Illawarra: where to stay, where to eat, where the locals drink.
Pub accommodation in the Illawarra runs the length of the escarpment, from Helensburgh in the north to Kiama in the south. The Helensburgh Hotel is in the township at the northern gateway to the coast, near the Royal National Park and the drive over Sea Cliff Bridge. The Figtree Hotel is minutes from Wollongong, Jamberoo Pub is the heart of its green valley village, and The Grand Hotel Kiama is a traditional pub in the seaside town famous for its blowhole.
Between them they cover beach, rainforest and city at pub prices. Every one is publican-run, so your enquiry goes straight to the pub — no booking fees, no middleman.
Illawarra at a glance
- Pubs listed
- 4
- Towns covered
- 4
- State
- NSW
Affordable pub accommodation in the Illawarra
A pub room is usually the best-value bed in town. You're paying for a clean room in a good spot, not for a lobby — and every one of the 4 Illawarra pubs listed here is run by its publican. You enquire with them directly, so there are no booking fees and no commission built into the rate. Most publicans here quote directly rather than publishing rates online — send an enquiry with your dates and they'll come back with a price.
The value is in what's downstairs, too. 3 of the 4 pubs serve meals on site, so dinner is a flight of stairs away rather than a drive. 2 of the 4 pubs have parking for guests.
Traditional pubs in the Illawarra
2 of these are traditional pubs — rooms upstairs, bar and bistro below, usually right on the main street. The rooms are simple and priced to match. Some have an ensuite; others share a bathroom down the hall, the way pub rooms always have. Each listing says what's included, and the publican will tell you exactly what you're getting when you enquire.
Nearby regions to explore
About Illawarra pub stays
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