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Wollongong: a guide to exploring the coastal city on wheels

Say hello to the sun and surf on your next coastal weekend away in Wollongong, with an escape-worthy collection of beaches, adventures, eats, arts and iconic attractions. It’s all about two wheels in Wollongong, as the only UCI Bike City in the southern hemisphere, we pay homage to pedal power. From hosting the UCI Road World Championships in September 2022 to our Bike Friendly Business initiative, for those looking for a cyclingfriendly adventure, we’ve got the guide to cycling around Wollongong. We have a long list to pack into a short stay, so here goes . . . 

Ride into the CBD in style with Just Crusin’ who do tours on the back of a Harley Davidson trike all around Wollongong and discover some of Wollongong’s finest delights.

Taking happy hour very seriously as it’s one the highlights of the city, enjoy everything from cosy corners to crankin’ establishments, where you can sip wine with friends. Ride to Resin Brewery for a tasting paddle board or try some of the famous coastal pale ales.

Check out our pump track and mountain bike park in Cringila just south of the CBD, then finish your ride around with a roll down to Swallowed Anchor nestled within town for a tapas experience or check out the awesome ales at Five Barrel brewing. If pizza and homemade gnocchi are more your flavour, you need to check out Kneading Ruby in one of our many trendy alleyways. Further down in the funky alleyways is Globe Lane, where our recently chef-hatted restaurant Santino is located, which boasts incredible Kingfish crudo and squid ink pasta and it is truly a culinary delight.

There’s food to match the ocean views at Steamers Bar and Grill on the mighty Blue Mile will have your tastebuds travelling with culinary delights from around the world. If you’re looking for a relaxed picnic or mid-ride lunch break, you can’t go past Levendi kiosk with fresh fish and chips by the foreshore, or their famous home-made gelato! Levendi is perfectly situated to look onto the stunning North Beach sunsets.

Now if there were a report card for Wollongong it would surely read: ‘plays well with others.’ That’s because they offer something for everyone – from beach to bush, indoors and out, and thrilling or chilling. Ride north to Symbio Wildlife Park in Helensburgh and get up close and personal with cute native animals where you can also feed kangaroos in their open field enclosure.

Take a ride across the iconic Sea Cliff Bridge, which is along the Grand Pacific Drive which takes in 140 kilometers worth of coastal scenery and is a must-do when visiting Wollongong.

If you are sick of riding and want to stand on your own two feet, there is a great range of bushwalking tracks that have incredible views of the escarpment and beaches. Check out the Wodi Wodi track and Mount Kiera Ring Track which passes through the varied terrains and forests of the Illawarra Escarpment, starting and finishing in a perfect picnic spot.

Need to cool off? Splash into your holiday at Jamberoo Action Park! Where YOU control the action, offering world-class rides and attractions for you thrill seekers out there.

And there’s no doom and gloom if the weather turns nasty. Nan Tien Temple, the largest Buddhist Temple in the Southern Hemisphere, translates to “paradise of the South” and it certainly is here in Wollongong. It has become a key venue for local and international tourists to bridge together different cultures and immerse in the visual delights of grandeur architecture, including unique exhibitions and festivals and vegetarian delights What are you waiting for?

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