Novotel Wollongong Northbeach, review: Second-city blues

Undeterred by the Illawarra's curiously modest self-promotion, Bruce Elder enjoys a city stay by the ocean.

There is a common and unjustified perception that only business people and conference-goers willingly stay in Wollongong. We are reminded of this when, having booked the Novotel through the hotel's website (and thus provided our email address), we receive an illustrated cyberspace missive headed, "Check out our ideas for activities - Be inspired ..." and what is offered is a collection of standard attractions in Sydney.

Seriously, who thinks that booking a stay at the Novotel Northbeach means we're planning to zip to Sydney for a Harbour Bridge climb, Opera House tour or harbour dinner cruise?

We have booked a stay at the city's so-called "best" hotel and yet there's no mention of the Wombarra Sculpture Garden, Wollongong City Gallery, Botanic Garden or Science Centre; no local fine dining highlighted (Caveau scores a hat in the latest Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide); no reference to walks or surfing the superb and unspoilt North Beach. No mention of skydiving and landing on the oval across from our hotel room window!

To compound the problem, we have booked a "Superior 1 Queen Bed Ocean View Balcony" room but someone has forgotten to provide a balcony. This would not be a problem except that a room with a balcony costs an extra $40. Our room costs $247.20, $40 more than we should be paying.

The Novotel has 204 rooms and, in many ways, is geared to conference and business visitors, with some charges hard to justify unless the visitor is on a "let the company pay" expense account. How can the $15 a night parking charge be justified? Luckily, there's a large, free car park next to the hotel.

The hotel breakfast of toast, coffee, croissants, juice and a range of heated English-style menu options is an extra $32.

However, across the road from the hotel, and right on the beachfront, is Diggies, widely recognised as the best breakfast venue in Wollongong (and listed in the Good Food Guide as a premier Illawarra cafe). Diggies serves hotcakes with banana, sweet ricotta and honey butter with crispy bacon for $18.50; sourdough with bacon, tomato, rocket, poached egg, asparagus and parmesan costs $16. There's even corned wagyu hash with poached egg, Diggies' tomato relish and rocket for $14.

Enough of the whingeing. Our hotel room's picture windows have sensational views of the northern coastline. In the foreground is Stuart Park, where thrill-seekers land after skydiving from planes that take off from Illawarra Regional Airport to the south; behind stands of mature Norfolk pines is the Lagoon seafood restaurant; and stretching to the horizon are views of the Illawarra Escarpment and several beaches.