More than half of Australians will celebrate our national day at a barbecue, according to a survey by GoCatch, and there’s plenty of places across the Illawarra to do so.
Councils will host a number of family friendly and alcohol-free festivities at different locations and venues from sunup to sundown
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Hundreds of bodies will take a dip for the annual Aquathon at Wollongong Harbour from 8am.
Activities will also be setup at Lang and Osbourne Park’s including performance stages, stalls, amusement rides, hands-on kids activities, street theatre, water fun, remote controlled cars and a General Motors Holden display.
A new Chill Out Zone with skate ramp and DJ will be pumping beats at Flagstaff Hill, while the daring can have a go at the inflatable thong race in Belmore Basin.
The Gong Shuttle move people from throughout the city while there will be several road closures (for more, check www.livetraffic.com). Motorists are advised to park at JJ Kelly Park and get the shuttle.
For Wollongong Aus Day program CLICK HERE; for event map CLICK HERE
Bring your picnic rug to Lake Illawarra’s Reddall Reserve from 7am with charity breakfast and an array of activities.
The man behind the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb, Paul Cave, will be joining Shellharbour City's celebrations which also include citizenship ceremony, civic ceremony and Australia Day Citizen Awards, before the “Amp It Up” youth concert kicks on from midday.
From 9pm the Shellharbour Club will light up the night sky with free fireworks.
A number of venues will host Australia Day breakfasts with activities across Kiama including South Werri Reserve in Gerringong, Kevin Walsh Oval at Jamberoo, Jones Beach and Coronation Park at Kiama Surf Beach.
Hindmarsh Park and Joyce Wheatley Community Centre will take over from 11am with a citizenship ceremony.
Children’s TV presenter of ‘Active Kidz’ and two time Telstra Young Business Women’s Award finalist, Amy Wilkins, will address the crowd.
This will be followed by a family friendly concert with live music from Simon Dyos and the Mark Dabin Duo.
Drive safely, double demerits are in force until 11:59pm Sunday.
WHAT’S ON WHERE:
WOLLONGONG
8am Wollongong Harbour and Flagstaff Hill.
Family friendly celebrations with multiple stages, stalls, rises, hand’on kids activities, street theatre, skate ramp, DJ and inflatable thong race.
Artists include: French Soiree dancers, Bollywood dancers, the Blues Brothers Rebooted and costumed characters. Fireworks round out the evening at 9pm.
SHELLHARBOUR
7am at Reddall Reserve in Lake Illawarra for breakfast, children’s activities, live music, citizenship ceremony and youth concert.
9pm Free fireworks at Shellhabour Club.
KIAMA
Breakfast will be served at South Werri Reserve across from Gerringong Surf Club from 7:30am; Kevin Walsh Oval at Jamberoo from 8am; Jones Beach from 7am; and Coronation Park at Kiama Surf Beach from 7am.
Kiama’s Hindmarsh Park takes over festivities with citizenship ceremony at 11am, followed by an afternoon of live music with a family friendly concert.
All council run celebrations are alcohol-free.