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    Summer Guide in Wollongong & the Illawarra. 21 Ways to Stay Cool / Do Cool Things!

    Hello best things to do in Wollongong, Shellharbour & Illawarra wide over summer. We have found the best ways to stay cool, and do cool stuff! 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.

    Table of contents

    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 local beaches include (but are definitely not limited to):

    Stanwell Park: A great beach hidden in plain sight. 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.

    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.

    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.

    Best 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

    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.

    Skydive Australia over the stunning Wollongong coastline!

    This summer, swap the usual beach day for an adrenaline-fueled skydive over Wollongong with Skydive Australia! Take the plunge from up to 14,000 feet and feel the ultimate rush as you freefall at over 200 km/h, then glide peacefully over the coastline, soaking in epic views of Wollongong, the escarpment, and sparkling Southern Sydney beaches.

    Their beachfront drop zone in Stuart Park (just steps from the sand) makes this the perfect mix of thrill and chill. Jump solo or with mates—summer memories don’t get better than this.

    Sun’s out, chutes out—book your sky-high Wollongong adventure now!

    Urban Rec Wollongong – Social Sports for Adults + Summer Sports on offer NOW!

    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

    Summer Offer at Five Barrel Brewing: $20 Pints & Prawns

    NEW Summer Offer: Five Barrel Brewing are offering a Pints and Prawns deal every Thursday – Friday, all day until sold out. It’s a pint of lager, xpa and pale and prawns for $20. This offer will be running ALL Summer, so book your table here now!

    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!)

    Now’s the time to book your memorable South Coast adventure with Jervis Bay Wild!

    Explore the Wonders of Jervis Bay Marine Park with Jervis Bay Wild! Discover the hidden gems of the South Coast with their Jervis Bay Passage Cruise.

    • Cruise past the majestic cliffs of Point Perpendicular
    • Relax in the protected lagoon of Honeymoon Bay
    • Glide along the whitest sands in the world at iconic Hyams Beach
    • Watch Bottlenose Dolphins, sea eagles + so much more!

    Ready to experience the magic of Jervis Bay? Book your adventure now!

    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

    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.

    After more events and businesses near you? Never suffer FOMO again with our Weekly Newsletter sent straight to your in-box! Sign up HERE

    For more articles on the awesome things to do in Wollongong over the summer, check out below.

    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. 

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