Wollongong Top Ten Tourist Attractions

10 great things to see and do in and around Wollongong

1. Explore the horseshoe-shaped cove of

Wollongong Harbour

with its lighthouse, fishing fleet, fish markets and wonderful city beaches.

2. Stockpile some inner harmony at the eight-story

Nan Tien Buddhist Temple

the largest Buddhist temple in the Southern Hemisphere. It offers a fascinating insight into modern Buddhism with classes on Tai Chi, meditation, calligraphy and the indispensable skill of lotus flower folding. Open daily 9am-5pm except Mondays. www.nantien.org.au

3. NSW’s answer to Victoria’s Great Ocean Road, the 71km

Grand Pacific Drive

(also known as Lawrence Hargrave Drive), runs along a man-made cliff-hugging ledge between the pounding surf and towering escarpment wall north of Wollongong. A highlight is crossing the 49-million-dollar Sea Cliff Bridge, a 665-metre-long multi-span balanced cantilever bridge that curves around the cliffs 50 metres out to sea.

4. Bald Hill

at Stanwell Tops just north of Wollongong is Australia’s best spot for hang-gliding and paragliding. The site is about 500 feet above the sea, providing spectacular ocean views with the Royal National Park to the north and the escarpment and to the south and makes for fantastic flying when the winds are from the south/southeast. There are a number of companies offering tandem and instructional flights. Check out www.hangglideoz.com.au andwww.hanggliding.com.au

5. Take to the skies above the Illawarra.

Shellharbour-based NSW Air offers introductory flying lessons that really do put you in control of the plane. The plane is dual control, so your instructor pilot can take over if you get your self in trouble. Half hour and one-hour introductory lessons are available. Tel: (02) 4256 1001. www.nswair.com.auand www.aerialpatrol.com.au

6. The only place in NSW where you can

sky dive the beach

with the drop zone right on the beach is in north Wollongong. Experience the ultimate rush from 14000ft over the beautiful coastline of the Illawarra with great mountain and coastal views. Tandem freefall jumps available daily, weather permitting. www.skydivethebeach.com

7. Step back in time at the

Illawarra Museum in Market Square

. Special exhibits include a turn of the century classroom, stockman's hut and blacksmith's shop - all authentically recreated. Its open Wednesdays and Thursdays noon-3pm, weekends and public holidays 1pm-4pm. www.illawarramuseum.com

8. Rev it up at the

Illawarra Motoring Museum

near Kembla Grange with cars, motorcycles and all manner of jaunty jalopies on show, as well as lots of other motoring-related stuff like signs, accessories, promotional items, tools, badges and petrol pumps. As well, there’s a large collection of antique telephones, music machines, and typewriters dating back to 1870. Open Wednesday to Sundays 10am-4 pm. 634 Northcliffe Drive, Kembla Grange. www.motorlifemuseum.com.au

9. Wollongong City Gallery

is one of the largest regional art museums in the country, with a major collection of the art of the Illawarra, contemporary Australian, Aboriginal and Asian art. There’s a changing programme of exhibitions and arty events. See www.wollongongcitygallery.com for details. Open Tuesday to Friday 10am-5pm; weekends and public holidays noon-4pm. Corner of Kembla and Burelli streets.

10. Take a stroll through the

Botanic Gardens

at the base of Mt Keira. With everything from sunken rose gardens to rainforest and succulents, there’s plenty to see and smell. There is a free guided walk on the first Sunday of each month.