6 Ways To Spend January 26 In The Illawarra
Where To Gather With Friends + Family, And Connect With Community In 2025
This year the January 26th public holiday will land on a Sunday and gives us an opportunity to connect with our wonderful Illawarra community. This day carries with it a range of emotions, thoughts and feelings. We are so grateful to live in a place where we can share and talk about this with those around us.
Here’s a list of some events and places we can connect with the community this January 26, in this beautiful slice of the world we call home.
1 :: Illawarra Aquathon + Australia Day at Wollongong Harbour
Australia’s biggest [and probably most fun] swim-run is back in Wollongong Harbour. Whether you’re looking to smash those New Year’s fitness goals or just want to spend your public holiday splashing about, then Aquathon is for you!
Sign up solo or even tag-team with a buddy. There are events to suit everyone with long, short and mini Aquas, plus a kids’ one for the little fishies.
Not a swimmer? All good, sign up for the Blue Mile 5 Fun Run to get moving while remaining on terra firma.
And if spectating is more your passion, then that’s cool too. In the evening Wollongong City Council is hosting a family-friendly event in the harbour with food, entertainment and fireworks at 9pm.
2 :: Head To Jamberoo
Kiama Council is hosting their annual Citizenship Ceremony at Jamberoo Youth Hall this year.
After the ceremony, there’s a community barbecue with musical and cultural performances.
There’s also plenty of fun for families with Circus Play, giant yard games, face painting, and the Jamberoo Rural Fire Service Truck for kids to explore.
The event supports the Jamberoo Red Cross and Jamberoo Rural Fire Service.
3 :: Breakfast By The Lake
Brekkie by the lake at Reddall Reserve in Illawarra is back for the public holiday. Pack your picnic blanket, hat and sunscreen and prepare for a morning of free family fun.
Chomp down on sizzling bacon, eggs and sausage sangas, all cooked up by volunteers. There’ll also be other food stalls to choose from and of course coffee carts to keep the parents and carers fuelled.
Enjoy a line-up of fun musical acts as well as loads of kid-friendly activities like slip ‘n slides, water play, a musical playground and more. What a gorge way to spend a summer morning!
4 :: Hit the roof
Wollongong’s beloved rooftop bar Humber will be hosting their weekend bottomless brunch! Hit up their bustling rooftop for unlimited dumplings & bao buns + watermelon sugar jugs. Make sure to book your spot to avoid disappointment.
On the 26th, The Fitz Cafe & Bar will also be open from 7am to 3pm and have brunch and/or lunch covered.
5 :: Gather for a picnic in the park with friends and family
Grab your loved ones, your favourite picnic blanket and a big old esky. The Illawarra boasts a ton of perfect picnic spots and a few of our faves include:
Stanwell Park’s playground + beach = superb
Wollongong Botanic Gardens is always beautiful and has plenty of space so you won’t be wrestling for a spot.
Shellharbour Village Foreshore is a great playground for the kiddos, and close to yummy fish and chip shops.
Integral Energy Park has shaded picnic tables, BBQs and a DOUBLE FLYING FOX! Let’s get racing!
Fill up your picnic hamper with goodies from one of our many local providores. The Pickled Poet in Thirroul has a fantastic selection of cheeses, meats and accompaniments to make your picnic fancy pants. Or to save you all the guesswork, pre-order a grazing box from Deli & Dine and be totally sorted.
6 :: Pubs and Clubs
Club Windang will be serving up Aussie tunes with music duo Susie & Grace from 12:30pm. We love this club on a sunny day out in the beer garden so let’s hope the weather turns it on for us.
Another spot showing off classic Aussie tunes will be Tap House @ Groundz Precinct in Dapto. Entry is FREE and there’ll be loads of beats, food trucks and a bar stocked with cold ones.
The Fraternity Club in Fairy Meadow will also be turning up the volume for an Australian rock night featuring the six-piece cover band, The Finz, guaranteed to keep toes tapping all night long.
So that’s a round-up of some of the great community events we have happening around town on the 26th. If you would like to know more about any of these gatherings or any other wonderful events happening head to our Event Directory for all the info at your fingertips!
