Wollongong: The Most Bike-Friendly City in Australia! | Wollongong Travel Guide

Wollongong: The Most Bike-Friendly City in Australia! | Wollongong Travel Guide

[ Wollongong NSW | Australia ] [Music] Wollongong is possibly the most bike friendly city in Australia With dedicated cycle paths stretching from beach to beach Vibrant food hubs And stunning ocean views at every turn It’s the perfect mix of adventure and relaxation In this Australia travel vlog We’ll show you how easy it is to explore Wollongong and surrounds by bike From the best things to do in Wollongong Including its best cafes and local eats As well as places to stay [Music] Thirroul is one of Wollongong’s most northern suburbs And a favourite among locals for its relaxed coastal vibe With its leafy streets, boutique shops and beachside cycleways It’s a fantastic starting point for any Wollongong cycling adventure [Music] Thirroul’s cafe culture is alive and well with plenty of options available We first stopped at Blessed Bowls which is a local favourite It is a bright community cafe that’s all about healthy colourful eats Their acai bowls are loaded with tropical fruit and come topped with various toppings We couldn’t go past the passion fruit topping Sweet and tangy goodness For something heartier Cucina Thirroul serves up Mediterranean inspired breakfasts like chorizo and halloumi on sourdough It’s indulgent, satisfying and perfect after a morning cycle along the coast [Music] So, we’re in Aura Sweat in Thirroul And this is a great spa area So, you’ve got infrared spas You’ve got Finish spas You’ve got hot and cold pools as well It’s a great relaxing space [Music] So, how was that, Jay? Oh, that was a really relaxing experience I really liked that there was Netflix on the TV just outside the sauna That gave you a bit of distraction Made it quite relaxing So, yeah, you definitely sweat a lot And I like that you’ve got a private shower here as well So you can kind of switch between cooling yourself off in the shower And then going back into the sauna And I think 50 minutes in the sauna is a great amount of time So, you can have the sauna individually Or it goes up to three people Yeah and I don’t think you share with anyone else other than the person that you book with So that’s a nice little bonus as well [Music] Woonona is a suburb to the north of Wollongong It’s quite a beachy suburb And the name Woonona is from an Aboriginal word meaning place of the young wallaby And it was at this spot back in 1770 that Captain Cook nearly first landed on Australia Unfortunately, the waves were breaking a bit too hard and he had to keep going further north This suburb was originally settled in the mid 1800s driven by the coal mining industry Nowadays, it’s quite a well-to-do suburb, especially around the beach You can find some pretty fancy looking houses [Music] Woonona’s food scene is as diverse as its community At Big Five Lapa, we got a taste of South Africa Think smoky brisket, pulled pork And homemade barbecue sauce that’s sweet, tangy and totally addictive We even tried their milk tart for dessert Light, creamy and dusted with cinnamon Just down the road Woonona Kebab House serves up Turkish favourites Like beef kebabs and halal snack packs loaded with perfectly seasoned meat, chips and garlicy sauce [Music] Corrimal is a suburb in the north of Wollongong Famous for the birthplace of Streets Ice Cream Ted Street created Streets from making frozen custard in the 1930s And it just grew from there These days, Corrimal is famous for its Spring Into Corrimal festival Which is the largest free family one-day festival in regional New South Wales With over 70,000 people coming for the event Corrimal gets its name from Mount Corrimal Which is part of the Illawarra Escarpment So, Corrimal originally an Aboriginal dreamtime warrior The First Nations people of this area were known as the Dharawal people And we pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging Corrimal was originally founded around the logging industry in the mid 1800s And then that turned into coal mining towards the end of the century And that lasted for over a hundred years with the coke works closing down in 2014 [Music] We found some great Vietnamese food spots in Corrimal Bong’s Cafe and Restaurant brings the flavours of Vietnam to the Illawarra Serving steaming bowls of pho, rich with cinnamon, star anise and lemongrass And for one of the best banh mis in the region, Sam’s Crusty Bread shop is a must Their crispy pork banh mi is stuffed with crackling herbs and sweet salty sauces All tucked inside freshly baked bread that’s crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside [Music] Continuing the ride south, you’ll reach Fairy Meadow A great base for exploring the Wollongong coastline It’s just a 15-minute cycle from the city centre And the cycle path from here hugs the ocean all the way to the lighthouse It makes a perfect base to stay in Wollongong if you prefer a more laid-back vibe There are plenty of cafes and restaurants in Fairy Meadow to keep you satiated For a hearty meal, you can’t go past the Charles Hotel An iconic Fairy Meadow pub that’s been serving locals since the 1950s Expect generous portions, great value and all your pub classics We love the chicken tikka masala and grilled baramundi It’s hardy comfort food, perfect after a big day of riding [Music] Welcome to our accommodation near Wollongong – Nightcap at the Charles Hotel This is a boutique hotel which is set in a historic pub which dates back to the 1950s But it was renovated just six years ago And I really like the decor So, in particular, I love these artworks that are in each room Like this is a black cockatoo It really grounds the room, I think And it’s a really great piece of Australiana You’ve got really comfortable bed I’ve had such a good night’s sleep here It’s really comfortable Great bedding And you’ve got a smart TV which is a really good size here And it’s nicely positioned so you can watch TV in bed which I really like You’ve got your teas and coffees You’ve got a bar fridge which has complimentary water as well as milk And they’ve put a lot of attention to detail into appointing the room So what I really love is that they’ve got quite a few of these outlets which also have a USB outlet That’s one of my bug bears Especially because we’re content creators Just having enough space to charge up everything But yeah, it’s really good They’ve got three lots of those outlets throughout the room They’ve also got quite a bit of storage space Lots of hanging space, which is really good Hangers, and then you’ve got some space to store your luggage here They’ve got an ironing board and an iron And then they’ve also got a lot of natural light So, and particularly in the bathroom And this bathroom’s massive So, you’ve got a really nice size shower The shower pressure is excellent I really love this shower It’s got a rainfall shower head, which is really good Really nice body wash and soaps and shampoos Really good quality So, it’s a really nice space to come back to at the end of the day Get yourself clean before you head out on a night in the town But what I think is possibly the best feature of Nightcap at the Charles Hotel is its location So, we’re at Fairy Meadow Which is north of Wollongong It’s close to some of the best beaches in Wollongong And it’s only a 10-minute drive to the Wollongong CBD And you’ve got so many options for getting around So, you’ve got bus stops on your doorstep You’ve got the train station only 5 minutes walk away There’s a car park here You can also park your bikes And there’s a bike path Which is a level scenic bike path Which takes you 20 minutes into the city But another great thing is that it is right on the Wollongong Free City Loop bus line So you can get into the city really easily and for free And the buses run every 10 minutes during the day and 20 minutes at night And it runs up till 10:00 at night And because you’ve got the pub next door You can have pub food delivered to your room by room service Or you can just come next door for a meal and enjoy the pub atmosphere So, I’ve really felt at home at Nightcap at the Charles Hotel The staff have been really friendly as well And have made our stay extra special So, we’d like to give a big thank you to Nightcap at the Charles Hotel For partnering with us in this video and making it possible And if you want to stay here yourself Click on the link in our video description [Music] I’ve been past The Gong many times going down to the south coast And I’ve stopped over a couple of times to just go and get some petrol Or maybe do a Maccas run But this is the first time I’ve actually stayed in Wollongong And I really like it It’s got a really relaxed vibe You’ve got the beach You’ve got the city There’s so much to explore It’s really easy to get around There’s lots of great food places There’s some nice galleries There’s some nice parks And with the cycle paths They just seem to be everywhere And they’re not only just good for cyclists But I’ve seen people in wheelchairs and mobility scooters using them as well So, it’s great that there’s so many ways to explore the city And that it’s really open for everyone [Music] North Wollongong Beach is one of the most popular spots to visit in Wollongong It’s a really great spot here It’s very popular with the locals in the morning Going for them morning walks or walking the dog There are a couple of cafes here to enjoy your morning coffee And North Wollongong Beach is patrolled all throughout the year So you can swim in summer or winter [Music] The Wollongong Lighthouse is an iconic spot in Wollongong It was first lit in 1937 This was Australia’s first electric automated lighthouse And it’s a really cool vantage point to come up here And just look at the whole skyline of Wollongong As well as both sides of the coast So, it’s a real panoramic view It’s amazing [Music] For a dose of culture in Wollongong, come to Wollongong Art Gallery This is one of Australia’s biggest regional galleries And it spans over four levels The gallery has been open since 1978 And has been in its current location since 1991 It’s free to enter And it showcases artists from the lllawarra region As well as works from artists of national and international significance Entry is free and it’s open from Tuesdays to Sundays [Music] City Beach is a 3 km stretch of sand that’s right near the Wollongong CBD It’s a patrolled beach And you can swim here at the northern end [Music] For those chasing a thrill, Wollongong is also home to Skydive Australia The only beach skydive in the Sydney region It’s the ultimate way to see the coastline With panoramic views of the city, the escarment and the endless stretch of blue ocean [Music] One of the things that we really love about Wollongong is the Wollongong shuttle So, it’s a free service runs every 10 minutes throughout the day and every 20 minutes at night So, it takes you on a loop all through the Wollongong CBD to the outskirts of Wollongong We’re staying at Nightcap at the Charles Hotel in Fairy Meadow The bus is only a 5-minute walk away So it’s extremely convenient for us It’s a really great initiative to get people using public transport [Music] If you’re looking to get back to nature Come to the Wollongong Botanic Gardens So, they’re situated right next to the University of Wollongong It’s a really big space With plenty of different gardens to choose from and walk through and experience We’re currently in the rose garden now Rose gardens are my favourite I like going around and sniffing them all They provide a lot of learning experiences as well So, there’s plenty of mark signage To understand about the particular plants or gardens that you’re walking through There’s also a big focus on mindfulness So, there’s tips about gratitude and just being mindful in your current surroundings I think that’s really nice as well There’s also play equipment for all abilities It’s just a really nice calming space To get here we recommend taking the Wollongong free shuttle And getting off at the University of Wollongong [Music] Wollongong’s food scene is satisfyingly diverse With everything from trendy cafes to authentic global flavours You’ll find specialty coffee spots serving up your favourite order Alongside vibrant eeries dishing up bold Asian and European inspired cuisine There are also plenty of mouthwatering spots where you can grab a quick and tasty fast food fix And for dessert lovers There’s no shortage of indulgent treats to reward yourself after a long coastal ride If you visit on a Thursday night, don’t miss Eat Street in Wollongong CBD A buzzing night market filled with international street food, live music and great vibes It’s a local favourite And a perfect way to wrap up your day We put together a Wollongong food vlog dedicated to our amazing Eat Street experience Check it out if you want to learn more [Music] Heading further south beyond the Wollongong CBD is Port Kembla For a spiritual stop along the way, don’t miss Wollongong’s iconic Buddhist temple [Music] The Fo Guang Shan Nan Tien Temple in Wollongong Is one of the biggest Buddhist temples in the southern hemisphere It was built in 1995 And it’s been New South Wales heritage listed since 2024 This is a massive complex Which includes an eight-story pagoda A couple of large prayer halls And there’s accommodation as well as a cafe on site [Music] If you follow the path behind the pagoda You’ll come to a beautiful walking trail which leads you to views of the Illawarra Escarpment [Music] On our way to Port Kembla, we stumbled upon Atin Ito Filipino Finest Cuisine Atin Ito brings a taste of the Philippines to the Illawarra Serving up comforting dishes like adobo, pancit and halo halo It’s warm, homely and full of authentic flavour A true Wollongong hidden gem [Music] Port Kembla is known as one of Australia’s busiest ports But it’s also blessed with a lot of natural beauty So, you can see Port Kembla Beach behind me And there’s also the iconic Port Kembla ocean pool [Music] Head up to Hill 60 Lookout for sweeping panoramas of the Illawarra coastline It’s also a historic site with World War II bunkers scattered across the headland Down by the water The Port Kembla southern breakwater is a peaceful spot for a walk or cycle With waves crashing on one side And views stretching all the way back to Wollongong It’s the perfect place to slow down and soak up the coastal scenery [Music] [ How to get to Wollogong ] Wollongong is just 90 minutes south of Sydney by car or around 2 hours by train We travel by train and it was really handy to be able to take our bikes with us From Thirroul’s brunch spots to Port Kembla’s beaches Wollongong has everything you could want in a Sydney weekend getaway With stunning coastal rides, incredible food and plenty of places to unwind This is truly a cyclist paradise just south of Sydney We hope you enjoyed our Wollongong travel guide If you did, please hit the like button and leave us a comment We have plenty more New South Wales, South Coast and Australia travel vlogs If you want more of this, then be sure to subscribe We are Bucket List Travellers See you next time

Wollongong, the Most Bike-Friendly City in Australia! Wollongong is a cyclist’s dream come true, where beachside paths meet incredible food and culture. In this Wollongong travel guide, we show why this vibrant Wollongong city on the NSW South Coast is perfect for a Sydney weekend getaway or a relaxed Wollongong day trip. Ride along the scenic Wollongong coastal cycleway, take in the views from the Wollongong lighthouse, wander through the Wollongong botanic gardens and experience the spiritual calm of the Fo Guang Shan Nan Tien Temple. From breathtaking ocean vistas to thrilling skydiving Wollongong adventures, this Wollongong Australia vlog has all the best things to do in Wollongong.

Wollongong food lovers will find endless variety here — from seaside cafés and global bites to cosy Wollongong restaurants that showcase the region’s diversity. This Australia vlog captures the heart of Wollongong tourism through its people, flavours and natural beauty. Whether you’re cycling through the Illawarra, chasing adrenaline or simply soaking up the coastal vibe, this Bucket List Travellers guide reveals the very best things to do in Wollongong NSW — making it your go-to resource for your next adventure on the NSW South Coast.

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▶ VIDEO LINKS
Stay at Nightcap at the Charles Hotel:
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A tandem skydive for the thrillseeker’s bucket list:
https://links.jjbucketlisttravellers.com/SkydiveAustralia

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🕒 TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Australia travel vlog: Intro to Wollongong travel guide
0:38 Thirroul NSW: Café Culture & Coastal Vibes
1:04 Thirroul food: Best cafes in Thirroul (Blessed Bowls, Cucina Thirroul)
1:38 Wollongong tourism: Sauna near Wollongong (Aura Sweat)
3:01 NSW travel guide: Exploring Woonona NSW
3:45 Woonona food: South African BBQ (Big Five Lapa) & Turkish Eats (Woonona Kebab House)
4:34 NSW Travel vlog: Corrimal NSW
5:31 Corrimal food: Best Wollongong Vietnamese (Bong’s Cafe and Restaurant, Sam’s Crusty Bread Shop)
6:02 Wollongong coastal cycleway: Riding to Fairy Meadow
6:26 Wollongong pubs: Charles Hotel Fairy Meadow
6:45 Wollongong accommodation: Nightcap at the Charles Hotel Walkthrough
10:10 Wollongong city: Why visit The Gong
11:08 Wollongong beaches: North Wollongong Beach
11:33 What to do in Wollongong: Wollongong lighthouse
12:12 Wollongong attractions: Wollongong Art Gallery
12:47 Wollongong beaches: Wollongong City Beach
12:57 Best Things to do in Wollongong: Skydive Australia
13:17 Wollongong Transport: Free Gong Shuttle Bus
14:01 Wollongong activities: Wollongong botanic gardens
14:58 Wollongong food: Best restaurants in Wollongong CBD
15:25 What to do in Wollongong: Eat Street Night Market Crown St Wollongong
16:08 What to see near Wollongong: Fo Guang Shan Nan Tien Temple
16:50 Port Kembla restaurants: Filipino Cuisine Australia (Atin Ito Filipino Finest Cuisine)
17:16 Port Kembla NSW: Best Wollongong Beaches
17:34 Wollongong tourism: Port Kembla Hill 60 Lookout & Southern Breakwater
18:02 Wollongong travel tips: How to get to Wollongong from Sydney
18:22 Sydney Weekend Getaway: Cycling Wollongong with Bucket List Travellers

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