Exercise Reduces Anxiety Symptoms for Wollongong Residents, Study Shows

People in Wollongong who added 30 minutes of moderate movement five days a week recorded a 22 percent average reduction in anxiety scores after eight weeks, according to follow-up data collected by the University of Wollongong wellness program that closed its latest round on 30 June 2026.

The findings arrive as local mental health services report longer wait times at the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District clinics, where referrals for anxiety treatment rose 14 percent in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period last year.

Trails and Pools Deliver Accessible Options

Residents can reach the Illawarra Escarpment via the Mount Keira Ring Track starting at the Mount Keira Road car park, where a 4.2 kilometre loop combines steady climbs with ocean views. Swimmers at the North Wollongong rock pool on Cliff Road report similar effects after 20 minute laps followed by a short walk along the adjacent cycle path that links to Stuart Park.

Nan Tien Temple in Berkeley runs a twice-weekly walking meditation session on its grounds for a $12 entry fee that includes access to the tea house afterward; the program began its current schedule on 1 July and still has spaces available for the Friday morning group.

Evidence Points to Consistent Gains

A 2025 longitudinal study published by the University of Wollongong tracked 187 adults living within 15 kilometres of the city centre and found those who exercised outdoors at least three times weekly showed lower cortisol readings at 8am compared with a matched control group. The same research recorded an average 19 percent improvement on the GAD-7 anxiety scale after 12 weeks.

Local cycling groups meet every Saturday morning at 7am outside the Stuart Park kiosk on George Hanley Drive, with routes that stay under 20 kilometres and finish by 9am. Participants pay nothing to join and can borrow helmets from the nearby Wollongong Bicycle Library at 45 Crown Street if needed.

Anyone starting a new routine should speak with a GP at one of the practices along Crown Street before increasing intensity, especially if they have existing joint concerns or take medication that affects heart rate.