Relocating to Wollongong

Content: Transport: Air, Car, Parking, Public transport, Train, Bus, Bike | Accommodation | Real estate | Education | Child care | Hospitals and community health  | Media | Entertainment and lifestyle
 
As one of Australia’s largest cities, we have a vast and diverse choice of accommodation, real estate, transportation, educational institutions and entertainment/lifestyle options available to you.

Transport:
There are a number of transport options available to get to and around the Illawarra/Wollongong region.

Air

Wollongong is situated approx 80kms south of Sydney’s International and Domestic Airports. You can view transport options to and from the airport as well as parking alternatives from:

• Sydneynew Airport 
• Airport Link

There are a number of Airport Shuttle Service operators in Wollongong who can get you to and from the airport.

• Yellow pages - search 'Airport Shuttle Services’

Car
The Illawarra region is relatively easy to navigate by car with the Northern Distributor and Princes Highway being the major thoroughfares connecting Wollongong to the northern suburbs and the Southern Freeway (F6), Princes Highway and Springhill Road connecting Wollongong to the southern suburbs. 

In the past few decades the Illawarra has experienced rapid growth which has led to an increase in the number of vehicles using the roads so we encourage you to explore our public transport options wherever possible. 

Parking

• Wollongong City - click on the Shopping and Business link for a list of parking station location within the CBD of Wollongong

Stewart Street Parking Station, located directly behind Council’s administration Building, offers 2 hours free public parking and limited rooftop or undercover parking spaces allocated to and paid by Council employees

Public transport

• Southern Councils - provides an Illawarra guide to public transport 
• 131 500 - provides a transport guide that covers the greater Sydney area and included buses, trains and ferries timetables

Train

• Cityrail - operates a direct route from the Illawarra to Sydney, its southern suburbs and Central Business District known as the intercity South Coast Line. Connecting train to the domestic or international airport terminals can also be caught from Wolli Creek station which is a stop along this line.

Wollongong City Council’s Administration Building is located a short 15 min walk along Burelli St from Wollongong station.

Bus
There are a number of local bus operators which provide regular services to Wollongong City Centre and its surrounding suburbs. 

• Dion’s Bus Service provides regular services up to Austinmer and also direct to the University of Wollongong from the Northern Suburbs. 
• Greens Northern Coaches provides services up to Stanwell Park and Helensburgh 
• Premier Illawarra operates regular bus services which links Wollongong, North Wollongong, the University of Wollongong, Dapto, Albion Park, Port Kembla, Shellharbour and as far south as Kiama.

Bike
Wollongong has an extensive cycleway network which extends from Thirroul in the north to Windang in the south – not only a scenic recreational activity but also a healthy way to get to work. 

• Wollongong City Council's cycleways page - for more information and a map of our cycleways
  Bike racks are available for Council employees in the Stewart Street Parking Station.

Accommodation
Wollongong has a wide range of options to suit every budget - luxury beachfront accommodation, serviced apartments, hotels and motels, bed & breakfasts and tourist parks and resorts.

• Wollongong City  - click on the accommodation link
• Tourism Wollongong  - click on the accommodation link

Real estate
Given Wollongong’s stunning location you can choose between beachfront, bush land and inner city living, established leafy suburbs to new areas of urban development.  So if you are looking for a ‘sea change’ - a leisurely coastal lifestyle whilst also enjoying the benefits and conveniences of modern city living, then it’s all here in Wollongong. 
You can search for current property rentals and sales at the following general real estate websites:

• Domain real estate 
• RealEstate.com.au 
• Property.com.au

For a list of real estate agencies in the Illawarra/Wollongong region visit the following website:

• Southcoast travel website (see accommodation directories) 
• Yellow Pages - search 'Real Estate Agent'

Education
Wollongong offers a wide range of schools – public, private and religious - at every level of education – infant, primary & secondary. See following websites for list of local schools.

Infant, primary and secondary

• Public Schools: NSW Department of Education under Public schools tab 
• Catholic Schools: Diocese of Wollongong Catholic Education Office website 
• Private & other schools: search for Schools in the Wollongong Region on the Yellow Pages website

Tertiary 

• University of Wollongong (UOW) - the UOW is an award winning university ranked among the top eight universities in Australia and in 2006 was ranked in the top 200 universities in the world – a considerable honour for a regional university. It is an international university with over 18,000 students spread across three campuses and five access centres, it offers a wide range of courses across nine faculties - Arts, Education, Health & Behavioral Sciences, Engineering, Law, Science, Informatics, Commerce and Creative Arts. 
• TAFE NSW - the Illawarra Institute of TAFE is the largest provider of vocational education and training in Southern NSW with student body of over 40,000 people and five campuses in the Wollongong region. 
• WEA Illawarra - WEA Illawarra is a community based organisation dedicated to adult learning and education.  Its educational program is very broad and ranges from humanities, languages and arts, to computer, business and vocational training.  For list of current courses on offer visit:

Child care

• Care for Kids - search for child care centres in the Wollongong region

Hospitals and community health

• The South Eastern Sydney and Illawarra Area Health Service - offers a wide range of hospital and community health care services in the local region

Media
There are a number of commercial and community print and electronic media servicing the Illawarra region.

• South Coast Media Directory - provides a comprehensive list of each media with their contact details

Newspapers

• The Illawarra Mercury

Free community papers

• The Advertiser (Wollongong region) 
• The Lake Times (southern suburbs) 
• The Northern Leader (northern suburbs)

Radio

• 98i FM  
• Wave FM (96.5FM) 
• ABC Radio Illawarra (97.3FM) 
• Vox FM (106.9 FM community radio)

Television

• WIN Television 
• Prime TV 
• Southern Cross Ten

Entertainment and lifestyle
In terms of recreation, sports and leisure, arts and culture, shopping, dining out and entertainment, the options in Wollongong are endless and reflect the diversity in our community as well as our beautiful location and mild climate. So whatever your interests, Wollongong has it on offer.
We would recommend visiting the following websites for information about entertainment and lifestyle:

• Tourism Wollongong 
• Wollongong City we 
• Illawarra Performing Arts Centre (IPAC) 
• Wollongong City Gallery 
• WIN Sports and Entertainment Centre 
• Wollongong Science Centre and Planetarium 
• Nan Tien Temple 
• Wollongong Central Shopping Centre