Wollongong.

The drive south from Sydney to Wollongong skirts the Royal National Park and then some impressive coastal scenery through the seaside villages of Scarborough, Wombara and Thirroul and although Wollongong is mainly an industrial town with steel, copper, coal, electricity and grain plants, the nearby mountains have helped maintain a country town feel to the city.

With a population of over 250,000 Wollongong is the third-largest city in New South Wales. and the tenth-largest in Australia and despite being one of australia's largest steel producing cities, with all the attendant smoke and grime, Wollongong is really a very charming and beautiful place.

If dirty and smelly is your impression of Wollongong you really should think again.

It is a great place to go for a day out or for a holiday.

It offers the traveller a sophisticated shopping area, beautiful beaches, some of the most spectacular scenery on the NSW coast, sites of great natural beauty, some ideal fishing spots and the city's Botanic Gardens are a wonderful breath of fresh air.

Situated near the remarkable Gleniffer Brae they are cool and beautiful with wonderfully colourful displays.

There is also a great selection of accommodation in Woolongong to suit every budget.

The port and Wollongong Harbour are both genuinely interesting places to visit and the town's history, particularly its coalmining background, is fascinating.

Historically the area was first inhabited by the Wodi Wodi aboriginal tribe who would have enjoyed the temperate climate and natural features as much as anyone today.

It is thought that Captain Cook attempted a landing here in April 1770 but was unsuccessful due to rough conditions.

Eventually settlers arrived and the first of these were timber getters and farmers.

The Bulli Pass was constructed in 1868 and enabled more settlers to arrive from Sydney, by land.

The rail connection to Sydney was completed in the late 1880s and the local coal mining industry commenced around the same time.

Wollongong's famous manufacturing steelworks industry was established in the late 1920s and is now a major economic element of the city largely owned and operated by BHP, Australia's largest company.

This industry attracted many of our immigrants in the mid 1900s and this has left the city with a legacy of a multiculturally rich population that celebrates all year round with a fascinating calendar of cultural events.

Colourful and inspiring, these festivals attract and entertain visitors of all nationalities from near and far and are well worthy of a visit if you happen to be in the area when they're on.

Local festivals include Seafood and Sail at Wollongong Harbour in mid-February and Harbourfest, held in May at Port Kembla Harbour with a street parade, fireworks, live entertainment, street theatre, children's activities, a waterskiing display and a circus.

Folklorica in June is a multicultural celebration with parade that centres around Wollongong's city centre.

The Wollongong Visitor Centre has a comprehensive cultural services and facilities directory.

Another reason to visit Wollongong is it's beaches.

To those not in the know Wollongong beaches are a closely guarded secret, clean, uncrowded and quite splendid.

Wollongong's beaches, lagoons and other waterways are some of the best in all of Australia.

Many beaches are patrolled during the summer months and our surf lifesaving clubs are amongst Australia's champions.

Ask the locals for the best beach to suit your desire. Sheltered and calm for children and non-swimmers or with a big break for accomplished board riders, you'll find the right beach for you.

Lake Illawarra is the venue for many types of watersports, from windsurfing and sailing to fishing and prawning and you can explore the Lake during a luxury cruise, day or night.

The awesome escarpment which sits behind Wollongong to the west and the sparkling blue Pacific stretching to the east, frame this city with a natural beauty that has to be seen to be believed.

The escarpment is a popular launching point for hang-gliders, travelling the two or so kilometres from the cliffs to the coast.

The food culture in Wollongong has always been rich and varied.

The families who came to the area from Italy, Greece and many other European countries brought with them their love of food and of entertainment.

In later decades they were joined by families from South East Asia and the Middle East.

Their influence is everywhere, the heart of the city is adorned with a bewildering array of restaurants, cafes and eateries.

Time spent in Wollongong reminds the local and the visitor alike of the finest things in life, great food, delicious wine, good friends and stunning views.

As with the restaurants, accommodation in Wollongong is also represented on a wide scale.

From beachside waterfont units, motels and caravan parks to bushy mountainside retreats or luxury international style resorts, the range affords you the choice of the perfect place to stay whether you're travelling on a strict budget or want to really live it up and indulge yourself to the extreme.

Yes, "dirty, smelly Wollongong" is definately a place you should visit next time you're in need of a break and you're in the area.....enjoy,

John.

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