollongong
Wollongong does contrast pretty well. One moment you’re walking beneath an enormous Buddha, the next you’re ordering soju a few blocks from the surf. It’s a town where skydivers land on beaches, trails lead to paddocks and winter days stretch long and clear beneath the Illawarra cliffs.
If you’re coming from the north, start by crossing over the Sea Cliff Bridge. Curving dramatically out like a jutting ‘C’ out above the water means you won’t be able to resist pulling over (safely, in designated lookouts) to gaze down at the waves crashing on the cliffs below.
Just inland is the serenity of the Nan Tien Temple , the largest Buddhist temple in the Southern Hemisphere. You can trace the prayer path, explore the temple gardens and sip delectable Kam Quat Tea in the quiet light at the Dew Drop Inn Tea House.
Learn about Buddhist practices. (Image: Destination NSW)
Next, dust off that cowboy hat. It’s time for the Darkes Forest Riding Ranch . Take a guided canter via trail rides among peppermint gums and paddocks. If you’re happier to look at animals than ride them, Symbio Wildlife Park has red pandas dozing in trees, kangaroos that hop up to you and lessons on conservation.
The brave among you shouldn’t miss Skydive Australia – Wollongong . A free fall over the coast via tandem jumps before tumbling down to the sand is a breath-stopping thrill. Prefer to keep your feet on the ground? Check out the program at Wollongong Art Gallery , which delivers contemporary and Aboriginal exhibitions in the centre of town.
Hang out with the locals at Symbio Wildlife Park.(Image: Destination NSW)
As evening settles in, nab a table at Baby Face Kitchen . It has an ever-changing set menu, with dishes like hand-picked mud crab with white asparagus and salty brown butter, to sheep’s milk and honey ice cream. For something more casual, Dagwood Bar + Kitchen brings the fun with Korean fried chicken, sake cocktails and weekly all-you-can-eat bao buns.
Check in to Novotel Wollongong Northbeach , right by the sand. With a beachfront pool and ocean views, it’s an ideal base for whatever pace you choose.
