Spread the love

The UCI Road World Championships are coming to Wollongong in 2022, with tens of thousands of visitors coming to the coastal city for a week-long celebration of culture and cycling.While the world-class racing will take place from Sunday 18 to Sunday 25 September on the streets of Wollongong, the city and surrounding region has countless wonders and unique experiences to offer visitors year round.
From culture and lifestyle adventures, to history and nature-based explorations, Wollongong and its neighbours will keep cycling fans curious, inspired and energised.
Read on for a guide to 100 ways that Wollongong will win over international and domestic visitors leading up to and during the 2022 UCI Road World Championships, and beyond.
LANDSCAPE
1. Bald Hill Lookout
Also known as Stanwell Tops Lookout, this is one of the most popular lookouts in Wollongong. Overlooking the iconic Sea Cliff Bridge and the Illawarra Coastline, it’s the postcard-perfect photo opportunity to capture Wollongong. If you want more than a view, this area is also internationally known as a major hang-gliding point.
Historically, Bald Hill was a central meeting place for Aboriginal groups travelling up and down the South Coast.
2. Belmore Basin
Overlooking the picturesque Wollongong harbour, Belmore Basin is a family-friendly area that has calm waters perfect for a Stand-Up Paddle Boarding lesson provided by professional instructors.
3. City Beaches
Wollongong’s beaches are NSW’s best kept secret. Offering spectacular white sand and attractive quintessential Australian surf, what’s not to love? Popular beaches include North Wollongong Beach and Wollongong City Beach.
Find a full list of Wollongong’s glorious beaches here.
4. Lake Illawarra
The lovely Lake Illawarra is located between the Illawarra escarpment and the Pacific Ocean on the NSW South Coast some 90 kilometres south of Sydney. Water flowing into it is both fresh (from the escarpment) and salty (from ocean tides). The Lake is approximately 9.5 kilometres long and 5.5 kilometres wide, with an area of 33 square kilometres and a maximum depth of 3.7 metres. It’s a popular recreational destination for fishing and all
water sports.
5. Mount Keira Lookout
Mount Keira is a local landmark of Wollongong, towering 463.9 metres high and casting its protective shadow over the city, forming part of the iconic Illawarra escarpment. The Mt Keira lookout is located on Mt Keira Road and is accessible seven days a week during daylight hours.
Mount Keira is an important part of country for the traditional Aboriginal custodians of the Illawarra as it is associated with local Aboriginal Dreamtime creation stories. It is at the centre of the Aboriginal Dreaming Story of Oola Boola Woo and his six daughters. It is said that Oola Boola Woo, the west wind, blew five of his daughters off Mount Keira for misbehaving, and they became the five islands off Port Kembla. The sixth daughter, Geera, sat on the mountain and fretted for her sisters, eventually transforming into the peak of what is now Mount Keira.
6. Mount Keira Ring Track
The Mount Keira Ring Track is a popular 5.5 kilometre loop walking track which passes through varied terrains and forests, starting and finishing in a scenic picnic spot. Expect to encounter lush rain forest, stunning vegetation and an array of bird songs.
7. Mount Kembla
Known as Jumbullah or Djembla (the Men’s Mountain) to the traditional landowners of the region, Mount Kembla was significant to the local men who hunted food for their families on the mountain. It was also a place of men’s ceremonies and business. In the last hundred years, the area surrounding Mount Kembla has been known for coal mining, most notably for the Mount Kembla Mine Disaster of 1902, in which 96 people lost their lives. Today, you
can visit the Mt Kembla Soldiers’ and Miners’ Memorial Church, which was erected in memory of the men who died in the disaster.
8. Rock Pools
The Wollongong Local Government Area has nine rock pools situated along the coast, which is unique to New South Wales. The pools are set in rock shelfs and provide an ocean swimming experience without the full force of the waves. The pools are located at Austinmer, Bellambi, Bulli, Coalcliff, Coledale, Gentlemen’s Pool (North Wollongong), Towradgi, Wombarra and Woonona.
9. Stanwell Park
Known for its hang gliding and paragliding pursuits, Stanwell Park is an idyllic beach town that offers breathtaking views of the NSW South Coast. This is the perfect place to base yourself if you’re looking for a weekend packed full of adventure and sightseeing.
10. Sublime Point Walking Track & Lookout
This is an iconic walking trek of the Illawarra escapement, known to locals as “Sublime”. It is a mostly uphill walk that covers a distance of 850 metres. The difficulty rating is hard, with a suggested walk time of 45 minutes. It is an ideal location for birdwatching; look out for yellow-tailed black cockatoos or raptor birds such as falcons and kestrels. Once you’ve reached the Sublime Point Lookout, enjoy 180 degree views over the sea, rainforest and the
17 beaches that span the coastline to Wollongong.
11. Wodi Wodi Walking Track
The Wodi Wodi track is a 6.5 kilometre walking track, named after the original Custodians that lived along the Illawarra coast. The track starts at Stanwell Park Station and ends near Coalcliff Station. Various points of interest include Bullock Track used by European settlers (1820), Lawrence Hargrave House (1880), and Stanwell Park Lagoon. Stop along the way at the various picnic areas and lookouts. Check in advance to ensure if it is open due to
weather.