Like most local families growing up in the ‘90s, the South Coast was a destination that I visited often with my mother during the school holidays.
Whether it was for a whole week or a just few days, Wollongong seemed to be the perfect place for some holiday fun at the beach.
So, when I stayed at my old haunt recently for a few days, those vivid childhood memories came flooding right back.
Now, don’t get me wrong, Wollongong has changed a fair bit since I last holidayed there, but thankfully it still has that classic coastal town charm and laidback vibe we all know and love.
Thanks to leading Aussie online travel company Luxury Escapes, I was fortunate enough to spend two nights at Hotel TOTTO Wollongong, a four-star contemporary, industrial-style hotel, located right in the heart of the CBD.
No, I didn’t have the stunning beaches of Wollongong on my very doorstep, but what I did have was a casual, modern base that was perfect for exploring all that Wollongong has to offer, including its array of shops, bars, restaurants and entertainment.
Located on Market Street and a short stroll from Crown Street Mall and Wollongong Central shopping centre, Hotel TOTTO opened four years ago following a major refurbishment by operator EVT Hotels & Resorts.
Before becoming the Hotel TOTTO that everyone knows and loves today, the property had a previous life as student accommodation for the University of Wollongong.
Fortunately, those rowdy uni students have since departed the property, with scores of travellers from all over New South Wales, Australia and even the world now replacing them.
Hotel TOTTO has 150 rooms across a compact multi-storey building. The aesthetic is minimalist and industrial chic – unfussy but comfortable with air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, Smart TVs with casting, tea/coffee facilities, mini fridges and private bathrooms.
My wife and I stayed in a cozy Queen room on the first floor, which was more than ideal for the length of time that we were staying.
Like I mentioned earlier, Hotel TOTTO is nowhere near the beach, so unfortunately you can’t hear those wonderful waves crashing onto the shore, but what you can hear is the hustle and bustle of everything else Wollongong has to offer – and that’s plenty!
Firstly, Hotel TOTTO is home to its own popular restaurant, BASTA Trattoria.
A casual Mediterranean/Italian restaurant and bar, BASTA Trattoria is located in the open-plan lobby area of the hotel and features an outdoor terrace for dining and drinks.
BASTA Trattoria serves up delicious wood-fired pizzas (please try the Quattro Carni for me), pastas, seafood, steaks, antipasti, salads, dessert as well as cocktails, local beers and wine. And if you visit BASTA Trattoria on a Friday evening, you’ll be able to sit back and relax while listening to soothing live music – you may even hear it from your room’s open window like we did!
BASTA Trattoria is also the venue for Hotel TOTTO’s extensive buffet breakfast of a morning, which we enjoyed immensely on two occasions during our stay!
As evidence the hotel attracts tourists from all over the world, we spoke with a Japanese couple sitting next to us at breakfast that were eager to see some of
Australia’s unique wildlife while they were in town.
Still on Hotel TOTTO’s brilliant location, it’s just a three-minute walk from Crown Street Mall, which has the brilliant Eat Street Markets every Thursday evening; Wollongong Central, which is home to more than 200 retail stores including David Jones; and the Keira Street Dining Precinct, which has a huge variety of casual dining and restaurant options including beloved Mexican institution Amigos (the tacos there were amazing!) and everyone’s favourite guilty pleasure Yo-Chi.
If it’s entertainment that you’re after then Wollongong has that in spades especially if you’re a lover of sport like me.
WIN Stadium, where the St George-Illawarra Dragons play during the winter months, and WIN Entertainment Centre, where the Illawarra Hawks play at during the spring and summer, is roughly a 10-15 minute walk from Hotel TOTTO.
When my basketball-mad wife and I stayed the other week, we got to catch the Hawks NBL team in action against the Tasmania JackJumpers. While Illawarra came up short on the night, the game had a great, intimate atmosphere, and you really felt like a true Wollongong local walking to and from the venue with the passionate fans.
But you’re probably thinking to yourself, ‘Nathan, it sounds like you’ve had a fun-filled trip down south, but you can’t stay in the ‘Gong, recreating your favourite childhood memories, without visiting the beach!’.
Well, readers, I’m here to tell you… I did!
Whether you have a car or not, Wollongong’s incredible beaches aren’t actually that far from Hotel TOTTO. In-fact, we walked to both Wollongong City Beach and North Wollongong Beach in approximately 15-20 minutes – leaving the Haval H6 behind.
Whilst there, we were able to frolic in the waves, read a book on the sand and enjoy a soft serve with sprinkles from the famous ice cream truck near the iconic lighthouse – just like I did as a kid, sans the book reading of course!
If you’re after a stylish, no-fuss CBD base close to everything Wollongong has to offer, Hotel TOTTO Wollongong should be at the top of your list. For exclusive offers and to book, visit www.luxuryescapes.com.
The writer travelled courtesy of Luxury Escapes.
