As soon as Madalyn Date came to Wollongong, she knew it was where she wanted to study. From being close to Sydney to enjoying nature, here are some of her favourite things about living here.
The best things about living in Wollongong
There are many factors to consider when choosing where to study. One of the most important things to think about is the type of place you want to live. When I came to Wollongong for my Early Admission interview, I fell in love with the city straight away and knew that this was the place for me. Since then, I haven’t looked back.
Here are some of the best things about living in Wollongong.
Living at the beach? Yes please!
Having lived my whole life in a country town four hours away from the coast, moving to a beautiful beach city has been amazing.
There’s nothing more relaxing than walking along the north Wollongong coast line, listening to the waves crash on the sand and taking in the picturesque scenery.
During summer, I love grabbing some fish and chips from Fishnets and heading to Towradgi Beach for lunch and beach cricket. What could be a better way to spend a sunny afternoon?
Can’t wait until the weekend? No problem!
Wollongong's bars, café culture and nightlife are vibrant. The great thing about Wollongong is because there are so many students, there are specific ‘uni nights’ which offer great music, and cheap food and drinks for students to let their hair down – in a COVID-safe environment, of course.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re feeling like kicking back with friends or dining in style, there is something for everyone.
Can’t decide what you feel like for dinner? Don’t fret!
Wollongong is home to an array of high quality restaurants and cafes, ensuring that you’ll never go hungry.
Whether you feel like Indian, Thai, Chinese, Italian, Japanese, Mexican, Lebanese or even just a good pub feed, you can find whatever you fancy all within relatively close proximity to central Wollongong.
Many restaurants also do cheap meal nights, such as $7.50 ‘schnittys’ at North Gong Hotel on Wednesdays or Taco Tuesdays at Amigos. Wollongong is also home to the infamous Chicko’s – what more could you want! It’s great to be able to treat your tastebuds without breaking the wallet.
No car? No worries!
One of the main reasons why I chose to study in Wollongong is the shuttle bus service that runs from the University.
Having not brought a car to uni, it was super important to be able to travel with relative ease around the city. So far, I haven’t had an issue.
Jumping on the shuttle bus is super easy (and super FREE), whether you want to go shopping, go to the beach or have an appointment. Just download the UOW shuttle app and you’re good to go.
Keen to explore? Wollongong is your oyster! (Fact: the South Coast is famous for its oysters)
Wollongong is home to some incredible nature walks, hidden wonders and awesome scenery (you can find a handy bucket list here). Right on UOW’s doorstep is Mt Keira, which you can either hike up or drive depending on your motivation levels. The view at the top is spectacular.
If you’re OK with a short drive, Seacliff Bridge is a famous destination that must be high on your bucket list. After attending an ANZAC Day service at Austinmer Beach, my friends and I drove to Seacliff, and watched the sunrise over the iconic coastline – there are honestly no words to describe the beauty of the moment.
All in all, Wollongong is a great city with a very student-friendly atmosphere. Sometimes it’s hard to believe that we get to call this beautiful place home.
All credit goes to Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies/Bachelor of Arts (Dean’s Scholar) student Madalyn Date.
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