Wollongong

Many Sydneysiders trek further down the coast for their getaways, bypassing this friendly, old-school gem.

An easy, 90-minute drive south of Sydney, Wollongong offers a multitude of options for a day trip or a weekend away.

Thirroul is a small town, now a northern suburb of Greater Wollongong, where D.H. Lawrence stayed and wrote 'Kangaroo'.

Wollongong is a major steel city south of Sydney. It's the third largest city in New South Wales.

You don't need beer goggles to be seduced by the views from the beer garden at the Scarborough Hotel

Undeterred by the Illawarra's curiously modest self-promotion, Bruce Elder enjoys a city stay by the ocean.

Explorers tried to land at Wollongong and failed. Bruce Elder takes an easier approach and is surprised by what he finds.

Lance Richardson dons helmet and goggles for a thrilling ride in a 1943 biplane.

From extreme relaxation to extreme sport, Craig Tansley experiences a full range of response in one action-packed weekend.

All the beach-break ingredients on his doorstep has Simon Tsang joining the Illawarra fan club.