ON THE GROUND ATTRACTIONS WOLLONGONG

With some great blockbusters due out this Christmas, make sure you are giving the Perfect Christmas Gift - the movies !

With Gift Cards starting from just $15 and Super Saver vouchers for those frequent movie goers, Hoyts provide the stocking fillers you need.

To ensure your gifts are received prior to Christmas, place your orders by Friday 16 December 2011.
 

Visit or stay at Nan Tien Temple, the largest Buddhist Temple in the Southern Hemisphere. Nan Tien is very different from most tourist attractions because there is so much to offer: the visual delights of grandeur architecture, art and culture including unique exhibitions and festivals, Buddhist festivals, vegetarian culinary delights, educational and healthy lifestyle classes and retreats, accommodation, top class conference and auditorium facilities. There is also the spiritual and religious experience that is unforgettable and even life changing for some. Pilgrim Lodge, Wollongong's most unique accommodation setting is a 100 room facility, which is open all year round and located in the grounds of the Temple. The Lodge overlooks the lotus pond, the peaceful Temple, splendid gardens, the beautiful rolling hills and famous escarpment of the Illawarra. Situated in Berkeley, which is only 10 minutes south of Wollongong City and famous beaches. Come and be inspired.

Hangdog has over a 100 different climbs on 40 ropes, offering a great range of climbs from easy to extremely challenging. Hangdog teaches you how to belay (hold and control the rope) your partner safely in a few minutes at the beginning of your first visit. Gym features include: wide range of climbing gear; coaching sessions for juniors and adults; one off entry charge valid for the while day; introductory lesson is free with your entry charge; children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult to climb; free parking. Hangdog also provides regular outdoor climbing days to Nowra and also offer groups abseiling off Mount Keira.

Welcome to The Illawarra Brewery, your favourite place to chill, party or have a quiet one with the locals. Every taste is catered for at our restaurant and we have many local brews to sample from the bar. The Brewery is the ideal location for your next function or event, let our staff handle the details while your guests enjoy our beautiful surrounds. Check us out on Facebook for all our latest news and details of entertainment on offer each week. Cheers!

Wollongong Botanic Garden is a place of natural beauty where people can come to relax, celebrate and learn more about plants and horticulture. The Garden offers an exciting array of activities and experiences for visitors of all ages. Activities range from guided walks and community workshops that focus on environmental sustainable practices through to band recitals, theatrical entertainment, and sunset cinema screenings. The site also hosts the historical Gleniffer Brae Manor House and gardens. Wollongong Botanic Garden also manages the following sites as annexes - Puckey's Estate Nature Reserve, Mount Keira Summit Park and Korrongulla Wetland. You are invited to visit this hidden gem of the Illawarra and experience the true beauty for yourself.

This picturesque beach is 900 metres long and backed by sand dunes and a large parkland area ideal for family picnics and gatherings. This beach proves to be popular as the nearby caravan park houses many visitors all year round. Bulli is located 11 kilometres north of the Wollongong central business district. The Surf Club is located just to the south of the northern rocks. A small creek crosses south of the club house and backs the northern half of the beach. The southern half is more accessible from Woonona. A bike path runs behind the beach linking Bulli with Woonona Beach.

Studio 19 Gallery is a contemporary gallery owned by Carolyn Nowaczyk and Nina Kourea and is set in the unique creative precinct of 'Central Chambers' in the heart of the Wollongong mall. This unique buliding, built in 1930, is full of character, charm and original features that create a unique backdrop to the art that is displayed on it's walls. The art displayed at Studio 19 is diverse and has ranged from painting, drawings, printmaking, photography, digital media, light installation, soundscape, installation and performance art. Studio 19 is open to emerging as well as established artists. The Gallery has a rotating roster of exhibitions every fortnight. Through Studio 19 and Exposure Arts and Media, they aim to shine some light on the creative talent of the Illawarra and have a community space where creative people can meet one another and share ideas.

Project Contemporary Artspace, is a not-for-profit, artist run initiative operated entirely by volunteers. It was originally opened in 1995 by three local graduate artists who recognised there was no existing space for local artists to exhibit and perform new work. Project aims to provide opportunities and support to a diverse range of emerging and existing local artists, gaining them exposure and professional experience. As such they curate an eclectic program of exhibitions and events throughout the year. The gallery is a large, open plan industrial space in the heart of Wollongong, recently refurbished to professional gallery standards. It is one of the only wheelchair accessible galleries in the area and also boasts its own car park.

WIN Entertainment Centre (WEC) includes the main auditorium, the Premiers Room and three expansive venue foyers. A Foreshore Plaza is adjacent to the eastern end of the Centre and is overlooked by The Illawarra Brewery. Seating a maximum of 6,000 people in tiered theatre style seating, the main auditorium has the flexibility to be reduced to various configurations and is ideal for hosting concerts, dinners of more than 300 people, or for hosting a conference on one side of a dividing curtain and catered events or exhibitions on the other. A modular concert and presentation stage, quality public announcement system, television quality lighting, first-class kitchen and catering facilities and, a dream location, complete the picture for this unique conference and entertainment facility.

Wollongong's longest running comedy room provides you with a night of stand up comedy featuring some of the best Australian and International comedians. They are located in 'The Basement' at The Builders Club in Wollongong, a beautiful, intimate comedy room with loads of atmosphere. There is a full bar operating in the room with drinks at club prices. They are also able to supply comedians for your corporate, community and creative events. Wollongong Comedy are on the second Saturday and last Saturday of each month. Please visit their web site or Facebook page for up to the minute information.

Flip Out Trampoline Arena is Australia's first and largest trampoline playground for all ages, young and old. Flip Out Trampoline Arena is a new fun and exciting childhood fantasy come to life. Indoor entertainment parks of wall to wall trampolines. No more mums and dads sitting on the side line, its time to get up and play. Flip Out Trampoline Arenas aim to give you healthy and awesome fun through their massive trampolines, ball games, foam pits, skate ramps, Parkour, events, and more surprises to everyone's enjoyment. A few minutes of jumping on the trampoline is better than a one kilometre dash, just more enjoyable! Flip Out Trampoline Arena is the ideal healthy entertainment for the whole family, promoting family bonding and wellbeing with complete enjoyment satisfaction. They guarantee ultimate fun.

Bulli Black Diamond Heritage Centre is located at the Bulli Railway Station. The museum's focus is the preservation of the 1887 Bulli Railway buildings. On display is the South Bulli Number Two steam locomotive imported in 1888 and used until the early 1960's. The centre has a collection of maps and objects relating to local mining life and the Bulli Mine which once operated on the escarpment. The Bulli Mine was the first source of coal, colloquially known as black diamond. The Blinkco Room shows the social history of the area. School children enjoy seeing the difference in life in the 1930's to their life now. Heritage photos of Bulli, Woonona, Austinmer, Coledale, Stanwell Park , Bulli Railway Station, Nurse Taylor's Maternity Hospital, Housing and The Denmark Hotel are available.

The Cockatoo Run commences its journey in Sydney and travels along the spectacular Illawarra route to Wollongong. The journey from Sydney offers spectacular coastal scenery prior to the ascent of the Illawarra Escarpment. The line climbs 600 metres through rainforests, past waterfalls and the spectacular viaduct. The train makes a stop at Summit Tank to admire the view over Lake Illawarra out to the Tasman Sea.

The historic Southern Highland township of Robertson 'Green Heart of the Southern Highlands' with its old town atmosphere and rustic appeal is generally a great tourist stopover in which to spend some time. You have the choice of detraining here or alternatively continuing onto Moss Vale.

The Volunteer Carriage Attendants will welcome you onboard the train which is hauled by one of the heritage diesel locomotives and consists of fully restored 1930s and 1940s carriages. The buffet car offers light refreshments and souvenirs.

The Wollongong Science Centre is not just an educational facility, it is a hands-on science centre that stimulates, educates and entertains with over 130 interactive exhibits. Included in the centre is a state of the art Planetarium and Observatory with daily science shows. The Science Centre is suitable for all ages with indoor hands-on family fun!

Meet, greet and enjoy what Wests Illawarra has to offer with exciting promotions, fabulous entertainment and great member benefits. Wests boasts two dining options and all of the other facilities you would expect from a top class club. Buffetpalace offers various cuisines in a buffet style, open seven days a week. Courtyard Café is a more casual option with coffee and cake or pizzas to share with friends, open seven days a week.

Australia's Industry World is the region covering all industrial areas of the suburb of Port Kembla and Blue Scope Steel. Australia's Industry World Tours, include the Coal Terminal, Grain Corporation, Water Board, BHP coated products and slab and plate divisions, Incitec, Breakwater Battery, MM Metals, Southern Copper, Australian Steel Mill Services and more. AIW is a working industrial area. Tours may be altered to meet process or safety requirements. Australia's Industry World (AIW) is home to one of the largest concentrations of manufacturing industry in Australia. AIW is a premier visitor attraction and education resource, featuring a unique combination of experiences focused on the port and its surrounding heavy industry. Tour features: Exclusive Tours of the Port Kembla Steelworks and surrounding industries. A unique combination of heavy industry with education and tourism. All safety gear provided.

Wollongong Art Gallery is a leading regional art gallery with an ongoing schedule of high quality exhibition, education and public programs. The Gallery also manages an art collection of Contemporary, Aboriginal, Asian and Colonial artworks that are presented on a regular basis. The Gallery is housed in an important and unique building, designed and built in the 1950's and is a local landmark.

Futureworld is a unique eco-technology exhibition centre. Discover exciting greenhouse friendly 'world firsts', for example: the Greenhouse Gasometer Bike, Solar Sailor, Wave Power to Energy, the Mini Eco-House and more! Explore solar and wind energy, rainwater harvesting, green building and transport. The centre holds inspiring and interactive displays that showcase solutions to environmental challenges. Everyone with a curious mind is welcome. Their vision is to be the national leader in demonstrating Environmentally Appropriate Technologies that stimulate, promote and enhance Ecologically Sustainable Development. They aim to bring about environmental change through inspiring people to make sustainable living choices.

The Illawarra Performing Arts Centre (IPAC) is the region's premier performing arts complex and one of the busiest, most dynamic regional venues in Australia. Conveniently located in the centre of Wollongong, IPAC is managed by Merrigong Theatre Company, a vibrant theatre company producing, presenting and touring a diverse annual season of theatre, dance and children's programming. Merrigong Theatre Company also provides a range of creative opportunities and experiences to the local community through commissioning, developing and producing new theatre works, supporting independent artists, providing affordable educational events and creative opportunities, and delivering community-focused arts projects. For more information please visit the Merrigong website.