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The best beaches and swimming spots in Wollongong and the Illawarra

Credit: Destination NSW

Carla Grossetti Carla Grossetti
There are a lot of great places to swim in Wollongong, making it one of NSW’s greatest seaside cities

From sun-drenched sea pools to long, sandy beaches where you can surf or swim under a wide-open sky, here is the ultimate guide to the best beaches and swimming spots in Wollongong and the Illawarra.

In short

Choose Windang Beach for the win if you are in Wollongong with the family. Set at the entrance to Lake Illawarra, this gentle curve of sand is backed by a large grassy foreshore with playgrounds, barbecues and shaded picnic areas. Families can also pitch their tent at Windang Beach Tourist Park, one of the best places to camp in Wollongong.

Austinmer Beach

twin pools at Austinmer Beach
Two rock pools sit at the end of Austinmer Beach. (Credit: Destination NSW)

Best for: Families looking for patrolled beaches and dog owners drawn to the off-leash Little Austinmer Beach

This compact stretch of sand is bracketed between two headlands, giving it a sheltered, village-like feel. The beach is patrolled during summer, and there are two rock pools for those looking for a chill swim. When you’re done, wander up to the Headlands Austinmer Beach hotel for a well-earned brew with a view. It’s a great local pub and one we’ve featured in our best bars and pubs in Wollongong guide.

Coledale Beach

beach cricket on Coledale Beach
Coledale Beach is a popular spot with families. (Credit: Destination NSW)

Best for: Families who want the option to pull the pin if things go pear-shaped

Patrolled year-round, Coledale Beach ranks as one of the most versatile Wollongong swim spots. Families set up here to play Frisbee and French cricket. The small campground at the southern end of the beach has views of the crashing waves, which adds to the holiday feel. The beach is a popular spot for surfers as it offers consistent right and left-hand breaks. It’s also home to Rosie’s one of the best places for fish and chips in Australia.

Thirroul Beach

surfing at Thirroul
Hit the waves at Thirroul Beach. (Credit: Destination NSW)

Best for: Surfers, lap swimmers and holidaymakers flitting between the beach and the local cafes

The wind-whipped one-kilometre-long Thirroul Beach picks up swell from most directions. It’s a popular spot for surfers and day-trippers from Sydney who set up camp near the sandy seafront and make the most of a day dipping in and out of the sea. Swimmers gravitate to the Art Deco Olympic Pool, built in the 1930s, where backstroke laps come with uninterrupted views of the Illawarra Escarpment.

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Windang Beach

Best for: Young families and picnickers

Windang Beach is where Lake Illawarra meets the sea. This gentle curve of sand at the entrance to Lake Illawarra, some 15 kilometres south of Wollongong’s CBD, is a popular spot with families. There is a large foreshore park with a playground, barbecues, and covered picnic areas. The beach also has great views over the famous Five Islands off the Wollongong coastline. It’s one of the best places to swim in Wollongong on a sunny day.

Stanwell Park Beach

the Stanwell Park Beach from above
Sweeping views over Stanwell Park Beach. (Credit: Destination NSW)

Best for: Families who want space and seasoned surfers

Stanwell Tops is well known as a place for hang-gliding and paragliding. Take in the views from Lawrence Hargrave Lookout, which offers panoramic views of the coastline, before corkscrewing down to the base of the cliffs. That’s where you will find Stanwell Park Beach, a sheltered cove popular with families who cluster near the barbecues in the park. The scenic Wollongong swim spot is also popular with surfers due to the shifting beach break that works best in an east or northeast swell.

Sandon Point

Sandon Point, Bulli from above
This surf haven stretches 900 metres between Bulli and Waniora points. (Credit: Destination NSW)

Best for:  Surfers – both first-timers learning to surf and experienced swell chasers

Sandon Point is an exposed point break prized for its clean, consistent waves, particularly through winter. When the swell eases, micro grommets beeline into the shallows at Sandon, often guided onto their first waves by the instructors at Happy Days Surf School or Pines Surfing Academy. It’s one of the best things to do in Wollongong. The beach sweeps for 900 metres between Bulli and Waniora points, so there’s plenty of space for swimmers to spread out on busy days.

Wollongong City Beach

the Wollongong Head Flagstaff Lighthouse
The majestic Wollongong Head Flagstaff Lighthouse overlooks the Tasman Sea. (Credit: Destination NSW)

Best for: Families who want an easy day at the beach with playgrounds, rock pools and cafes close by

Wollongong City Beach is one of the city’s most popular beaches. The broad beach that fronts the city curls 3.1 kilometres from Flagstaff Point to the Port Kembla seawall. It’s the city’s most central swimming spot and it’s backed by a foreshore reserve stubbled with coastal grasses. Head to the northern end of the beach in low tide to check for treasures in the rock pools. The beach is adjacent to a park with a playground and picnic tables.

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Woonona Beach

Best for: Cyclists, surfers and lap swimmers

Ride your bike along the Wollongong shared cycleway to check the surf, which works best at the northen end on a northeast swell. Woonona Beach also has a handsome 50-metre pool with diving blocks and a historic Art Deco pavilion. BYO goggles and hedge your bets between a calm lap swim or open-water adventure, before refuelling at one of the local restaurants.

Coalcliff Beach

Best for: Families and those in need of a protected swimming spot

Coalcliff Beach is another coveted spot for families. Whether you’re looking for a calm stretch of sand to build a castle or a sheltered place to swim, the small beach feels protected and intimate. The beach in the northern suburbs of Wollongong is surrounded by craggy cliffs and rock platforms, which make it a popular fishing spot. Swimmers also seek out the beautiful ocean pool tucked beneath the cliffs where dense emerald-green bushland spills down to the sea.

Port Kembla Beach

Best for: Lap swimmers and families with small children

Port Kembla Beach stretches for about 6.6 kilometres, making it popular with joggers who love to run barefoot. We love this beach for its dinky dressing sheds, which were constructed in 1912, and its Olympic-sized pool carved into the northern corner of the cliff face. All up, there are three pools: a toddler’s pool, paddling pool and slightly deeper kiddies pool.  The beach is one of the best places to swim in Wollongong with kids. it is only 11 kilometres from Wollongong’s CBD.

Bulli Rock Pool

the Bulli Rock Pool from above
The 50-metre Bulli Rock Pool dates back to the 1930s. (Credit: Destination NSW)

Best for: Lap swimmers partial to a sunrise dip

Word has well and truly spread about just how good the lifestyle is in Wollongong and the Illawarra. Kick off your day with a few laps at the Bulli Rock Pool where you are bound to meet smug sea-changers. Ask them about their new lifestyle and they will happily tell you they haven’t looked back since shrugging off their big-city stresses. You will want to join them after a few lazy laps in the 50-metre pool, which dates back to the 1930s.

Bellambi Beach

Best for: Early risers and swimmers of mixed ability

Bellambi has a rock pool set into the southern rock shelf of the two-kilometre-long beach, which is a popular spot for swimming, surfing and fishing off the boat ramp. Hire a bike and cycle along the shared pathway, which makes the beach accessible from Wollongong. A small creek runs along the back of the beach and there are a few cafes nearby. Come to the beach early when there is zero swell to see the sunrise and start the day with a refreshing dip.

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Carla Grossetti
Carla Grossetti has written across print and digital for Australian Traveller and International Traveller for more than a decade and has spent more than two decades finding excuses to eat well and travel far. A prestigious News Corp cadetship launched her career at The Cairns Post, before a stint at The Canberra Times and The Sydney Morning Herald gave way to extended wanders through Canada, the US, Mexico, Central America, Asia and Europe. Carla was chief sub editor at delicious and has contributed to Good Food, Travel & Luxury, Explore Travel, Escape. While living in London, Carla was on staff at Condé Nast Traveller and The Sunday Times Travel desk and was part of the pioneering digital team at The Guardian UK.
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Art, wine & fireplaces: 8 reasons Bowral is the ultimate winter getaway

(Credit: Destination NSW)

    Carla Grossetti Carla Grossetti
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    The Southern Highlands earns its title as Australia’s top country town in the cooler months, and it’s worth every minute of the 90-minute drive from Sydney.

    Many Sydneysiders head to the Southern Highlands in spring for the tulips. It’s one of the most stunning spring carnivals in Australia. But the ones in the know come to Bowral in winter.

    The first thing you notice at this time of year is the quality of the light. It catches the tangled limbs of the gums and tints the fields, farms and forests a pretty shade of Granny Smith green. And then, a world-class art museum, an impressive network of walking trails, great shops, cosy restaurants and bars and luxury accommodation take centre stage, making Bowral a place you want to linger as the mercury drops.

    Just 90 minutes south of Sydney, a Bowral winter getaway is the coolcation city folk desperately need. Here are eight reasons to pack a good coat and head for the Southern Highlands.

    1. Check in

    aerial of Ardour Milton Park Bowral in winter
    Check in to the gorgeous Ardour Milton Park Bowral. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    Ardour Milton Park Bowral rises like a hologram in the hazy green light as you turn onto Horderns Road. A $10 million refurbishment of the grand 1910 estate was completed in early 2026, and the beautifully restored hotel now includes 44 guest rooms washed in sage green, cobalt blue and dusty blush. The dining room at Horderns Restaurant continues with a botanical theme – earthy banquettes, floral touches throughout – and a menu that moves with the seasons.

    After enjoying slow-braised Cowra lamb and a second glass of red, move to the Polo Bar, which has a fireplace and views across the estate gardens. Build a grazing board from the dedicated Charcuterie Room and take it outside while the light lasts. If the sky clouds over, use this as your cue to enjoy a next-level spa experience at Èliva.

    2. Hunt for treasure

    couple exploring Dirty Janes bowral
    Find vintage treasures in Dirty Janes. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    Winter is the perfect season to lose an afternoon inside Dirty Janes Bowral. Over 1600 square metres of covered space houses 90 individual sellers of everything from mid-century furniture to industrial lighting, antique silverware, vintage clothing and objects whose previous lives you can only imagine. Enjoy a bit of off-the-cuff banter with your fellow fossickers in between searching for that must-have military jacket or vintage silk scarf.

    Around the corner, find the Instagram-famous front door of FoundAntiques, though the real finds are deeper inside. Bring cash, wear comfortable shoes and leave some room in the boot.

    3. Slow down in a beautiful gallery

    kids posing with donald bradman statue in bowral's The Bradman Museum
    Learn about an Aussie legend at The Bradman Museum. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    Ngununggula – meaning ’belonging’ in the language of the Gundungurra First Nations people – is the region’s first dedicated regional gallery, housed inside the sustainably transformed old dairy building at historic Retford Park. The onsite White Cottage Gallery and restored grounds of the former Fairfax estate reward a slow wander. Find a spot to sit in the courtyard filled with rivulets of winter light and enjoy the plaintive call of a currawong carrying across the heritage-listed grounds. It’s one of the best things to do in Bowral.

    Add Bowral Honey Farm for a hands-on harvest experience, then continue into town to the Milk Factory Gallery to admire eclectic works by local artists in a converted industrial space. The Bradman Museum also knocks it out of the park. Australia’s largest dedicated cricket museum sits beside the heritage-listed Bradman Oval, where a young Sir Donald Bradman first picked up a bat.

    4. A taste of France

    table spread at Lucette bowral
    Enjoy a taste of France at Lucette.

    For a taste of France without the airfare, husband-and-wife team Julien and Romy Besnard – of long-loved Franquette Crêperie – have opened Lucette, a French cafe-bistro with Paris-born chef Guillaume Dubois at the helm. Dubois brings serious pedigree from Michelin-starred kitchens in France and Sydney’s former two-hatted Monopole, and it shows. Start your day with pastries for breakfast and bookend it with boeuf bourguignon for dinner. The chocolate mousse, freckled with Guerande Salt, is the kind of dish that will make you feel smug about the decision to drive south. Join the Sydneysiders dressed in charcoal coats, boots and black tights who’ve already worked this out; the whole scene is worthy of splicing it into an Instagram reel.

    Francophiles should also be across Julien’s Bowral Brasserie – led by Frenchman Julien Viel, who also found his way to the Southern Highlands and stayed.

    5. Indulge in a tipple

    Centennial Vineyards bowral in winter
    Spend time amongst the local vines. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    The drive to Centennial Vineyards passes through a beautiful woodland idyll, the countryside a fuzz of green all around. Inside the Barrel Room, a tasting flight of cool-climate pinot noir, chardonnay and reserve shiraz viognier flaunts how well the Southern Highlands does winter.

    This is a region that takes its cool-climate wines seriously, and the pinot noir is one of the stars – a gentle, easy-drinking style with red cherry aromas. Follow your tutored cellar door tasting with another glass of wine in the Terrace Bar, which overlooks the vineyard and manicured grounds.

    6. Blend your own gin

    Millsheds Distillery & Bar
    Pop into Millsheds Distillery & Bar. (Credit: Mattia Panunzio)

    Millsheds Distillery & Bar is somewhat of a local secret. The award-winning small-batch operation produces gin, vodka and liqueurs using Australian botanicals and has picked up silver medals at both the London Spirits Competition and International Wine & Spirit Competition. Beyond the tasting paddle, the hands-on blending masterclass – where you design and leave with two bottles of your own custom gin – is the experience to book, while the terrace bar that wraps around the courtyard is a fine place to settle in afterwards.

    7. Go for a walk at dawn

    Switch your phone off sleep mode and set your alarm to early. Mt Gibraltar rises to 864 metres just east of Bowral’s main street and offers the best views in town. You will pass a raggle-taggle bunch of hikers on the way up to the summit, all making the same quiet pilgrimage into the crisp high-altitude air. On a clear morning, the bony ridges of the ranges come into sharp relief against the light. The return loop takes roughly 90 minutes. A flat white in Bowral tastes considerably better after completing one of the scenic walking trails.

    8. Cosy up by the fireplace

    Aspinalls Whisky Bar & Lounge at the Berida Hotel
    Get cosy in the Berida Hotel’s whiskey bar.

    A cosy bar is the perfect complement to winter in Bowral, and there are a few worth committing to. Aspinalls Whisky Bar & Lounge at the Berida Hotel is built for long, languorous evenings. Take a seat beside the fireplace laden with gnarled logs and work your way through a few whiskies and bar bites like Rangers Valley beef tartare, or salt cod and potato croquettes.

    At Hickory’s within Peppers Craigieburn, well-dressed waiters in denim and leather move quietly between tables, and the cosy fireplace in the adjoining guest lounge attracts an Escape to the Country crowd.

    Start planning your Bowral escape at visitsouthernhighlands.com.au.