Geography of Wollongong facts for kids
Wollongong is a city with a special geography. It sits on a narrow flat area of land next to the Pacific Ocean on its east side. To the west, there's a very steep sandstone cliff called the Illawarra Escarpment. One of the most famous parts of this cliff is Mount Keira, which is connected to the main escarpment by a high ridge.
The flat coastal land is wider in the south and gets narrower as you go north. Even though it's called a plain, it has some smaller hills. Some of these include Mount Nebo to the west, and closer to the city, Mount Mangerton and Mount Saint Thomas. Other hills like Church Hill, Smiths Hill, Flagstaff Hill (where the Nan Tien Temple is), Cringila Hill, and Hospital Hill also dot the landscape. These hills are usually less than 100 metres tall. The road to Mount Keira, which is one of the first and still used paths over the escarpment, follows a low ridge from Hospital Hill. This mix of flat areas, low hills, and small valleys makes Wollongong's landscape very interesting.
North of Wollongong, you'll find Stuart Park and Fairy Lagoon, which are part of the Fairy/Para Creek system. Further north is Puckeys Estate Reserve. This area used to be a salt works and is now a great place for bushwalking. It's known for its many birds and coastal wetlands. The shallow lagoon here can sometimes flood when the tides change.
To the south of the city, there's J.J.Kelly Park. South of that is the Rotary Greenhouse Park. This park was once a rubbish dump but has been turned into a beautiful garden. It has a bike track and a lookout point where you can see the city and the Port Kembla steelworks. You can also see the mountains from here. Below this hill to the west, there's a small wetland area. This is what's left of the much larger Tom Thumb Lagoon that used to stretch further.
Most of Wollongong's northern suburbs are on flatter ground, with some gentle hills like Woonona and Bulli Ridges. Generally, the land here is less than 30 metres above sea level until you reach the foothills of the mountains.
North of Wollongong, the coastal plain becomes very narrow. The old coastal road, Lawrence Hargrave Drive, used to hug the cliffside, but falling rocks made it unsafe. In 2005, the amazing Sea Cliff Bridge was built to replace it. This bridge carries cars and people just off the coast, crossing over the water. The Illawarra Railway has to go through several tunnels to reach the Sydney area. Other ways to get inland are the Southern Freeway and the Old Princes Highway. These roads go down the escarpment further south at Bulli Pass or Mount Ousley, entering the coastal plain near Gwynneville, just north of Wollongong's city centre. Some of the first passes over the mountains were built by convicts. Some of these old paths still exist as tracks today, like O'Brien's Road at Mount Nebo and Rixons Pass west of Woonona.
The Escarpment ranges from about 150 to 750 metres (490 to 2,460 feet) above sea level. Some well-known mountains here include Mount Keira (464 metres), Mount Kembla (534 metres), Broker's Nose (Corrimal) (440 metres), and Mount Murray to the south (768 metres). The Escarpment has layers of coal underground, and you can see the entrances to many old coal mines along its slopes throughout Wollongong. The flat coastal plain has several short but fast-flowing creeks and streams, like Para Creek, Allans Creek, and Mullet Creek. These areas are made of very rich soil called alluvium, which is why Wollongong was so popular with farmers in the 1800s. The coastline itself has many beautiful beaches with fine, pale gold sand. However, these beaches are sometimes broken up by rocky areas that stick out into the sea.
Just southeast of Wollongong City, near Red Point at Port Kembla, there's a military reserve on a hill 71 metres above the sea. North of it are the remains of old defence structures called Hill 60, which were used during World War II. Below Hill 60 is a beach. Out in the sea from the beach, there's a group of five islands. The two northern islands are called the "Tom Thumb Islands," named after a small boat used by explorers George Bass and Matthew Flinders in the late 1700s. The island closest to the reserve is Rocky Islet, which is mostly just a rock sticking out of the water. The next island is Big Island, which looks like two almost separate parts. The third is Martins Island. These islands are now a safe place for wildlife.
A large coastal saltwater lake called Lake Illawarra is to the south of the city. It's separated from the Pacific Ocean by a long sandy strip of land. Just north of the lake is Port Kembla, which is a natural harbour that has been made much bigger by people digging and filling in land.
Wollongong City's Inner Geography
The inner city area of Wollongong is shaped by Flagstaff Point to the east and Wollongong Beach to its south. To the north is Wollongong Harbour, which is west of Flagstaff Point. North of the harbour is North Wollongong, also known as North Beach, and a lagoon at Puckeys Estate Reserve. Wollongong Beach stretches north from Coniston Beach to Flagstaff Point. West of the beach is Lang Park, which used to be a freshwater lagoon.
Flagstaff Point is a headland with low cliffs and rocky areas. It has two interesting rock formations: Pulpit Rock to the north and a blockier one to the south. This area also has the old Nun's Baths and a seawall from an old fort. This hill is very important historically. It contains old coke ovens and was once the site of a flagstaff (a pole for flags) and a cottage. It was also used for military operations during the war, known as Hill 60. Today, you can see several restored cannons and two lighthouses here, which is quite unique for a city in this state. The older lighthouse, built in the 1880s, is at the harbour entrance. The newer one, built in 1937, stands on top of the hill and is still used today with an automated system. The point has a lookout spot and a picnic area. There's also a cliff walk along a fence built for safety.
West of Flagstaff Point are Belmore Basin and Brighton Beach. Belmore Basin is the part of Wollongong Harbour that was built by people, using convict labour. It's a heritage site with plaques that tell its history. There are two breakwaters (walls that protect the harbour from waves) to the east. One is a small, stone one for the old lighthouse, and the other is a large one made of artificial boulders with a light to help ships in fog. At the port, you'll find a fish market and several restaurants. Along the harbour dock, there are charter boats and private fishing boats. The main harbour is home to private yachts and other recreational boats. Brighton Beach has been heavily eroded by the sea recently and is very narrow. It stretches from the Lions Park playgrounds to the west. From here, the coastal cliff runs to North Beach, passing by baths and indoor sea pools. The Wollongong to Thirroul Bike Track, also known as the Heartcare Walk, runs along here. This section is called the Peace Mile and goes to North Beach. On top of the cliffs, which are part of Smiths Hill, there's another path and Cliff Drive. The cliffs and the grassy/bushy areas around them are looked after by bushcare groups. You can find native plants and some invasive weeds like Lantana and Bitou Bush, as well as Moreton Bay Figs and Acacias. North of this area is North Beach, a popular spot for surfing. It's used for competitions and fun, though it was damaged by strong winds in June 2007.
North Beach extends to Fairy Meadow Beach at Stuart Park Lagoon. West of this, there's a four to five-metre rise, behind which is Stuart Park, a local recreational area. The lagoon has saltwater and is home to many birds and fish, but it can sometimes have litter.
North of Wollongong, you'll find long stretches of beach, lagoons, and creeks, as well as low headlands. These headlands get higher as you go north, eventually turning into the tall cliffs seen in the Royal National Park. Some of these lagoons include Bellambi Lagoon and the entrance to Towradgi Creek. Headlands include low formations like Collins Rock/Flat Rock at Woonona and more noticeable points near Thirroul and the northern suburbs.
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