Chifley Wollongong review: Let the good times stroll

All the beach-break ingredients on his doorstep has Simon Tsang joining the Illawarra fan club.

WOLLONGONG hasn't been on my holiday destination list for, well, ever. It's for no particular reason, when I think about it, despite the city being the right distance from Sydney (about a 90-minute drive) to make you feel as though you've gone away but not so far as to make the journey tiresome.

The opening of a new stay a block from City Beach, however, gave me the perfect excuse to reassess the region. I've been to a few hotels that were near-new but none finished so recently that tradies are practically walking out of your room as you're trundling in. OK, it wasn't quite like that but the restaurant at the Chifley Wollongong was still under construction when we arrived, so food, including a tapas menu, was served from the ground-floor cafe in front of the lobby.

With kids along for the ride, we decided to opt for room service for breakfast and explore the local restaurants at dinner time. Our junior suite had a separate lounge and dining area complete with single and double sofa beds and a kitchenette, although the latter was more a kitchen-in-training (no cutlery in the drawers yet).

The separate bedroom was a welcome arrangement, both for the extra space and for its sound insulation properties, given the little one's disproportionately loud snoring.

The suite's decor was simple and modern, with a designer feel including a faux Artemide lamp perched on the writing desk. The bedside lamps were so new there were tags still hanging from them.

Beyond the suite's large glass sliding doors, the balcony overlooked the hotel's outdoor heated pool. To the right, City Beach beckoned. The hotel features 168 guest rooms and suites with high-speed broadband internet, flat-screen TVs and high-definition movies, sport and news.

The Chifley's proximity to the beach and Wollongong Golf Course is perhaps its standout attraction. If, for example, you misjudged the speed of the approaching waves and accidentally stumbled in fully clothed while dragging your kids in as well, a hot shower and some dry attire is only a short walk away. Just saying. A more predictable body of water is the hotel's pool. It's not that big a pool, however, so if another family turns up, you'll probably get to know them by the time the kids are willing to be hauled out. There's a small indoor gym near the pool, too, which makes it handy for you to cool down after a workout.

Wollongong is an easy weekend away from Sydney and the Chifley scores well on location, convenience, service and comfort.