Wollongong is the gateway to the South Coast of New South Wales in Australia and is considered to be Australia's most livable city. It is also right on the beach and an easy drive from Sydney (in fact some people commute daily). As such it is enjoying a surge in the amount of visitors who go through the city as tourists.

With some fantastic beaches and extreme adventure sports, it's no wonder that Wollongong is taking off. Even people from Sydney are taking the trip south on the weekends to learn to surf, try out skydiving or just relax on the gorgeous and almost empty beaches of Wollongong. For those who want to party, Wollongong also has a huge selection of pubs and clubs. With a growing selection of fine restaurants, there is a lot that Wollongong has to offer.

The good news is that Wollongong is also a pretty cheap place so if you are on a budget it may be well worth considering. Keeping an eye on your finances here is really no problem. Sitting on a beach and enjoying the sand, surf and serenity to totally free if you really want to watch the budget! Luckily Australians never got into the habit of charging people for access to beaches like some other countries. There would probably be a riot if someone even tried!

In terms of budget, food and alcohol are generally pretty cheap in Wollongong with a huge selection of takeaways, supermarkets and cheap dining places for the budget traveller.

The biggest cost, as with any touring or travelling, is always going to be accommodation. Luckily Wollongong has no shortage of cheap hotels and motels and even a backpacker's hostel or two.

At the lower end of the price scale is the Wollongong YAH (Youth Hostels Australia) which is hugely popular with the backpacking crowd. From only $26 per night it's hard to get cheaper. The Wollongong YHA also has private and family rooms for very cheap prices. In general, this YHA receives very high reviews from its guests and is one of the better YHAs in Australia.

A little higher up the price scale is the Thirroul Beach Motel. Private room with ensuite is still well under $100 per night so again, this isn't going to break too many people's budget. Being very close to the beach also makes this cheap motel a very popular and convenient spot for people who want to experience the beach culture of Wollongong.

Getting up in price but still affordable for groups of budget mided travellers, is the Park Street Serviced Apartments. Again, only minutes from the beach these services apartments are a great option if you are travelling with friends. With 3 people the cost comes out to well less than $50 per night each.

Now there are obviouly a lot more budget accommodation options in Wollongong than just these couple of examples, so it is worth shopping around for both price and location.

With the growing popularity of Wollongong and its constantly improving tourist attractions, you are sure not to be disappointed.