beaches
Towradgi Beach Park
2 Towradgi RoadKids' playground, free bbq's, ocean pool.
Wollongong's main beach. Right next to cafes and the Novotel hotel
6 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
North Beach
Wollongong's main beach. Right next to cafes and the Novotel hotel
Fairy Meadow Beach Reserve
Elliotts RoadCoffee/Cafes
Rose's Thai Restaurant
19 Flinders Stgreat bacon and egg roll
Delano Specialty Coffee
85 Montague Stcoffee roastery (in the industrial area) only open monday to friday.
not actually on the hwy (it's on Daisy Street, between the florist and the butcher).
Fantastic coffee and basic menu.
7 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Broken Drum
Daisy Streetnot actually on the hwy (it's on Daisy Street, between the florist and the butcher).
Fantastic coffee and basic menu.
feat. Whitehorse coffee, this place does great burgers and food, and top notch coffee.
Xavier's Place
21 Princes Hwyfeat. Whitehorse coffee, this place does great burgers and food, and top notch coffee.
Old school italian pastries, cakes, biscotti. Amazing. Small range of house made pizza slices (beautiful) and gelato.
Pasticceria Massimo Papa
130 Princes HwyOld school italian pastries, cakes, biscotti. Amazing. Small range of house made pizza slices (beautiful) and gelato.
The shared breakfast platter is EPIC. Easily feeds 4 adults.
6 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
His & Hers cafe
313 Princes HwyThe shared breakfast platter is EPIC. Easily feeds 4 adults.
Not in fairy meadow (it's at North Beach in wollongong), this is the picture perfect beachside cafe. Home to fitness freaks, cyclists, dog walkers and those just soaking up the vibe, it's at the northern end of the Blue Mile (a beachfront walkway from north 'gong to the lighthouse). Great menu, with take-away from one end of the place and sit-down at the other. Best spot in wollongong
58 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Diggies Cafe
1 Cliff RdNot in fairy meadow (it's at North Beach in wollongong), this is the picture perfect beachside cafe. Home to fitness freaks, cyclists, dog walkers and those just soaking up the vibe, it's at the northern end of the Blue Mile (a beachfront walkway from north 'gong to the lighthouse). Great menu, with take-away from one end of the place and sit-down at the other. Best spot in wollongong
Beer/Breweries
In the industrial area. Does take aways in big bottles "growlers" (there's a couple by the front door you can use).
Illawarra Brewing Company Brewhouse
83-85 Montague StIn the industrial area. Does take aways in big bottles "growlers" (there's a couple by the front door you can use).
Hiding under WIN football stadium, this place has a wide craft beer selection and views of the ocean.
The Illawarra Brewery
Hiding under WIN football stadium, this place has a wide craft beer selection and views of the ocean.
a friendly father-and-son brewing team, making some great beers. Mostly geared towards take-aways (feel free to borrow a growler from the front door).
7 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Five Barrel Brewing
318 Keira Sta friendly father-and-son brewing team, making some great beers. Mostly geared towards take-aways (feel free to borrow a growler from the front door).
Our local. Friendly micro-brewery close to our place. Billy and the team are laid back and friendly. Open Thurs-Sun, closing at 8pm. There's only pretzels and jerky for food here, but you're encouraged to BYO food from home, the deli across the road (make your own antipasto plate), the fish and chip shop or the excellent Thai restaurant next door.
9 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Reub Goldberg Brewing Machine
81 Meadow StOur local. Friendly micro-brewery close to our place. Billy and the team are laid back and friendly. Open Thurs-Sun, closing at 8pm. There's only pretzels and jerky for food here, but you're encouraged to BYO food from home, the deli across the road (make your own antipasto plate), the fish and chip shop or the excellent Thai restaurant next door.
Supermarkets/Groceries
Entry via Elliots Rd. Let the buying of random items from the middle aisle commence.
13 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
ALDI Fairy Meadow
110 Princes HwyEntry via Elliots Rd. Let the buying of random items from the middle aisle commence.
Woolworths Fairy Meadow
66 Princes Hwyparking off Daisy Street
undercover parking entry off Grafton St (off Elliots Rd).
17 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Coles Fairy Meadow
Elliotts Roadundercover parking entry off Grafton St (off Elliots Rd).
Fairy Meadow Spice Corner
27 Elliotts RdOutstanding indian grocery with some ready-made food available.
Great quality fresh seafood. These guys have just started an upscale oyster business on the side.
Harley & Johns Seafood
7 Daisy StGreat quality fresh seafood. These guys have just started an upscale oyster business on the side.
Looks wholesale (it is), but with a wide selection of meats. Great bulk options. Fernhill is a tiny suburb right next to Fairy Meadow
Illawarra Meat Co.
55 Pringle RdLooks wholesale (it is), but with a wide selection of meats. Great bulk options. Fernhill is a tiny suburb right next to Fairy Meadow
Looks like a nursery from the main road, but it's a massive fruit shop/deli/supermarket. Amazing selection of everything (especially smallgoods and italian/greek stuff) - just beware that the cheaper fruit and veg is cheaper for a reason!
15 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Leisure Coast Fruit Market & Deli
75 Princes HwyLooks like a nursery from the main road, but it's a massive fruit shop/deli/supermarket. Amazing selection of everything (especially smallgoods and italian/greek stuff) - just beware that the cheaper fruit and veg is cheaper for a reason!
High end butcher. Friendly, but pricy. Special treat -the dry-aged steak in the fridge at the back. Balgownie is up the hill from Fairy Meadow
Graze Butchery
127 Balgownie RdHigh end butcher. Friendly, but pricy. Special treat -the dry-aged steak in the fridge at the back. Balgownie is up the hill from Fairy Meadow
Asian grocery. Great range of everything, especially dumplings. There are bamboo steamers you can use in the cupboard above the microwave)
STK Supermarket
126 Princes HwyAsian grocery. Great range of everything, especially dumplings. There are bamboo steamers you can use in the cupboard above the microwave)
160 Balgownie Rd
160 Balgownie RoadBalgownie Hot Bake (local bakery)
Try their chelsea bun - it's like eating a cloud
playgrounds
big half pipe and good variety of ramps/grinds. Just across the oval from the end of our street
Fairy Meadow Skate Park
2 Cambridge Avebig half pipe and good variety of ramps/grinds. Just across the oval from the end of our street
biiiig playground near the beach and lagoon. Can park on Pioneer Drive and walk through, or park near the Lagoon restaurant.
Stuart Park Playground
Cliff Roadbiiiig playground near the beach and lagoon. Can park on Pioneer Drive and walk through, or park near the Lagoon restaurant.
Towradgi Beach Park Playground
2 Towradgi Rdbeachfront playground with toilets
Eating Out Options
Fairy Meadow's cultural hub for the italian/greek community. The bistro and the wood fired pizza restaurant are both great. Right on the highway, plenty of parking.
11 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Fraternity Club
11 Bourke StFairy Meadow's cultural hub for the italian/greek community. The bistro and the wood fired pizza restaurant are both great. Right on the highway, plenty of parking.
Best thai in the area. Conveniently located next to a craft brewery.
8 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Le Rose Thai Cuisine
81 Meadow StBest thai in the area. Conveniently located next to a craft brewery.
THE BEST banh mi (pork rolls) in the world. Available with hot fillings (pork belly with crackling, roast beef, lemongrass chicken, satay chicken), as well as the traditional cold pork. There's always a line, and they're only $6.50
Peter's Bakery
68 Princes HwyTHE BEST banh mi (pork rolls) in the world. Available with hot fillings (pork belly with crackling, roast beef, lemongrass chicken, satay chicken), as well as the traditional cold pork. There's always a line, and they're only $6.50
Top shelf burgers. Next to a bit of a seedy pub, but these guys are excellent (and there's a private eating area). Try the jalapeno poppers!
Moe's
98 Princes HwyTop shelf burgers. Next to a bit of a seedy pub, but these guys are excellent (and there's a private eating area). Try the jalapeno poppers!
hidden at the base of the local club (Collegians, aka Collies), just up the hill in Balgownie, this is cheap and cheerful chinese at its best.
Jade Court Chinese Restaurant
126 Balgownie Rdhidden at the base of the local club (Collegians, aka Collies), just up the hill in Balgownie, this is cheap and cheerful chinese at its best.
Beautiful Lebanese, including a world of baklava.
9 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Al Aseel Restaurant Fairy Meadow
124 Princes HwyBeautiful Lebanese, including a world of baklava.
Call ahead - it's always busy. Because it's great. And if you're up for the $55 mammoth burger challenge ... respect.
Fishnets Takeaway & Catering
114 Pioneer RdCall ahead - it's always busy. Because it's great. And if you're up for the $55 mammoth burger challenge ... respect.
Pubs/Clubs
Big outdoor area, playground for kids, 18+ area to escape from kids, solid pub/bistro food in a beachside atmosphere.
46 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Towradgi Beach Hotel
170 Pioneer RdBig outdoor area, playground for kids, 18+ area to escape from kids, solid pub/bistro food in a beachside atmosphere.
Standard local pub. Good bistro, nothing fancy.
8 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Balgownie Hotel
141 Balgownie RdStandard local pub. Good bistro, nothing fancy.
recently renovated, "The Patch" has had a bit of a rough reputation in the past. Now looks all fancy and hosting all sorts of launches, events - it's pretty nice! Great USA-inspired menu, cheap specials for lunches.
Cabbage Tree Hotel
73 Princes Hwyrecently renovated, "The Patch" has had a bit of a rough reputation in the past. Now looks all fancy and hosting all sorts of launches, events - it's pretty nice! Great USA-inspired menu, cheap specials for lunches.
The Charles Hotel
98 Princes HwyAvoid, unless you're going to Moe's for burgers.
Collegians Balgownie
126 Balgownie RdSImple, little sister of the enormous Collegians in wollongong proper.