Getting Around Wollongong
Wollongong sits on a narrow coastal strip between the Illawarra Escarpment and the Pacific Ocean, and the city stretches from Helensburgh in the north down to Windang and Yallah in the south. That geography shapes how you get around: the rail line and the coast run roughly parallel, so trains are excellent for the northern beach suburbs, while buses and a car fill in the rest.
By Train
The train is the backbone of public transport in Wollongong. Services from Sydney are operated by NSW TrainLink, and the line continues south through the Illawarra. Wollongong Station is conveniently located in the CBD, and many of the other suburbs up and down the coast have their own stations.
- The northern coastal suburbs are well served by train, though depending on the station you can still be a kilometre or so from the beach.
- Stanwell Park, Austinmer, Coledale, Wombarra and Bulli are the best stations for accessing nearby beaches, with Austinmer the most popular.
- All stations see hourly services.
- The journey from Sydney is scenic, traversing the Royal National Park with views of the ocean and forest. Sit on the left-hand side and upstairs (looking in the direction of travel) when travelling from Sydney, or the right-hand side travelling to Sydney, for the best views.
- You can't book a seat. Pay with a reloadable Opal card, a single-trip Opal ticket, or a contactless credit or debit card at the Opal gates.
Note that Wollongong has no metro or tram network. Trams were briefly trialled in the Wollongong Mall in the 1980s but the experiment ceased, and the mall has remained a pedestrian area since.
By Bus
Wollongong bus services form part of the Greater Sydney public transport network, so the same ticketing applies as on the trains.
- Use an Opal card or a contactless debit or credit card when boarding. Tap on when you get on and tap off when you get off so you're charged the correct fare.
- Most bus routes run every hour or every 30 minutes.
- Operators include Dions Bus Service (northern suburbs, as far as Austinmer), Premier Coaches / Green's Northern Coaches (Wollongong to Stanwell Park, and Helensburgh to Stanwell Tops), and Premier Illawarra (from Bellambi in the north to as far south as Kiama).
The free Gong Shuttle Bus is the standout option for visitors. It runs between the University of Wollongong and the CBD, via Wollongong Station, the Hospital, Burelli Street and the UOW Innovation Campus, and on weekends also stops at North Wollongong station. Buses run every 10 minutes at peak times and every 20 minutes off-peak, and are usually distinctive bright green vehicles, though regular blue and white buses are occasionally used. Look out for route numbers 55A and 55C.
One important catch: the free buses only stop at bus stops marked with the green Gong Shuttle Bus signboard. They won't stop at ordinary bus stops even if you flag them down. There are also the navy blue North Gong (NG) and Gwynneville Keiraville (GK) shuttle buses, operated by the University of Wollongong, which are free to ride as well.
By Car
A car will take you everywhere in the region you want to go, and it's the most flexible way to reach the escarpment, the beaches and the surrounding towns.
- Parking in the multi-storey car parks in the Wollongong CBD is inexpensive by the hour, with a modest daily maximum.
- Parking along the Wollongong beaches and foreshore is free, and parking on Sundays is free.
- Car hire is available in Wollongong, with Avis, Europcar and Hertz located on Flinders Street just north of the CBD.
By Bike
Cycling is a genuinely enjoyable way to see the city and its surroundings, though it comes with a caveat.
- An extensive cycle track runs from Wollongong north for 10 km to Thirroul, hugging the scenic beaches, or the same distance south to Windang and Lake Illawarra. It's generally uncrowded.
- Within the city itself, cycling is more challenging thanks to the numerous inclines.
- There are pop-up cycleways on Smith and Harbour Streets to Belmore Basin, and on Kembla Street between Smith and Crown Streets.
- Cycling is not allowed in Crown Street Mall, although people can be seen pedalling through regardless.
- A good longer route runs mostly off-road from Bulli to Kiama, hugging the coast and headlands the whole way. You can put your bike on the train for the trip back.
- Bike hire is available at Steel City Cycle in Thirroul and Wollongong Bike Hire on Keira Street in the CBD, both around $40 per day.
By Taxi or Rideshare
Taxis and ride-hailing both operate around Wollongong.
- The Illawarra Taxi Network (formerly Radio Cabs of Wollongong) and 13cabs serve Wollongong and the surrounding suburbs.
- The main taxi rank is on Church Street next to the Greater Union cinemas.
- You'll also find taxi ranks outside shopping centres in the Illawarra, such as in Corrimal, Warrawong, Figtree and Shellharbour.
- Uber operates as a ridesharing option around Wollongong.
Walking
The CBD is compact and pedestrian-friendly, with the Wollongong Mall and Crown Street Mall functioning as pedestrian areas. The beachfront has been renovated with a new lookout and walkway upgrade, making the foreshore a pleasant place to stroll. Beyond the centre, the city's inclines and the spread of the suburbs mean walking is best for short trips rather than as a primary way to cover ground.
Getting There from the Airport
Wollongong is primarily serviced by scheduled international and domestic airline flights operating into Sydney Airport (SYD) to the north of the city. Connecting links to Wollongong are provided by rail and road.
- By car: from Sydney Airport, drive south along the A1 Princes Highway and M1 Princes Motorway. Follow the signs from the airport towards Wollongong and Rockdale to reach the Princes Highway, then follow the road and directional signage south to Wollongong.
- By train, option one: catch a T8 Airport Line train one or two stops to Wolli Creek, then change for a train to Wollongong. All trains to Wollongong stop at Wolli Creek.
- By train, option two: catch a T8 train to Central, then a South Coast line train down to Wollongong. This is the better option during peak times, as you're more likely to find a seat on the train from Central.
- By shuttle: private bus companies operate shuttle services from the airport to any destination door to door in the Illawarra/Wollongong region. Wollongong City Shuttle can be booked by phone or online.
There is also a small airport south of Wollongong at Shellharbour (Illawarra Regional Airport, WOL), about 20 minutes south of the Wollongong CBD in Albion Park Rail. It mostly caters to general aviation flights, though it has limited domestic flights as well, and is only marginally closer than Sydney Airport. It's also the site of the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society museum.
Arriving by Other Means
- By bus from south-western Sydney: the 887 bus runs from Campbelltown to Wollongong train station, via Appin and the University of Wollongong.
- By boat: a couple of Royal Caribbean cruise ships a year visit Wollongong, docking at Port Kembla.