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There’s something to be said about experiencing the world, though being able to travel with the comforts of home. It’s walking barefoot along a windy beach and at the end of the day having access to a laundry for your sandy clothes. It’s waking up and having the freedom to cook your own eggs, without the need to make yourself decent for other guests. Where to stay in Wollongong

While you may not think twice about these kind of things on a short vacation, it’s these little luxuries in life that a full time traveler craves, and why we were so taken by our recent Wollongong stay. Wollongong apartment hotels

Known as the ‘Gong’, a short one hour drive south of Sydney, Wollongong is the “envy of many cities”. In a beautiful natural setting, this is a city where alfresco dining, beach-side breweries and bars, arts, culture, and entertainment all combine with a laid-back beach lifestyle, surrounded by a belt of subtropical rainforest and eucalypt trees. Stay in a Wollongong apartment

This is the city where Australians relax and unwind with a picnic blanket and a good book under the shady trees of the Illawarra Escarpment State Conservation Area. A city where tourists spend their days surfing, swimming and investigating rock pools nearby. Wollongong apartments

This is the city which offers skydiving onto the beach, playing golf on a beachside course, and bushwalking through coastal rainforest teeming with kookaburras, lyrebirds, and where you can hear the unique catbird call (this is probably the world’s weirdest bird call – these strange birds make a cat mee-ow sound, and we were genuinely wondering if there was a tortured cat in the middle of the forest stuck in a tree!). Best apartments in Wollongong

Wollongong offers a wide variety of accommodation from hotels and bed & breakfasts to cabins, hostels and camping options as well. Though our preference was an apartment hotel which allowed us to fully self cater during our stay. Where to stay on Australia’s south east coast

In a fabulous location in the heart of Wollongong’s CBD, Adina Apartment Hotel is the perfect place to call home when visiting the Gong. Throw on some shoes and it’s only minutes before you’ve hit the city’s beautiful main beach, or strolled past vibrant restaurants on the boardwalk. There is a huge shopping mall located right up the street, and those traveling with a car can find themselves in the rainforest in 15-25 minutes.

Royal National Park is the second oldest national park in the world, offering sub-tropical rainforests and sandstone heathlands, to dramatic coastal cliffs and unspoilt ocean beaches.

In a location where the main sights of the city are an easy walk, and some of the best bushwalking in the world is a quick drive, we quickly learned that a stay at Adina makes it easy to get the most out of the hours in your day. And an apartment means travelers are afforded the luxury of packing their itinerary as full as they like, and then retiring in comfort at the end of the day.

A 4 star property, Adina Apartment Hotel Wollongong is a relaxed hotel which offers modern studios and one bedroom apartments, with all of the comforts of home. Review of Adina Apartment Hotel Wollongong

Generous on space, the one bedroom apartments come with a fully equipped kitchen, as well as a laundry with washer/dryer, and separate living/dining area. A private balcony with outdoor seating is attached to every apartment, offering views which stretch over the city streets and out to the sea.

Rooms are warm and welcoming with a stylish beachside-inspired décor. Floor to ceiling windows with white walls make the space as bright as can be, and while some of the furnishings were reasonably tired, our room overall was beautifully modern and clean. Adina Hotel Wollongong review

The bedroom was spacious and sleek, and it was an incredibly comfortable sleep, though it was the bathroom which really stood out.

Winning obvious points for the addition of a private laundry, (a traveler’s dream is having the ability to wash and dry as they please!), the bathroom was well put together with a large amount of room to move. There was a separate shower from the tub, and the cleaners had really made the whole room shine.

The kitchen was similarly very clean, equipped with a full length fridge (fully stocked with a mini bar), microwave, oven, dishwasher and stove, and every cooking appliance or utensil you could possibly think to need.

There’s an outdoor pool, a sauna and a fitness room. On-site parking is available for a fee. The rooms also come with pay TV, and broadband internet. Internet is free up to 100 MB per 24 hours per room, though it’s important to note that this is a very basic plan, and any internet use past quickly downloading your emails will require an unlimited plan at a $9.95 set 24 hour fee. Where are the best hotels to stay in Wollongong

The most memorable experience which you will take away from a stay at the Adina Apartment Hotel isn’t, however, the freedom to do your own laundry, or to cook your own meals, but how welcomed you feel, and how pleasurable it is to be in the company of their staff. Best hotel in Wollongong

Everyone wears a genuine smile, from the receptionist on check-in to the cleaners you pass in the hall. They’re all friendly, well mannered, and always wish you a wonderful day. And when it comes down to it after check out, it’s not the clean bathroom floors or the access to the beach which you remember as having made your stay – it’s the warmth and friendliness of the Adina hotel staff. What hotels in Wollongong are close to the beach

They make the hotel feel like home for as long as you are there to stay.

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Megan is an Australian Journalist who has been travelling and blogging since 2007, with the main aim of inspiring others to embark on their own worldwide adventure. Her husband Mike is an American travel photographer, and together they have made the world their home.

Committed to bringing you the best in adventure travel from all around the globe, there is no mountain too high, and no fete too extreme! They haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on their list.

Follow their journey on Facebook, TwitterYouTube, Pinterest and Instagram.

    28 Comments

  1. We love Wollongong its a great place for a break. We used to have friends who lived there and we visited a few times. Always enjoyed a beer at the Illawarra brewery on the foreshore and a swim in the beach at Port Kembla. The Illawarra fly tree top walk is amazing giving excellent views. If we ever get back there the apartments you stayed in look amazing
    cheers
    Mark

    • Happy to hear that Mark! We didn’t get a chance to head into the Illawarra brewery, though I love the concept of a brewery on the beach, so hoping to plan for some more time in Wollongong soon.

      Thanks for the tip on the fly tree top walk – will make a note of that too. Definitely give the staff at Adina a shout if you head back through :)

  2. I love staying in apartments when I’m on the road, Adina looks just perfect!

    • So much more convenient than your regular hotel – we enjoy the freedom and flexibility of self catering so much – really love having everything hassle free :)

  3. WOW! That’s so awesome that a washer and dryer is in the space! I’ve never been to Australia, and am definitely making note of Wollongong when I finally make it over there!

    • Wollongong is a really fabulous destination if you’re looking to experience the South East Coast – highly recommend it! And having the washer and dryer is huge – I think every traveler knows the pain of having to hand wash in a hotel sink!! No more!

  4. This apartment hotel is really a 4-star accommodation. It looks not only very comfortable, but also sparkling clean and beautifully equipped with all you need to make you feel at home. I love staying in apartments when I travel and truth be told, most of the times I get them for the same price I would pay for a hotel room.

    • Exactly! There’s the misconception that you pay more for apartments, though I’ve generally found that getting yourself an apartment won’t cost you any more than booking a regular hotel … though a hotel room comes without the extra facilities like the kitchen, washer and dryer!

      And apartments always have so much more space to move – they’re basically all we book now!

  5. I love staying in apartments such as this one. It really helps a lot to be able to do your own laundry especially after days of traveling. It would be good to have a place to just chill, do the laundry, cook your own food and just enjoy the accommodation. A place to relax and unwind. This would definitely be a pick if I find myself in Wollongong. Having a laundry plus a kitchen area is a major plus.

    • Totally with you there! I think it’s something that every traveler craves after a while – really nice just to have a place where you can truly relax and unwind :)

  6. As a family of three, it’s nice to have an apartment while traveling sometimes. This is Adina apartments in Wollongong looks so comfortable and clean. I love that it has a great kitchen to cook in. Thanks for this great review.

    • For families this is a fabulous option – you’ve got everything you need and cooking for yourself is so much less hassle than trying to organize a place for everyone to eat out. So much more space than you get in a regular hotel room too.

      Definitely check out Adina when you head through Wollongong :)

  7. We’ve not made it down there yet but really must when we’re next down in Sydney. I always prefer an apartment to a hotel room when we can for the extra space and flexibility, the Adina looks like a perfect base.

    • Wollongong is a fantastic place – this was the first time for both of us though we really loved it and can’t wait to return. Maybe we’ll catch you at Adina next time around!

  8. We love Apartment Hotels, we usually stay in Airbnb’s but apartment hotels are the best. You get the kitchen and laundry AND the great services of a hotel, like the staff and pool and sauna’s etc!
    What a great area to visit, Wollongong sounds ideal, lots of nature, beaches, great food, breweries and bars, arts, and culture. Awesome count me in.

    • Let us know if you’re looking for additional tips in planning a trip :) Happy holidays!

  9. I agree, private laundry is a travellers dream! Adina Apartment Hotel looks like a perfect place to call home. I haven’t been to Australia but hope to visit soon and the “Gong” is on my list.

    • Hopefully you can pay Aus a visit soon – Wollongong is great, and best of all it’s super close to Sydney so very accessible for a trip :)

      Happy holidays Nancy!

  10. I recently see Wollongong everywhere, must be time to add it to the list ;) I have never been a fan of apartments because I like to be able to call room service but an apartment hotel is a good compromise and this one looks very pretty and comfortable. Plus pool and sauna, makes for great add-ons

    • Apartment hotels are a really great balance because you’ve got all of the flexibility of self catering and being as independent as you choose, though it also comes with the amenities you would expect from a hotel too, like room service, if you do want it :) So we love them because they pretty much cater to whatever mood you’re in!

  11. Just saying the name Wollongong brings a smile to my face. I too love the flexibility of staying somewhere that has laundry and cooking options, especially if Im staying for a few days. Is this an Australian trend? When we visited Cairns last year we had a villa on the beach that had laundry and a kitchen and while we didn’t cook, we sure made use of the laundry (after being in Melbourne for week at a very nice hotel it was a great option).

    • I think it’s a pretty worldwide trend actually, though Australia definitely has a lot of option for it. And generally Ive found that apartment hotels offer the same rates for their rooms as regular hotels do, so you’re getting so much more for the same price. Winning!

      Hope you have the chance for a return visit to Aus sometime soon :)

  12. Staying in apartments is definitely the way to go when travelling! Especially if you’re on the road long term or travelling with kids. Having a washing machine and kitchen makes life a lot easier.

    • Definitely for families – my sister travels with her two young kids, and regular hotel rooms don’t suit their needs any more. Whoever thought of apartment hotels is a genius!

  13. You and I both Meg! I love staying in hotels that have the amenities of a home. I like being able to do laundry and cook my own meals not just to save money but also because it reminds me of home. I feel more relaxed when I stay in these type of hotels. And btw I haven’t been to Australia but I will def add this to my list. :)

    • It really is so much more relaxing when you feel like you’re home! And I’ve found this makes for much more enjoyable traveling :)

  14. Apartment hotels are great! We stayed in a similar one in Sydney with the same internet plan, but I was able to do everything I needed to do while we were there with the limited connection.

    • It’s a nice option having limited internet on offer for free, and most people heading on a vacation probably wouldn’t need to log on anyway. If you’re traveling for work though you’ll definitely need the larger plan :)

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