Wollongong Traffic Alert: Harbor Closures and Shuttle Diversions for Australia Day

Public Holiday Travel and Event Closures

Today, Monday, 26 January 2026, Wollongong celebrates Australia Day with a series of community events centered around Belmore Basin and Wollongong Harbour. Commuters and visitors should prepare for significant changes to the local road network and public transport schedules. With large crowds expected for the morning Aquathon and the evening fireworks display at 9:00 pm, planning ahead is essential to avoid major delays in the city center.

Major Road Closures and Timing

To ensure the safety of the thousands of attendees expected at the foreshore, Wollongong City Council has authorized extensive road closures. Most closures in the harbor precinct will be in effect from 4:00 pm until 10:00 pm, though some local restrictions may begin earlier to accommodate morning sporting events. Key closures include:

• Cliff Road: Closed between Marine Drive and Georges Place.
• Harbour Street: Closed between Market Street and Cliff Road.
• Surrounding Streets: Hector Street, Hinton Street, Campbell Street (east of Corrimal Street), Wilson Street, and Smith Street (between Corrimal and Harbour Streets) will be inaccessible to through traffic.
• Market Place: Fully closed to support event infrastructure.

Motorists should anticipate heavier-than-usual traffic on the M1 Princes Motorway and Memorial Drive as visitors arrive from the north and south. Parking near North Wollongong beach and the lighthouse will be extremely limited; drivers are encouraged to use CBD parking stations and walk to the harbor.

Public Transport and Gong Shuttle Diversions

Public transport is the most efficient way to reach today's festivities. Trains are operating on a Saturday timetable, while local bus services are following a Sunday timetable. Commuters heading toward Sydney should be aware of ongoing trackwork on the metropolitan network between Cabramatta and Granville, which may impact connecting journeys.

The Free Gong Shuttle (Routes 55A and 55C) will run every 10 minutes from 7:00 am until 11:00 pm. However, due to the harbor closures, the shuttle cannot access Cliff Road and will instead be diverted along Corrimal Street. Between 8:00 pm and 10:00 pm, additional service changes will see buses that normally run on Crown and Burelli Streets terminating west of Corrimal Street to manage the high volume of pedestrians leaving the fireworks display.

Safety and Enforcement

The NSW Police Force has deployed Operation Australia Day across the region. Double demerit points are currently in effect for speeding, illegal mobile phone use, and seatbelt offences. With a high-visibility police presence on the roads, drivers are reminded to maintain patience and adhere to the temporary 60km/h speed limits near the Mount Ousley interchange construction zone, even if active work has paused for the holiday.