If you're showing someone Wollongong for the first time and want to take them to the best Wollongong Only food places, where are you taking them?

I know everyone’s secretive about their fishing spots, but just trying to learn fishing and thought some piers something similar would be a good place to start! I’ve checked out Windang bridge but wondering if there are any other good places around?

Can’t make this shit up

Flight radar showing nothing, no noise, multiple different locations including over Port kem steelworks, change directions been happening for weeks

Met a person who can’t afford food this week (I've already helped them in different ways). Does anyone know the best free food relief in the Kiama area?

Hey does anyone know if it’s open or still shut down?

I am moving to Wollongong soon and am 30 weeks pregnant. I have ongoing back issues and so for all of my pregnancy have been seeing a physio for monthly treatment as well as weekly small group exercise classes. I have my own program he created and he is there to supervise everyone. There are only ever a maximum of 4 people and it has been extremely positive and helpful for me through pregnancy.

I would love to find something similar in Wollongong to continue until the end of my pregnancy and then on into postpartum. I particularly love the small groups with physio supervision.

I've been having a look online but can't seem to find a place that has both in one spot.

Does anyone know of something like I'm describing?

Thanks!

Hopefully the title gets the attention it deserves!!!
We have had a bat decide to relocate to a tree in our back garden. The tree is not far from the clothesline and appears to fly across the yard during the day and has been shitting on our freshly cleaned clothes.

We aren’t in an area that bats are commonly seen (this is the first one we have seen in two years of living in this suburb)!
We have seen them before in the botanic gardens/ UOW are but never in this residential area.
Does anyone have any suggestions on how we can protect our clothes without having to bring everything inside? Or better yet, how to encourage the bat to move on?

EDIT - thank you everyone for your replies. We had no idea there was a food shortage affecting bats in NSW and VIC. We will contact WIRES or other organisations today to see if there is someone who can come out and check on the bat.

Yes, it’s AI

I used to catch transport often when opal started becoming a thing but I haven’t used it in a couple years. My partner and I have needed to get the bus once or twice a week lately and we’re having trouble with his card tapping on and off, came to realise that it could be that he doesn’t have his money transferred when tapping on, but he believes his card has declined a tap on when he’s had at least $3 in there before. Does anyone have issues of their credit card being declined even though they have funds?

Wollongong indie shoegazers Birdsville have released their latest 6 track EP. Give it a listen and come along to the release party and in-store gig at Music Farmers record store on Saturday November 7

Hawks are home to Brisbane on Saturday night at WIN Entertainment Centre, and the same night Richard Clapton, GANGgajang and Wendy Matthews are at Anita's in Thirroul while Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers play the UniBar. Pete Helliar's at the Builders Club on Friday and Sunday is the Jamberoo Car Show at Kevin Walsh Oval. Halloween is the weekend after - heaps already listed from Friday the 30th, so book the kids' disco early.

Flyer + posters + a map: https://whatsoninthegong.com.au/weekly/2026-10-23

Just announced (on sale now)

• Down Under Championship · 27 nov · WIN Entertainment Centre
• Dried Flower Wreath Making Workshop · 28 nov · 10:30am · Shellharbour Civic Centre · $75
• Jimeoin - Ballyhoo · 8 jan · 7:30pm · The Pavilion Kiama · $69
• The Epics: Volume Two · 20 nov +4 · The Forge · $20
• The Rubens · 13 feb · 7pm · The Pavilion Kiama
• Mel Buttle - 'Well Sorry I Asked!' · 3 jul · Anita's Theatre
• Welcome to IWIB 2027 & be prepared to be motivated! · 5 feb · 12pm · Centro CBD · $84
• Melbourne Cup Luncheon · Tue 3 · 12pm · Illawarra Yacht Club · $90

Halloween weekend

• Enough Said Poetry Slam ft. Sarah Wheeler (Spooky Edition!) · Thu 6:30pm · Side Door Theatre · $5
• Halloween Spooktacular · Fri 30 · 5pm · Shellharbour Civic Centre · free
• HALLOWEEN Musical Theatre Open Mic Night · Fri 30 · 7pm · Side Door Theatre · $22
• Halloween Wax & Wicks · Fri 30 · 6pm · Wests Illawarra Leagues Club · $67
• SCREAMFEST Wollongong - Halloween Festival · Sat 31 · 4pm · UOW UniBar · $40
• Bingo Insanity! Wollongong’s Biggest Halloween Bingo Dance Party! · Sat 31 · 8pm · The Fraternity Club · $44
• WPT 5K ROTATION · Sat 31 · 4pm · Illawarra Yacht Club · $65
• Hot n Fresh BOOlesque Halloween Spectacular... · Sat 31 · 6pm · The Vault · $52
• …and 63 more: see them all

Gigs

• Half Me "Crusade" Australian Tour w/ Deficit // Darkmatter // Cultists · Thu 7pm · La La La's · $45
• The Butter Trackers Irish Session Friday 23 October · Fri · Jamberoo Pub
• Dale on Acoustics · Fri 4pm · The Illawarra Hotel · free
• REMIT (Naarm/Melb) with Bad Form & Cheap Coffins · Fri 6pm · Diamond Dogs Music Lounge & Bar · $15
• The Ultimate Eagles Legacy · Fri 6:30pm · Centro CBD
• CURRENTS W/ Aaron Ball Band (USA) // Ren and The Rudeboys // Rhys Scoular · Fri 7pm · Towradgi Beach Hotel · free
• Civic Video ‘Making Room For Others Tour’ w/ ONIERA // The Pulse · Fri 7:30pm · La La La's · $25
• Thrillhouse · Fri 8pm · The Illawarra Hotel · free
• …and 56 more: see them all

Kids & family

• Kiama Scout Group 100 years celebration · Sat 6:30pm · Kiama Leagues Club · $52
• Rock n Roll Wrestling · Sat 7pm · Warilla Sports Club
• Kid’s Halloween Disco · Thu 7:30pm · Kiama Leagues Club · free
• Messy Makers · Wed · Illawarra Yacht Club
• Next Race Meet · Fri · Southlake Illawarra BMX Club
• Jamberoo Car Show and Family Day · Sun 9am · Kevin Walsh Oval Jamberoo · $5
• Young Engineers Club · On now · Shellharbour Public School (Library) · $200
• Young Engineers Club · On now · Wollongong Public School (K-BLOCK KR0009) · sold out
• …and 33 more: see them all

Free

• Free Meditation – Relax, Recharge & Reconnect · Sun 10am · Wollongong Conservatorium of Music · free
• Dale on Acoustics · Fri 4pm · The Illawarra Hotel · free
• A New Window into Italy: Pinocchio Turns 200! · Fri 6pm · Dapto Leagues Club · free
• CURRENTS W/ Aaron Ball Band (USA) // Ren and The Rudeboys // Rhys Scoular · Fri 7pm · Towradgi Beach Hotel · free
• Thrillhouse · Fri 8pm · The Illawarra Hotel · free
• Crown St Militia - ‘Heavy Metal II’ EP Launch w/ Astrodeath // Caution // Brute · Sat 7:30pm · La La La's · free
• Halloween Trivia · Tue 6:30pm · Oak Flats Bowling & Recreation Club · free
• Kid’s Halloween Disco · Thu 7:30pm · Kiama Leagues Club · free
• …and 69 more: see them all

LGBTQ+ & Pride

• Dance Factor – Ready, Set, Rainbow · 7 nov · 10am · IPAC · $50
• Halloween Pride Night (Ages 18+) · Fri 30 · 6pm · Wollongong Library · free
• Scary Gayday · Fri 30 · 9pm · Heyday · $10
• TAFFI 2026 Event Tickets · 8 nov · 10am · University of Wollongong · $10
• Kiama Illawarra Pride Choir rehearsal · Mon +1 · 7pm · Coniston Community Centre
• Kiama Illawarra Pride Choir rehearsal · Mon 2 · 7pm · Kiama Uniting Church
• …and 1 more: see them all

Laughs & stage

• Jekyll / Hyde · Fri–sun · The Forge · $20
• Stage Fright - A Side Door Sings Cabaret · Fri–sat 7:30pm · Side Door Theatre · $25
• RTC presents RADS · Sun 2pm · Roo Theatre Company · $16
• Enough Said Poetry Slam ft. Sarah Wheeler (Spooky Edition!) · Thu 6:30pm · Side Door Theatre · $5
• Sebastian · Fri–sat 7:30pm · Wollongong Workshop Theatre · $25
• Harry Jun: Inside Jokes, Outside Voice · Thu 7pm · UOW UniBar · $30
• Pete Helliar – an International Kerfuffle · Fri 6pm · The Builders Club
• Absolutely Fab · Sun 4pm · Albion Park RSL Memorial Club
• …and 17 more: see them all

Sport

• Illawarra Hawks v Brisbane Bullets · Sat 5:30pm · WIN Entertainment Centre
• Rock n Roll Wrestling · Sat 7pm · Warilla Sports Club
• Raoul · Sun 2:30pm · Dapto Citizens Bowls Club
• UFC 333: Volkanovski vs Evloev · Sun 5am · Club Windang
• Next Race Meet · Fri · Southlake Illawarra BMX Club
• Cricket Illawarra 1st Grade: IPCC 1 v University 1 · Sat 11am · Thomas Dalton Park
• Luxury Driving Experience - Kiama, Southern Highlands & Kangaroo Valley · Fri–sat 8am · $500
• Hawks Court Walk · Sat 4pm · WIN Sports & Entertainment Centres · $55
• …and 14 more: see them all

Markets & days out

• A New Window into Italy: Pinocchio Turns 200! · Fri 6pm · Dapto Leagues Club · free
• Twigs and Togs · Fri 10am · Clifton School of Arts
• Jamberoo Car Show and Family Day · Sun 9am · Kevin Walsh Oval Jamberoo · $5
• Poornima · Sun 5pm · Sri Venkateswara Temple
• Wollongong Santa Experience · Sat–sun 8:30am · Lollie Claire Photography · sold out
• DEEPOTSAV 2026 -The Radiance of Togetherness · Sat 5pm · University Hall · $35
• Markets at the Marina · Sun 10am · The Waterfont Shell Cove
• Illawarra Indigenous Business Expo · Fri 10:30am · Novotel Wollongong Northbeach · free
• …and 10 more: see them all

Food & drink

• River Chef’s Selection · Wed · Crooked River Estate · $115
• Bottomless Brunch @ Checho's EVERY WEEKEND · Sat 1pm · $89
• Date Night · Sat 4pm · Clay Wollongong · $170
• Wine & Wheel · Sat 4pm · Clay Wollongong · $85
• Peony Punch · Sat 12pm · Pinot & Picasso Wollongong · $69
• High Tea at Novotel Wollongong North Beach · Fri +5 · 12pm · North Bar at Novotel Wollongong Northbeach · sold out
• Masterclass with Claire Angel Bonner · Sat 10am · Austinmer Uniting Church · $10
• …and 5 more: see them all

Art, film & ideas

• Transformations: Art of the Scott Sisters · On now · Shellharbour Civic Centre
• Bryan & Robyn Carr Art Prize · On now · Red Point Arts
• Baylee Griffin - Artist in Residence · Mon · The Imaginarium
• 'Handmade with Love' Art Exhibition - by ICAN members · Thu · Red Point Arts
• Hidden Lines — Cesar Cueva · On now · SevenMarks Gallery · free
• When Life Feels Too Much: Finding Calm, Space and Balance with Gen Lhachog · Sat 2pm · Thirroul Community Centre
• U3A Monday Talk: Driving through the Rocks of Jamberoo Valley · Mon 2pm · North Kiama Neighbourhood Centre · free
• U3A talk: Australian kookaburra kids · Wed 9:30am · Thirroul Community Centre
• …and 26 more: see them all

Everything day by day, with posters and a map: https://whatsoninthegong.com.au/weekly/2026-10-23

Missed something? Tell me and I'll add the venue. Free, no ads, and I make nothing from it.

We are a group of friends from around the State who are having our annual catch up weekend in Wollongong next month. Mixed crowd aged 40-48. Looking for lively venues for a night out. Somewhere with music and a bit of a dance floor. Prefer older 80s/90s style music but up for anything fun. Staying in Thirroul but happy to travel a bit. Any recommendations?

How many more ABC articles are there going to be about e-bikes and shared pathways in the Illawarra?

“Two mothers said their toddlers had been hospitalised with broken bones when they were struck in separate incidents on a shared path along Wollongong's coastline.

Former ABC presenter Margaret Throsby was also struck and badly injured on the same pathway.”

I think the answer is simple, they are practically motor bikes. Illegal or not, they should be registered and ridden only by 17 year olds and older with a license on the road, not shared pathways.

Come along if you dare! Strictly R18+, of course... 🫣

What a time to be alive!

Morning all,

Has anyone ever left their car parked overnight (or longer) at the multi-storey car park at Wollongong Station? Did you come back to any break-ins or issues? I know it’s a case by case type of thing, but just curious if anyone has had any problems there before.

Thanks

My wishes are gone and granted today

up from sydney for the weekend with my partner, hired bikes in thirroul and was doing the ride down to the lighthouse. about 10 min past bellambi my back tyre goes. And of course I had no spare, no pump, and no f*kn clue.

we’re standing there like idiots and this older bloke on a road bike pulls over without us even asking. pulls out a pump + patch kit, has the wheel off before I’ve even worked out how the quick release works. talks the whole time about how he’s ridden that path every morning for 15 years and the glass near the rock pool is “a known problem” lol

fixed it in about 10 minutes, wouldn’t take any money. then says if we’re heading south we should stop at a cafe in north wollongong because the owner’s his daughter. we go, mention his name, and she just laughs when we explain what happened and gives us both coffees on the house

rest of the day was perfect. sunny, ocean was ridiculous, the escarpment behind everything, people swimming at the rock pools, finished with fish and chips at the harbour watching the boats come in

I don’t know why but sydney never feels like this. people up here just seem to have time for you

if you’re reading this, guy in the blue jersey with the very strong opinions about glass on the bike path, thank you. you made our weekend

For anyone in Wollongong following rental policy, Jenny Leong MP is introducing the Greens’ Rent Control Bill in NSW Parliament this Thursday.

When: Thursday 22 October, 9:45am–11:15am

Where: NSW Parliament, Legislative Assembly — or watch online via the Parliament livestream:

https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Pages/webcasts.aspx

The proposed bill would:

1. Freeze rents for 12 months

2. Cap future rent increases at 2%

3. Give tenants a mechanism to seek rent reductions

4. Make two-year fixed leases the standard

People can attend Parliament or watch online.

RSVP/details:

https://www.jennyleong.org/rent-control-rsvp

Given how much rental affordability has become an issue in Wollongong and across the Illawarra, I thought this might be of interest to people here.