North Beach is Wollongong's busiest beach and is patrolled all year round. It is a short distance from Wollongong Harbour, and is surrounded by cafes, restaurants, and the historic North Beach Bathers Pavilion.
See BeachSafe details for this location
Patrol hours
Current hours
8am - 5pm daily
(Shoulder season, Sat 29 Mar - Sun 27 Apr 2025)
North Wollongong Beach hours for full swim season
| Dates | Patrol hours |
|---|---|
| Shoulder season Sat 28 Sept - Fri 1 Nov 2024 | 8am - 5pm daily |
| High season Sat 2 Nov - Fri 20 Dec 2024 | 8am - 6pm daily |
| Peak season Sat 21 Dec 2024 - Fri 31 Jan 2025 | 8am - 6pm Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm Sundays & Public Holidays |
| High season Sat 1 Feb - Fri 28 Mar 2025 | 8am - 6pm daily |
| Shoulder season Sat 29 Mar - Sun 27 Apr 2025 | 8am - 5pm daily |
| Winter until Fri 27 Sept 2024 | 9am - 4pm daily |
Note: beaches may close at short notice due to changes in ocean or weather conditions, including nearby lightning.
Location
Cliff Rd, North Wollongong
Get directions and check popular times on Google Maps.
Accessibility information
Beach wheelchair
Free beach wheelchairs can be booked for use during patrol hours. Use the button below to make a request.
We can't guarantee to meet all requests, but we’ll do our best to get you on the beach at your preferred time and location.
Please read the Beach Wheelchair Hire Agreement PDF, 104.83 KB before you make a request.
Beach matting
Beach matting can be arranged at this location on request. Please talk to Lifeguards or contact Council for more information.
Accessible parking spaces are available along Cliff Road, next to Stuart Park and in surrounding car parks.
There is a shared pathway and concrete concourse along the length of the beach.
Accessible toilets and showers are available near North Beach at these locations:
- North Beach Bathers Pavilion, open in daylight hours
- Stuart Park toilet block, open in daylight hours
- Continental Pool, see pool page for opening hours
- Belmore Basin (toilet only), open in daylight hours
- Wollongong City Beach (Surf Club), open in daylight hours.
- Lang Park, Exeloo automated toilets, open 24 hours a day.
Picnic areas
- There are multiple picnic shelters in Stuart Park.
- There are wheelchair accessible BBQs at the northern end of the park. These are connected by accessible pathways.
- Picnic tables are also available along the foreshore, and near Belmore Basin and Osborne Park.
Food and drink
- There are multiple cafes and kiosks on the beach foreshore and at the North Beach Bathers Pavilion.
- Many cafes and restaurants are nearby, including on Cliff Road, Bourke Street, and around Belmore Basin and Wollongong Harbour.
Continental Pool
- The Continental Pool is a short distance south of the beach, heading towards Wollongong Harbour. It has ramp access and accessible toilets and showers.
Rock platform access
- There is a ramp from the shared pathway near the Continental Pool which can be used to access the rock platform and the Gentlemen's Pool (tidal rock pool). Please note that the ramp and rock platform may not be accessible during high tides.
- This is a very busy area.
- There can be a lot of pedestrian and bike traffic along the shared path on the beach foreshore.
- Council is doing work on the North Beach Surf Club and sea wall. The club and some parts of the beach around the sea wall are closed while work is happening.
We welcome feedback from people with disability and their carers about your experience accessing our beaches.
Your feedback can help us find and fix problems, or plan for better access in future.
Nearby features
Top tips for safe swimming
- Supervise children - maintain eye or hand contact at all times
- Swim at patrolled beaches or a patrolled pool
- Only swim between the red and yellow flags at the beach
- Never swim alone or under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Stay out of the water if there is active thunder or lightning nearby.