Accessible & Inclusive Tourism

Leisure Centres

Beaton Park Leisure Centre provides access to all fitness areas, hoist access to the pool, accessible parking, shower, toilet and
easy access change room facilities, and accessible parking.

Lakeside Leisure Centre provides access to all fitness areas, an accessible toilet and lift access to the first floor.

For information on both centres, visit the Wollongong City Leisure Centres website.

Playgrounds

Luke’s Place in Corrimal and the All Abilities Playground at Wollongong Botanic Garden are specially designed for children of
all abilities.

Many of our other playgrounds also have accessible features for children with a disability.

Stuart Park and Thirroul playgrounds feature a Liberty Swing that can be accessed using a MLAK Key*.  You can purchase a MLAK Key from The Hardware Man Unanderra. The key also opens the accessible toilets at these sites.

* The Master Locksmiths Access Key (MLAK) system is an MLAA initiative that allows people with a disability access to dedicated public facilities, including facilities in National Parks and many Council municipalities, elevators at railway stations, the new Changing Places facilities throughout Australia, accessible toilets that are locked, and even the Liberty Swing. It was launched back in 1994 as a joint venture between Pittwater Council, ACROD and the MLAA, before being implemented Nationally.

People with a disability are able to purchase an MLAK key which will open all toilets, playground equipment and other facilities fitted with a lock that uses the special MLAK cylinder. To purchase a key or for more information, please click here.

Wollongong Botanic
Garden

Wollongong Botanic Garden features a network of accessible pathways suitable for wheelchair access which are show in in orange on the garden map. VIEW WOLLONGONG BOTANIC GARDEN MAP

Accessible parking and toilets are available. You can also pre-book to one of Botanic Garden’s free mobility scooters during your visit.

Accessible parking bays are provided at Murphys Avenue car park (open daily) and Madoline Street (open on weekends only). The most accessible entry to the garden is via the Murphys Avenue entrance.

Tourist Parks

The Tourist Parks at Bulli, Corrimal and Windang have communal accessible bathroom facilities for park guests staying in caravans and camping. This includes toilets, showers and basins. All parks also have accessible cabins built to Australian Standards for wheelchair access.

Bulli Tourist Park has a café and convenience store on-site and Corrimal Tourist Park has a café, kiosk and takeaway on-site. Both
cafes provide wheelchair access and accessible toilet facilities.

Please visit the Wollongong
City Tourist Parks website for
more information.

For other accessible accommodation options, please head to our Places to Stay directory, and apply the ‘accessibility’ search filter.

Visitor Information Centre

Wollongong’s Visitor Information Centre is located within the Southern Gateway Centre, Bulli Tops. The building is completely accessible and features;

• Ample free parking including allocated accessible parking with level entry ramps to the premises  
• Toilet facilities including a unisex accessible toilet with horizontal grab rails & clear identification signs including raised tactile and Braille information
• Tiled surface and Braille on the building signage
• Automatic entry doors with wide entry  
• Wheelchair access 
• Assistance dogs are welcome

Accessible Attractions and Eateries

To search for the regions accessible attractions and
eateries, head to our Things to Do and Places to Eat & Drink directories, and apply the ‘accessibility’ search filter.

Accessible Parking

Council has an online map of accessible parking spaces that are managed by Council. You must have a
valid Mobility Parking Scheme (MPS) card to use
these spaces.

Map of Accessible Parking Spaces

Please note, this information is regularly updated, but it is subject to change at anytime. Always check and follow street signage when parking.

Art and Culture

Wollongong Art Gallery has an accessible entrance ramp, toilet and lift access to upper levels. Free guided tours of selected exhibitions can be arranged for people with disability by appointment.

The Gallery can also arrange art programs tailored to meet the needs of people with disability.

Each of the theatres within the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre (IPAC) offer seating and positions for patrons with limited mobility, and are equipped with sound enhancement facilities.

Selected performances are audio described and relayed via headsets. Before these performances, patrons can
participate in a tactile tour of the set and costumes.

Large-print, plain text copies of the cast sheets for Merrigong Theatre Season shows are available with notice. Selected performances are captioned.

For more information visit the Merrigong Theatre Company website or call the box office on (02) 4224 5999

Wollongong Town Hall has accessible toilets, lifts to the hall and the stage area, a hearing loop and easy access change rooms available for performers.

Other Useful Information

National Public Toilet Map

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

National Relay Service

People who are deaf or have a hearing and / or speech impairment can use the National Relay Service to contact people using
the phone network. Contact details for this service are shown below:

1800 555 630 (TTY)
1800 555 660 (voice)
1800 555 690 (fax)

Navability map for wheelchair users

Vision Illawarra’s website has a Navability map that shows footpaths, shared pathways and trails accessible by wheelchair in the Wollongong City Centre. It also includes an effort ratings guide. View the Navability map here.

Wheelchair hire services

Wollongong Central
Shopping Centre – Free wheelchair, motorised scooter and stroller hire – Sorry, this service is temporarily unavailable due to the COVID-19 situation.

Stockland
Shellharbour – Motorised Scooters and Wheelchairs are available for hire, free of charge from the Customer Care Centre located in the food court near Soul Origin. To make a booking, contact Customer Care on 4296 8266.

Public Transport

Premier Illawarra – Premier operates public bus services throughout the Wollongong region. Their fleet of modern low floor air-conditioned city buses are used extensively on the regular services. Please contact the office before making your travel plans to ensure that one of the step-less entry buses is operating on the route you wish to use. Ph. 02 4271 1122.

Dions Bus Service – Dions Bus Service operates public bus services, their routes
include: Austinmer, Bulli, University of Wollongong and Wollongong. Dion’s Bus
Service accessible buses have been designed to comply with the national
standards for mobility aids. For more information on travelling on Dions Bus
Services please visit the website or  Ph.02 4243 8888.

Illawarra Taxi Network – Illawarra Taxi Network (ITN), formerly known as Radio Cabs
of Wollongong, has been providing reliable and safe transportation services in the Illawarra region for more than 62 years. ITN has a total of 136 vehicles, with 12 Wheelchair Accessible vehicles and 12 maxi taxis which seat 6-11 passengers, monitored through their dispatch system 24/7. ITN is also an approved NDIS provider and their drivers have current Working with Children and Police Checks. ITN taxis are suitable to provide wheelchair accessible transport and our drivers are trained in the loading, unloading, carriage and looking after people with disabilities. For more information please visit the website or Ph. 02 42542111.

Transport NSW

Find information to help you plan an accessible trip on public transport in NSW whether you have an assistance animal, use a mobility aid or want to find out which concessions are available to you here.

Accessible Railway
Stations

Wollongong Railway Station & North Wollongong Railway Station are accessible and have the
following facilities available.

• Wheelchair accessible
• Lift
• Stairs
• Hearing loop
• PA system for announcements
• Tactile surfaces

Visit  Transport NSW to search the accessibility level of each railway station in
Wollongong