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    Where to get Santa Photos in Wollongong, Shellharbour & the Illawarra

    Looking for the best Santa Photos in Wollongong? Let What’s on in Wollongong guide you to your perfect Illawarra Santa photo locations, including Shellharbour. Find various Christmas styled Photo themes, shopping centres offering Santa photo’s, Sensitive Santa options, and even Santa visit viewings!

    Find more Christmas events, markets and all seasonal what’s on here.

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    Dapto Mall’s Christmas Guide & Santa Photos

    Dapto Mall is gearing up for a magical holiday season, and they’ve thought of everything to make it memorable for everyone! Santa will be arriving in style on the Dapto Rural Fire Brigade truck on Saturday, 23 November & beautiful activities will await you!

    Join the fun with free photos with Santa or Mrs. Claus – remember to book in advance! There’s even a festive parade that you won’t want to miss. Plus, enjoy free balloon sculptures, meet characters like Rudolf, a minion, and Batman for photo ops, and listen to performances by a lively brass band.

    Book Dapto Mall Sensitive Santa, Santa Pet Photos Auslan Santa Photos, Baby’s First Santa Photo Weekday Offer (+ get $5 off) or a classic theme HERE! Plenty of sessions are available to suit your family’s wishes, whether you have little ones with additional needs, furry friends to include, or just a photo with the Big Man in Red himself. Book now here.

    Address: Outside Big W on Level 1 of Dapto Mall (corner of Princes Hwy & Moombara St, Dapto). Read more here!

    FREE Festive-Themed & Santa Photos at The Balgownie Hotel

    The Bally have set up a fun & festive scene and backdrop in their pub Garden – families are welcome to pop in and take their own Xmas-themed photos with their kids and family – for FREE! And while you are there, enjoy the family-friendly vibe of The Bally and get a cheeky pint or cheap lunch or dinner.

    PLUS: Join The Bally for a magical evening with Santa at the historic Balgownie Hotel on December 23rd at 6pm!

    Bring the whole family along to meet Santa Claus himself and capture the moment with a Polaroid photo – just donate a gold coin to the Bulli Rural Fire Services. It’s the perfect way to make memories and support our local heroes this holiday season!

    • When: December 23rd, 6:00pm
    • Where: Balgownie Hotel
    • Cost: Polaroid photos for a gold coin donation
    • Learn more here

    Santa By The Sea, Shellharbour

    Exciting news! Starting Saturday, November 9th, Santa Photos By The Sea will be hosting photo sessions at Shellharbour South Beach, right on John St, Shellharbour. Join them on select Saturdays and Sundays from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. for a fun time!

    Santa, Family & Pet Sessions:
    Santa, Family, and Pet Sessions kick off on Monday, November 13th! They will be at Little Park, located at the bottom of Addison Street, on Monday and Wednesday afternoons from 3:30 to 6:30 pm. They can’t wait to see your smiling faces!

    Santa Photos By The Sea truly loves giving back to the community. They are proud to share that a percentage of their profits will be donated to the Illawarra Women’s Health Centre. Join them to make some beautiful memories together!

    Book here!

    Wollongong CBD

    Get ready to kick off the Christmas season with an unforgettable celebration! Santa will arrive at Crown Street Mall, centre stage, on November 10, from 10 am-2 pm, for a Sunday fun day packed with festive entertainment, exciting games, and lively music!

    This year, don’t miss out on Santa’s Market Stalls! It’s the perfect chance to get a head start on your holiday shopping or treat yourself to something special.

    The festivities begin at 10:30 AM with a dazzling Rudolph Christmas Show, followed by the spectacular Santa’s Arrival Parade winding through Wollongong Central, with charming Christmas characters and talented entertainers.

    The merriment continues in the Mall at 11:30 a.m., with DJ Brizz spinning tunes and captivating roving performances from Circus Monoxide. Santa’s Market Stalls will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring unique gifts for everyone on your list. We can’t wait to celebrate the magic of Christmas with you! Don’t miss this festive community gathering!

    Santa photos are available from 11 November- 24 December 2024

    A range of options are available, including sensitive sessions and pet portraits with Santa.

    Where will Santa be? Level 1 Gateway, outside David Jones.

    Costs: A range of photo packages is available, starting at $25.95 for two photos and going up to a full package for $49.95.

    Book here!

    Kids Wish Santa Photos

    Santa and his superhero friends are coming to KidsWish House for one day only!

    Thanks to Illawarra’s Friendly Neighbourhood Spidey and Ethereal Love Images, families will have the chance to take Christmas photos with Santa and his amazing superhero friends—Spiderman, Ghost Spidey, Bumblebee, Thor, Captain America, and Deadpool—all right here at KidsWish House in Flinders.

    This KidsWish fundraising event is for the whole community—tell your friends and share the festive fun!

    Date: November 30, 2024

    Costs: Choose from a variety of photo packages starting at $25, with each package including a 4×6 inch print and a digital file of your snaps. Best of all, every picture taken helps raise funds for KidsWish programs and events that support Illawarra kids living with disability or illness.

    Book here!

    Santa Photos On The Beach

    Santa Photos On The Beach is known for providing a fun and relaxed Santa photo experience that your whole family will love! You can count on them to make your kids (and pets) feel comfortable and at ease while capturing a cheerful and memorable photo. Don’t wait too long to book your spot—these sessions fill up quickly, and you won’t want to miss out on the fun!

    Dates: 1 November-18 December 2024

    Costs: A single photo costs $36, or you can purchase two photos for $46.

    Book here!

    Figtree Grove

    Experience the joy of the holiday season at Figtree Grove with Santa photo sessions designed for every family! They offer sensitive sessions and special pet photo opportunities, ensuring that everyone—both two-legged and four-legged—can cherish this magical moment together. Don’t miss out on creating lasting memories here!

    Prices: Photo packages range from $28-$139

    Book here

    Bulli Surf Life Saving Club

    Get ready for festive fun! Bulli Surf Life Saving Club is excited to announce that we’ll be offering Santa photos again this year, set against the stunning backdrop of Bulli Beach—weather permitting. This is not just a wonderful chance to create cherished holiday memories; it’s also an excellent way to support your local Surf Club. Enjoy high-quality and affordable Santa photos while giving back to the community. Please remember that pets are not allowed during these sessions.

    Bookings are essential, so stay tuned as we confirm the dates in the coming week! Don’t miss out!

    Illawarra Christmas Markets, Dapto

    The Illawarra Christmas Markets will be held in Dapto on December 1 from 10 am – 3 pm at Dapto Showground. Visit the market stalls offering unique gifts, crafts, and delicious treats. There will also be unique stalls for your furry friends and food trucks serving holiday snacks from local vendors. Santa will be available for Santa family photos and holiday cheer. There’s even a kids’ zone with a jumping castle, face painting, and other fun activities. This Christmas market in Dapto promises a day of festive fun, shopping, and holiday joy. Don’t miss out on the celebration!

    Myer Shellharbour

    Head to Santaland at Myer Shellharbour to meet Santa and his elves. Get your family Santa Photo’s!

    Whatever tinsels your fancy, we’ve got you covered!

    So, get ready to celebrate all things jolly and make your merry meaningful at Myer.

    Book Santa HERE at Shellharbour Myer and capture your magical family moment with Santa.

    Create lasting memories this Christmas by capturing the magic at these wonderful venues. Their warm and accommodating staff are dedicated to making your photo session unforgettable. Don’t forget to mention that you learned about them from What’s On In Wollongong.

    What’s On in Wollongong is not involved in running any events. Please contact individual event holders to confirm details before attending events. Make sure you read the terms & conditions for each establishment. If you have a Christmas event you would like us to add to the list, send your details to [email protected]

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    About the Author: Lisa Hagan
    Lisa is a local mum who grew up in Thirroul. She travels, writes her blog, and homeschools her children. She is also a creative therapist who uses breathwork, movement, and creative arts therapies to help people work through grief and anxiety and find calm and purpose in this busy world.

    Lisa’s blog.