Best parks and outdoor spaces in Wollongong

Wollongong's geography — the Illawarra Escarpment immediately behind the city and the Pacific Ocean in front — creates the most dramatically positioned city natural environment in NSW, with world-class walking, swimming, and coastal experiences accessible from every suburb.

Royal National Park — the world's second-oldest national park (1879) begins 20 kilometres north of Wollongong and provides the coastal walk from Bundeena to Otford (26 kilometres, 2 days), the Wattamolla and Garie beaches, and the heath-covered clifftops that deliver the most dramatic coastal scenery between Sydney and Wollongong. The Otford entrance is 30 minutes from Wollongong CBD.

Illawarra Escarpment State Conservation Area — the forested escarpment that rises 400 metres immediately behind Wollongong provides the Mount Keira summit walk, the Dombarton Falls, and the extensive mountain bike trail network of the Gum Tree Mountain Bike Trails that draw riders from Sydney specifically for the technical terrain that the escarpment's gradient creates.

Wollongong Botanic Garden — the 27-hectare botanic garden between Keiraville and Gwynneville provides the Japanese garden, the fernery, the children's garden, and the native plant collection that make it an excellent all-weather outdoor destination within cycling distance of the city centre.

Nan Tien Temple Gardens — the temple complex in Berkeley includes formal gardens, a lake, and meditation spaces that are open to respectful visitors and provide one of the most culturally distinctive garden experiences available within an Australian city.

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