Summer Guide in Wollongong & the Illawarra. Cool Things to do…
Hello best things to do in Wollongong, Shellharbour & Illawarra wide over summer. Discover our best swimming spots, fantastic summer events, best local eats and how to keep the kids entertained. Whether you live here and have the whole summer to explore or are visiting for a weekend or holiday, here’s our insider What’s on in Wollongong guide. Discover what’s on & the best things to do this summer.
Main title image – Killalea State Park, also known as The Farm. Image: Dee Kramer Photography
Best Swimming Pools, Rocks Pools & Beaches
Ultimate Summer Guide – Best Beaches in Wollongong
Stay cool this summer! Check out the Illawarra’s best beaches for kids, Wollongong’s best rock pools, and the best pools that take in the beautiful views and atmosphere of our wonderful area.
Some of the best Wollongong & Illawarra beaches include (but are definitely not limited to):
- Stanwell Park: A great beach often with big surf. Stanwell Park Beach has a fantastic playground and cafe. It is also patrolled. It is a beautiful spot, with plenty of parking, toilets, and even a creek for the kids to splash in when the surf is too big.
- Austinmer: The ever-popular Austinmer Beach is another northern Illawarra-patrolled beach. It has good parking but gets very busy in summer. There are takeaway shops or cafes to eat in across the road, a fantastic beach pool and easy access to toilets.
- Woonona: Woonona has a lovely long stretch of beach to find the perfect place to spend your day. There is a great park behind the beach and a lovely cafe across from the park; the food and coffee there is delicious. Woonona also has a beautiful ocean pool to enjoy.
- Sandon Point: The famous Sandon Point Beach is very popular for surfing and swimming; on the north side of the point is McCauley’s Beach, which is a great dog beach, and on the south side is patrolled and a beautiful place to stretch out and swim. The surf club has toilets as well. On the south end of Sandon Point Beach is the gorgeous Bulli ocean pool, and there is also a fantastic cafe for lunch or coffee.
Waterfall Walks with Swimming Spots
Stay cool discovering Wollongong’s best waterfalls! Discover our What’s On in Wollongong‘s waterfall walks around Wollongong & the Illawarra, plus bushwalks with natural swimming holes. These are some of the loveliest bushland and coastal walks for all ages and fitness levels – its just a bonus that there is a swim waiting for you at the end!
Go Bowling at Wiseman Park Bowling Club
Soak up the sunshine and good vibes this summer at Wiseman Park Bowling Club, home of the Illawarra’s premier Barefoot Bowls. Just 2km from Wollongong CBD, it’s the ultimate spot to gather your mates, enjoy a friendly game on the greens, and relax with great food and drinks from Il Lago. Whether you’re here for a casual barefoot bowls session or want to light up the night with Glow Bowls, Wiso’s delivers the perfect mix of fun, socialising, and summer feels — and yes, your pets are welcome too!
Wollongong Tennis Club
Make the most of the sunny season at Wollongong Tennis Club! Gather your friends for a casual hit on their hard or grass courts, join a social comp, or take a coaching session to sharpen your skills. After the game, cool down with delicious food and drinks in their relaxed, friendly venue. With great facilities, member discounts, and plenty of ways to play, it’s the perfect summer activity in the Gong. Enquire now and get your game on!
Book a Summer getaway with Holiday Haven Parks
Make the most of summer at Holiday Haven Parks, with 12 stunning locations across the Shoalhaven and South Coast – from beachfront and lakefront escapes to riverfront and wildlife-filled settings. Enjoy modern self-contained cabins or powered and unpowered caravan and camping sites, perfect for a summer family getaway, short break, or weekend adventure.
Take advantage of “Stay 7, Pay 5” at Kangaroo Valley and Swan Lake to get extra time to relax, swim, explore, and soak up the sun. With water parks, jumping pillows, swimming pools, mini golf, BBQ facilities, canoe and water sport hire, dog-friendly areas, and seasonal kids’ activities, there’s endless summer fun for everyone at Holiday Haven Parks. Learn more here!
Water Park – Jamberoo Action Park
Ultimate Guide to Wollongong – Jamberoo Action Park
Jamberoo Action Park is the best water park in the Illawarra for kids or adults of all ages. It is a fantastic day out and will be somewhere the whole family will want to return to time and time again. At Jamberoo Action Park, you can set yourself up at a picnic and lose the big kids for the day, only seeing them for fuel to keep playing, or you can spend the day together exploring the huge variety of slides, pools, toboggans, and the awesome wave pool. You can bring your own food or buy lunch and ice creams from the great selection of cafes onsite.
MMJ Aquathon, Sunday 26 January
Illawarra’s Favourite Summer Fitness Event is Back!
The MMJ Wollongong Aquathon returns on Monday 26 January 2026 (Public Holiday) at the stunning Wollongong Harbour! For over 25 years, this iconic swim-run event has been a highlight of the local community calendar, welcoming participants of all ages for a day of fitness, fun, and charity. Take part in the swim-run Aquathon, or join the Blue Mile 5k Fun Run — with distances for kids (6–13), teens, and adults, plus solo or tag-team options. Enjoy the fantastic vibe, finisher medals, family fun, and the chance to support the community and the Black Dog Institute. Don’t miss out — entries are now open here!
Enjoy Illawarra Markets
Ultimate Guide to Wollongong – local markets
Whether it’s Christmas markets or markets by the beach that have a fun summer vibe, Wollongong has some amazing markets in the area. There are enough, in fact, that every weekend has one somewhere. Check out our article on all the local markets in our area, including the summer and Christmas markets.
Best Local Eats, Kids Eat Free & Restaurant Deals
Ultimate Guide to Summer – Steamers Bar & Grill
Wollongong has some award-winning and wonderful places to eat, ranging from bars to cafes to restaurants. Whatever your favourite style is, you will find it in Wollongong. We have amazing lunch & meal deals in Wollongong here, lots of beachside & ocean view Wollongong dining options, places where kids eat free, and lots of romantic restaurants for couples to choose from.
Best Bars & Happy Hours. Cold Beer & Frozen Cocktails!
Ultimate Guide to Summer – Best Happy Hours, Wollongong
Going out somewhere local and enjoying happy hour in the local area is bonus fun! Read Illawarra’s local happy hour deals. Read our Best Wollongong and Shellharbour Bars and Pubs here
Summer Dining at The Lagoon Restaurant
Savour Summer with a bite and a bev on the deck at The Lagoon Restaurant. Lunch special available Monday-Friday, à la carte available 7 days a week. Plus – Summer nights are best spent dining under the stars at The Lagoon Restaurant. Their summer menu is bursting with fresh seafood, seasonal ingredients and bright, summery flavours. Your perfect dining experience at the Lagoon awaits! Book your table now here.
Wollongong Locals offer with Skydive Australia – get $25 off! Limited time only.
Jump from Australia’s highest altitude of up to 15,000 feet, directly over North Wollongong beach.
Skydive Australia are giving you $25 off tandem skydives at Skydive Sydney–Wollongong. To redeem this awesome local offer, simply go here and let gravity take care of the rest!
Located right in Stuart Park, it’s the perfect spot to jump, float, and take in breathtaking views of the Illawarra coastline. Don’t miss out – this special offer is sky-high in excitement but won’t last forever!
Play Social Sport with Urban Rec
Summer Seasons at Urban Rec Wollongong have kicked off and they are diving straight into 2025! Looking to play sports that are truly social, fun, mixed and for all levels?
Urban Rec offers 17 leagues across 8 sports this summer for 18+, and is launching their junior program – Jamboree Sports – in Term 1 with Futsal on Tuesdays and Thursday.
Whether you want a night out at one of our member perks partners, free beers during pub week at their main clubhouse or Saturday burger & beer discounts, they’re more than just a sports club…they’re a social club, and we’re waiting for you to join the fun!
Enquire now – with 17 leagues to choose from, there’s something for EVERYONE! Click here
Visit Treetops Adventure Nowra
Ok Treetops Adventure, we love your action park! it’s a little drive south of Wollongong to Nowra (only 59mins!) but so worth the trip. You and the kids (age four up), can literally climb up, zipline and adventure through the trees next to the tranquil and coastal Shoalhaven River. Treetops Adventure Nowra is an epically awesome adventure park on the South Coast of NSW. It’s safe too with their harness system and different courses / challenges for all ages. Plus, it’s next to Shoalhaven Zoo so you get free little sneak peaks of the animals (or pay for entry to the Zoo if you want close up’s and a double whammy day trip experience!)
Enjoy Illawarra’s Best Walks
Ultimate Guide to Summer – Seacliff Bridge – photo c/o Jo Wetten
Wollongong has some great walks to explore, both bushwalks and others. In summer, discover our Best Wollongong Walks with Waterfalls and Swimming Holes. Here is a great article on how to explore the Seacliff Bridge. There are some beautiful bush walks to make the most of our beautiful escarpment while in the Illawarra. And why not get the family out of the house and into nature with some of these great walks in Wollongong that are family-friendly.
Best Illawarra & Wollongong Bike Rides
Ultimate Guide to Summer – Cycling around Wollongong
Get the breeze on your face! Wollongong has a fantastic selection of bike rides for various age groups and abilities. Whether you are looking for great family-friendly bike rides or other cycling routes around Wollongong and the Illawarra, you will find what you are looking for here.
Best Illawarra & Wollongong Playgrounds & Places for Kids
Ultimate Guide to Summer – Best playgrounds Wollongong
Wollongong has heaps of terrific playgrounds and activities for kids of all ages. Follow these links for playgrounds and activities to suit your family and give you a great day out. Pack a picnic, take a soccer ball, or simply enjoy the equipment, and why not choose a playground with BBQ facilities for a perfect lunch out? Here are the links; each article has everything you need to know: toddler-friendly playgrounds, fenced playgrounds, playgrounds and activities teens will love, and the best playgrounds around Wollongong.
Best Illawarra & South Coast NSW Festivals
Ultimate Summer Guide – Yours & Owls Festival, Wollongong
Festivals are an awesome and fun way to spend summer, something truly memorable and special. We have researched and found the best festivals in Wollongong and the Illawarra area for you. We just know that whichever one you choose, it will be a fantastic day out.
Best Events & Whats on Guide Wollongong & Illawarra
Wollongong has a range of activities to do this summer. For a range of activities, events, and a list of programs that will leave you spoiled for choice, check out our What’s on in Wollongong & Illawarra Events Page and browse the huge range of things to do.
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For more articles on the awesome things to do in Wollongong over the summer, check out below.
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About the Author: Lisa Hagan
Lisa grew up in Thirroul and is a mum of four children. A student to life, Lisa loves learning and searching for the most fun things to do with her kids. She loves exploring the Illawarra and surrounds. Searching for fun and educational activities are her favourites for her kids whom she homeschools.
