Cosmopolitan Wollongong. An eclectic mix of industry, sweeping beaches, unforgettable natural areas, local history, fabulous shopping and exciting cultural diversity.

The area is well serviced by wedding professionals who will ensure your wedding day is perfect in every way.

And there are plenty of picturesque places for an outdoor wedding or spectacular wedding photos.

Outdoor sites for weddings in the Wollongong area include Market Square, Belmore Basin, Stuart Park, Flagstaff Hill, Battery Park and the Botanic Gardens, all in Wollongong itself.

Then there is Glastonbury Gardens at Austinmer, Bells Point Park also at Austinmer and Sandon Point Reserve in Blackall Street, Bulli.

Don't forget the beautiful beaches and dramatic headlands which offer further photo opportunities.

Check with Wollongong City Council on 4227 1111 regarding availability of the city's parks and gardens for weddings and photographs.

There's the famous walk through Minnamurra Rainforest with its beautiful waterfalls, providing some fantastic photographic opportunities. The area is available for wedding ceremonies and has catering, picnic and barbecue facilities.

The rainforest walk is fully wheelchair accessible for elderly relatives or those with disabilities.

Then there is Kiama's famous blowhole, which regularly sends a soaring spray of surf through an opening in the rocky cliffs and can be seen from an accessible lookout - again a great place for photographs.

Picturesque areas include Hartwell House, the Cathedral Rocks and the lovely walks around the headland.

Fry's Cave might be an area to consider for photographs - a huge sea cavern carved by natural forces into the cliff face.

Killalea State Park, north of Kiama runs down to fantastic surfing and fishing beaches and the Little Blowhole off Tingira Crescent is a great sight when the prevailing seas are from the north east.

In Killalea State Park you will find plenty of pretty areas for wedding photographs.

The Wollongong and Kiama districts boast a large range of accommodation, including resorts, traditional Aussie pubs, hotels and guest houses.

Heading away from Wollongong is Shellharbour, with one its most picturesque area at Blackbutt Forest Reserve. The forest offers ample photographic opportunities amongst the remnant coastal plain vegetation.

Then there is Lake Foreshore - plenty of spots for photographs here - and Macquarie Pass National Park which has interesting historical features such as the Nurrewin homestead, as well as cascading waterfalls and rainforest gullies.

The highlight of a honeymoon at Jervis Bay is the chance to do some whale watching at close quarters.

Cruises take you as far as legally possible to the pods of whales and dolphins, local seals, turtles and albatross in the area. In the whale-watching season the annual migration of the humpback whales is an unforgettable thrill.

Further south, consider a beachside wedding at beautiful Mollymook. The bushland reserve at the beach has picnic facilities for an al fresco event.

And for a post-wedding weekend lunch, you can't go past fish and chips on the sand at Ulladulla. It's also a good place to go bushwalking amongst the forests of spotted gums. Once you've worked up an appetite hiking Pigeon House Mountain, head back to the beach to take home fresh fish for dinner from Fisherman's Wharf.

Also at Ulladulla you can go scuba diving amongst the blue groper and sea dragons or go deep sea fishing for big game fish.

Further south is Batemans Bay on the Clyde River. Batemans Bay is a good base to explore surfing beaches, historic villages and the river banks. There are art galleries, fishing, good shopping and dining and historic areas.

Contacts:

• Kiama Council - 4232 0222
• Shellharbour Council - 4221 6111
• Wollongong Council - 4227 7111