Wollongong Day Trip Itinerary (with Kids!)
Summer holidays offer the perfect opportunity to escape the hectic Sydney CBD and explore the calm of the South Coast. Our most recent adventure was Wollongong, a small city nestled in the shoreline 90km south of Sydney. Today we share our Wollongong day trip itinerary, and all of our favourite spots in the city. Per our usual style, we opted for outdoor adventures and casual family fare.
Biking Wollongong
We appreciate the ability to load our bikes on the train, and it is preferred for longer trips to Sydney Olympic Park and other bike-friendly destinations. However, I will say that loading our bikes on the train always elicits a small amount of stress because timing is tight, during boarding and disembarking. Thankfully, the picturesque ride and ease of traversing the city compensate for those 2 minutes of heart palpitations.
We recommend choosing an express train. During the morning commute, it makes a big difference because you don’t worry about people squeezing past your bikes every 5-10 minutes.
If you don’t bring the bikes, you can hire bikes in Wollongong. South Coast Bike Hire offers the largest selection and flexibility with customized pickup and drop off options for one-way trips. However, the Novotel Wollongong North Beach also hosts a four bike hire stand where you can rent bikes for a few hours or the whole day (helmets are available inside the hotel).
Wollongong Day Trip Itinerary
Beach entry at Bulli
7:21 – Catch the South Coast line from Central towards Kiama. Look through the train schedule (linked here), and choose an express train to shave off 15 minutes worth of stops.
8:41 – If you want to bike – exit the train in Thirroul and navigate some neighborhood streets (click here for directions) to hop on the serene bike path from the dead end on Hamilton St and along the coast. The ride is approximately 16km to Wollongong Beach.
We recommend a coffee at one of the beach cafes in Bulli, Woonona, or Wollongong, depending on which way you ride. We stopped in Bulli because we rode from Wollongong to Thirroul to avoid the morning showers.
If you are traveling by foot, exit the train at North Wollongong and walk 15 minutes to Stuart park. When you arrive at the park, turn right to head towards North Wollongong beach.
10ish – Arrive at North Beach in Wollongong. Spend a few hours soaking up the sun and waves (or checking out the awesome playground). The well maintained, and free Continental pool beckons for those who wish to swim.
Younger children with enjoy the pirate-themed playground at Beach Cove across from the Breakwater Lighthouse. The calm water of the cove provides another great spot for digging in the sand and splashing.
On cooler days, meander up Endeavor drive to admire the Flagstaff Lighthouse and read the historical markers. Flagstaff Hill is named for the flagstaff placed on the top of the hill to warn incoming ships of harbour conditions, and the lighthouse was in built in 1936. The markers include several historical photos, and I am always interested to compare the current scene compared to its heyday. From Flagstaff park, you can barely see industrious Port Kembla chugging away in the distance.
Lunch in Wollongong
12:30 – If stomachs start to rumble, catch the free 55C bus from Harbour St (map link) into the CBD. The bus runs every 10 minutes on weekdays and every 20 on weekdays. Alight the bus after 5-7 minutes on Crown St after Keira St.
Alternately, you can walk for 20 minutes and enjoy some of the historic buildings (I found this article extremely helpful and comprehensive).
Beast and Bread – I highly recommend this lunch spot! The small seasonal menu offers a selection of sandwiches and meat and salad plates. Some of the salads are vegetarian – friendly, as well as a couple of the sandwiches, so the “beast” part is completely optional. The restaurant provides one high chair and no kids menu, but CZ happily indulged in our slow roasted pork shoulder, roasted pumpkin, and fresh bread.
Afternoon in Wollongong
After lunch, you have several choices for an afternoon excursion. For those looking to explore more natural beauty, hop back on the 55C to stroll around the Botanical Gardens. The 19 hectare gardens are located in Gwynneville. You can extend your trip to peruse the grounds of the university of Wollongong. For those interested in an urban treasure hunt, Wollongong is known for it’s street art. Each year in November, the city hosts Wonderwalls, a street art festival. When the festival is over, you can still wander around the city in search of engaging and colorful art. Wonderwalls publishes a map each year of the art installations, to provide a starting place.
To finish up your day, stop in the little alley on Globe Lane for a sweet treat. Directly opposite from each other are the two fan favourites: Kurtosh Wollongong and Chocolateria San Churro. Kurtosh serves it’s signature Hungarian cone cake along with a selection of cakes and breads. San Churro offers an array of chocolate desserts, and of course, churros!
16:07 – Return to Sydney on the 16:07 train, and be back in time for dinner!
A calm and picturesque city, Wollongong provides a fun escape from the city. The area is small but includes lots of historical sights, beaches, and outdoor play areas that kids will enjoy. Plus, the free city bus facilitates an easy way to discover the city without requiring a car.
