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Where to Book a Stay in Wollongong, New South Wales

Take a dip in the pool at Headlands Austinmer Beach and enjoy glorious coastal views
Take a dip in the pool at Headlands Austinmer Beach and enjoy glorious coastal views | Courtesy of Headlands Austinmer Beach / Expedia

Beachside Wollongong is the third-largest city in New South Wales and one of the most photogenic. It sits south of Sydney, along the Grand Pacific Drive – a 140km (87mi) coastal stretch as scenic as the name suggests. If you’re in town, there are plenty of great places to stay, catering to every type of traveller. Need help? Here’s the best accommodation Wollongong has to offer.

Novotel Wollongong Northbeach

Hotel

Shaded outdoor dining area at Novotel Wollongong Northbeach, with several cushioned benches on wooden decking
Courtesy of Novotel Wollongong Northbeach / Expedia

Novotel Wollongong Northbeach is located along the popular Blue Mile precinct of the city, close to great restaurants and many delicious local coffee haunts such as Diggie’s Cafe. Wander from Wollongong North Beach to Adrift, the pool bar at the hotel, for a watermelon frosé or two in the perennial New South Wales sun. You can even hire a private poolside cabana for the afternoon.

Sage Hotel Wollongong

Hotel

Outdoor pool with handrail, plus several shaded and cushioned loungers beside it at Sage Hotel Wollongong
Courtesy of Sage Hotel Wollongong / Expedia

Mere footsteps from the shores of Wollongong Beach, the Sage Hotel is ideal for both business and leisure travellers. Those in the former category may choose to take advantage of the 13 purpose-built function areas in the hotel, while holidaymakers can explore the city on foot. Alternatively, head to nearby Lake Illawarra for a swim or waterskiing.

Coniston Hotel Wollongong

Hotel

Two adjacent single beds in room with coastal canvas art on white-painted wall at Coniston Hotel Wollongong
Courtesy of Coniston Hotel Wollongong / Expedia

The Coniston Hotel has been a cornerstone of the broader Wollongong community for more than 60 years. Now, after a substantial facelift, it’s entering a new era with the aim of becoming one of the premier venues on the South Coast. The 20 stylish rooms here are a great base from which to explore the best sights in the Illawarra region, just minutes from the Wollongong CBD but away from the bustle.

Southview Boutique Guest House

Guesthouse

Outdoor pool area with two loungers, plus two wooden chairs by a table on wooden decking at Southview Boutique Guest House
Courtesy of Southview Boutique Guest House / Booking.com

If you’re seeking the best boutique accommodation Wollongong can offer, you can’t pass up Southview Boutique Guest House. The two self-contained suites available to book are part of the owner’s family home in the suburb of Bulli – 15 minutes north of Wollongong CBD and less than five minutes to idyllic Sandon Point Beach. They also offer a standard king room called the StopOver for travellers after a no-frills place to stay.

Headlands Austinmer Beach

Hotel

Indoor social area with ten chairs by a table at Headlands Austinmer Beach; glass doors open to oceanside terrace with seats
Courtesy of Headlands Austinmer Beach / Expedia

Shortly after crossing the jaw-dropping Seacliff Bridge on your way down the South Coast, you’ll come to Austinmer. It’s here, nestled up on the rugged headland, that you’ll find Headlands Austinmer Beach. This modern hotel in Wollongong offers a variety of rooms – from studios to apartments – decorated with coastal-meets-Scandi decor. Watch the Pacific Ocean waves roll in as you enjoy a hot breakfast at their on-site restaurant, the Brasserie.

Nightcap at the Charles Hotel

Hotel

Double bed in white-painted room with bird art, plus chair by desk under air-conditioning unit, Nightcap at the Charles Hotel
Courtesy of Nightcap at the Charles Hotel / Expedia

Sports enthusiasts are taken care of at the Charles Hotel, with flat-screen televisions and several projectors dotting the pub and lounge area, showing all different sporting codes – although you may have to battle locals to switch off their beloved rugby league. Nightcap at the Charles Hotel, just 4km (2.5mi) from the Wollongong CBD, also pours a large range of beers in the sun-drenched beer garden.

The Belmore All-Suite Hotel

Chain Hotel

Double bed in room with two bedside lamps and tables, plus thick brown curtains at the Belmore All-Suite Hotel
Courtesy of The Belmore All-Suite Hotel / Expedia

The humble Belmore All-Suite Hotel offers 34 different rooms, from studios to serviced two-bedroom apartments, catering to all traveller preferences. It’s situated in a prime pocket of Wollongong real estate, too, within walking distance of attractions such as the WIN Sports and Entertainment Centres and the Breakwater Lighthouse, making it the perfect home base for your South Coast jaunt.

Best Western City Sands

Golf Hotel

Golf course with large water hazard and many buggies parked outside Best Western City Sands
Courtesy of Best Western City Sands / Booking.com

Enjoy a hit of golf at the 18-hole course at Wollongong Golf Club before settling in for the night at their on-site hotel, the Best Western City Sands. This four-star retreat offers ocean-view rooms overlooking the fairway and others facing the lush Illawarra Escarpment – many with private balconies, so you can soak in the unbeatable vistas. Not a golfer? The hotel is just a short walk to Wollongong Beach and the central shopping district.

Adina Apartment Hotel Wollongong

Apartment, Hotel

Sun shines behind the roadside exterior of multi-storey Adina Apartment Hotel Wollongong, as cars drive past
Courtesy of Adina Apartment Hotel Wollongong / Expedia

The Adina Apartment Hotel in Wollongong was designed with the modern-day traveller in mind. Situated in the centre of town, two minutes from the Illawarra Museum, its 72 dwellings are warm yet no-fuss. The one- and two-bedroom apartments are equipped with many conveniences, from a fully stocked kitchen to a separate laundry. You can also use the gym and pool facilities during your stay.

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