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.

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!

Stockland Shellharbour

Don’t miss out on the magic of Santa this season! Capture unforgettable family memories at Stockland Shellharbour‘s brand-new Santa set (near Woolworths). Create the perfect holiday photo that you’ll cherish for years to come!

Dates: Saturday, 16 Nov – Sunday, 24 Dec 2024

Book here: (02) 4296 8266

Address: 211 Lake Entrance Road, Shellharbour City Centre (outside Woolworths)

Illawarra Mega Indoor Christmas Market – FREE Santa Photos

Illawarra Mega Indoor Christmas Market will be held on December 1 from 10 am until 3 pm at Shellharbour City Stadium. Over 135 market stalls will offer a wide range of goods and services for your Christmas shopping. Santa will attend for free photos (DIY) with a beautiful backdrop and Christmas craft activities for kids, and the Wollongong Harmony Chorus will sing Christmas carols.

You can also enjoy delicious food from various vendors and an on-site cafe. The market will be indoors at a venue with disabled access and ample parking. Entry is a gold coin donation, and children under 12 get in for free.

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!

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!

Photos by Saralisa

Photos by Saralisa is excited to offer magical Christmas photo shoots this year featuring both Santa and non-Santa options! Sara loves creating a warm and welcoming environment where your children, pets, and the whole family can feel happy and comfortable. Whether you’re looking for a magical moment with Santa or a cozy family portrait without him, we’ve got you covered!

Join us for Santa sessions on November 23-24, 2024, or choose a delightful non-Santa session on December 6, 2024.

Prices: $100 for a 10-minute photo shoot (includes 3 digital prints) or $150 for a 20-minute photo shoot (includes 10 digital prints).

Book here!

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.