Accessible & Inclusive Tourism | Visit Wollongong

Accessible & Inclusive Tourism | Visit Wollongong

The Wollongong region welcomes travellers of all ages and abilities to experience everything this beautiful coastline has to offer. For visitors who need a little extra support, Wollongong provides a wide range of accessible options — from accommodation and attractions to cafés, parking, and public transport — making it easier to explore with confidence.

To help plan your visit, Wollongong City Council has created a Disability Access Guide that highlights accessible services and facilities across the region. You can explore the full guide online, and we’ve shared a snapshot of accessible tourism in the Illawarra below.

If you’d like help navigating the guide or need more information, the Wollongong City Council team is happy to assist — simply call 02 4227 7111 or get in touch via email.

Companion Card Program

Wollongong City Council is also part of the NSW Companion Card program. Companion Card holders can enjoy free entry for their support person at council-run swimming pools, leisure centres, cultural events, and festivals — making shared experiences even more accessible.

The NSW Companion Card program supports people with a permanent and significant disability who require lifelong, high-level care to participate in community activities. The card allows a companion to receive free entry at participating venues and events.

Accessible Swimming Pools in Wollongong (Indoor & Outdoor)

A coastal swim is part of the Wollongong experience — and the good news is, there are several pools designed with accessibility in mind. If you’re looking for chlorinated pools with lift platforms, you’ll find them at Dapto, Berkeley, Helensburgh, Corrimal and the Western Suburbs (Unanderra).

At Beaton Park, there’s an indoor heated pool with hoist entry — perfect for year-round swims.

Prefer ocean pools?
Port Kembla Ocean Pool offers graded entry.
Wollongong Continental Ocean Pool features ramp access and hoist entry.

All of these locations include accessible parking, toilets, and easy-access change rooms, making it simpler to enjoy a swim with confidence.

For full location details and opening hours, visit the Wollongong Council’s Pool’s page before you go.

Beach & Foreshore Access

Free beach wheelchairs are available to book during patrol hours at accessible beaches throughout the region to help make beach days easy.

While wheelchairs are typically located at designated accessible beaches, they may also be arranged at other beaches upon request. Availability isn’t guaranteed, but Wollongong City Council will always do their best to help you enjoy the sand and sea at your preferred location and time. For bookings and full details, visit Council’s Accessible Beaches page before you go.

Beach Matting

To make getting onto the sand smoother, beach matting has been installed at Thirroul and Austinmer beaches (available during partol hours) — supporting visitors with disability, limited mobility, and families with prams. Beach matting is available upon request at North Wollongong and Port Kembla Beaches by contacting the lifeguards or Wollongong City Council.

Playgrounds

Wollongong is made for family days outdoors — with over 150 playgrounds scattered across the region. Even more special, there are several thoughtfully designed All Abilities Playgrounds, created so children of all ages and abilities can play side by side.

You’ll find All Abilities Playgrounds at Cringila Hills Playground & Mountain Bike Park – Cringila, Lukes Place – Corrimal, Stuart Park Regional Playground – North Wollongong, Wollongong Botanic Garden All Abilities Playground – Keiraville.

Stuart Park feature a Liberty Swing, designed for wheelchair access. These swings can be used with an MLAK Key.

What’s an MLAK Key?

The Master Locksmiths Access Key (MLAK) system gives people with disability access to dedicated public facilities across Australia — including accessible toilets, Changing Places facilities, certain lifts at railway stations, National Park amenities, and Liberty Swings.

At these Wollongong locations, an MLAK Key provides access to:
• The Liberty Swing
• Accessible toilets (where locked)

MLAK Keys can be purchased from The Hardware Man in Unanderra, or through authorised suppliers. You can search for MLAK bathroom facilities using the National Public Toilet Map.

Exploring Wollongong Botanic Gardens

Wollongong Botanic Garden is one of those peaceful, slow-morning kind of places — and it’s designed so more people can enjoy it with ease.

The garden features a network of accessible pathways, suitable for wheelchair access. On the garden map, these are marked as the wide white paths, making it easy to plan your wander ahead of time.

Mobility Scooter Hire

If you’d like a little extra support while exploring, mobility scooters are available to hire.
• Two scooters are available on weekdays between 9am – 4pm
• Bookings are essential and should be made at least 24 hours in advance
• To reserve, call 02 4227 7667 or contact the garden via email

Accessible parking bays are located at Murphys Avenue car park (open daily) & Madoline Street (open weekends only). For the easiest access into the garden, enter via Murphys Avenue.

Accessible amenities

• An accessible toilet is located at the Murphys Avenue entrance
• A second accessible toilet (with ramp access) can be found at the Towri Centre

Arts & Culture

Wollongong is as vibrant on the inside as it is along the coast, and the city’s arts and performance spaces are welcoming to visitors of all abilities.

Wollongong Art Gallery
The gallery features an accessible entrance ramp, lift to upper levels, and accessible toilets, making it easy to explore at your own pace. Free guided tours of selected exhibitions can be arranged for visitors with disability by appointment, and art programs can be tailored to meet specific accessibility needs. Click here to view their website.

Illawarra Performing Arts Centre (IPAC)
All theatres at IPAC provide seating and positions for patrons with limited mobility, along with sound enhancement facilities. Selected performances are audio described and relayed via headsets, and before the show, visitors can take part in a tactile tour of the set and costumes to experience the production up close. For selected performances, large-print or plain-text cast sheets are available with notice, and some shows are captioned.

For more information, visit the Merrigong Theatre website or call the box office on 02 4224 5999.

Transport & Getting Around

Exploring Wollongong is easy — whether you’re hopping on a bus, catching a taxi, or travelling by train, accessible options are available throughout the region.

Premier Illawarra
Premier Illawarra runs public bus services across Wollongong using modern, low-floor, air-conditioned city buses. Some routes feature step-less entry buses for wheelchair users. Before planning your trip, it’s best to call (02) 4271 1322 to check if an accessible bus is running on your chosen route.

Dion’s Bus Service
Dion’s buses connect Austinmer, Bulli, the University of Wollongong, and Wollongong. Their accessible buses are built to national mobility standards, making travel easier for passengers using wheelchairs or other mobility aids. For more details, visit their website or call (02) 4243 8888.

Illawarra Taxi Network (ITN)
ITN has been serving the Illawarra for over 60 years, ITN drivers are trained in safe loading and care for passengers with disabilities, and the service is approved for NDIS clients. Call (02) 4254 2111 or visit their website to arrange transport.

Transport NSW
Transport NSW provides tools to help plan accessible trips across NSW, including info for travellers with mobility aids, assistance animals, or special concession needs.

Accessible Railway Stations
To travel to Wollongong from Sydney via rail, you will need to access the South Coast Line. The following Wollongong stations are classed as ‘Independant Access’ meaning customers can independantly access all platforms via lifts, ramps or accessible paths: Helensburgh, Thirroul, Bulli, Bellambi, Towradgi, Fairy Meadow, North Wollongong, Wollongong, Unanderra and Dapto. To check the level of accessibility and staffing hours of a particular station, please click here.

For full details on station accessibility and services in the surrounding areas, visit Transport NSW.

National Public Toilet Map

The National Public Toilet Map website shows locations and details of public toilets, including accessible features for people with disability.