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From indoor climbing and wildlife parks to beaches and science museums, here are the best things to do with kids in Wollongong — tried and loved by local families.
Wollongong is one of those rare places where you can spend the morning at the beach, the afternoon climbing a 10-metre wall, and still be home in time for dinner. Whether you are a local family looking for a weekend reset or visiting the Illawarra for the school holidays, here are the best things to do in Wollongong with kids — tried, tested and loved by local families.
If your kids have energy to burn, indoor climbing at Hangdog is hard to beat. We have been Wollongong's home of climbing since 1994, with more than 150 climbs across top-rope walls, bouldering and eight auto-belays. There is no minimum age — if they can get up the wall, they can climb — and our team gives every new family a full safety briefing before they start.
It is completely weather-proof, which makes it the go-to rainy day activity in Wollongong. Kids aged five and up climb with a supervising adult, walk-ins are welcome seven days a week, and entry starts at $25 for kids and $28 for adults. If your child catches the climbing bug, our term-based Kids Learn to Climb program and school holiday sessions will keep them progressing.
The Science Space at the University of Wollongong is the region's favourite hands-on science museum, with interactive exhibits, live science shows and a planetarium that kids genuinely love. It is ideal for curious minds aged about four to twelve and pairs perfectly with a morning climb for a full day out.
Just north of Wollongong in Helensburgh, Symbio Wildlife Park lets kids hand-feed kangaroos, meet koalas and cool off in the splash park in summer. It is a classic Illawarra family day out and an easy add-on if you are driving down the Grand Pacific Drive.
Free to enter and endlessly explorable, the Botanic Garden has winding paths, duck ponds, a playground and plenty of space for a picnic. It is one of the best free family activities in Wollongong and a calm counterpoint to a high-energy climbing session.
The largest Buddhist temple in the Southern Hemisphere is right here in Berkeley. Entry is free, the grounds are beautiful, and older kids find the scale of it genuinely impressive. The on-site vegetarian cafe is a quiet win for lunch.
From Austinmer to Thirroul, the northern beaches are some of the best family beaches in NSW. Rock pools at low tide, patrolled swimming in summer, and grassed picnic areas mean you can fill a whole day for the cost of an ice cream.
Train-mad kids love the Illawarra Light Railway Museum at Albion Park, where heritage steam and diesel trains run on open days. Check their calendar before you go — running days are usually the second Sunday of the month.
Designed for children from birth to twelve, the Early Start Discovery Space at UOW is Australia's only dedicated children's museum. It is all about play-based learning, with rotating exhibits that keep regulars coming back.
The best family days mix it up: something active, something curious, something delicious. If you are starting with a climb, we would love to see you at Hangdog — 130 Auburn Street, Wollongong, open seven days. Book online or just walk in.
