Wollongong, City of Innovation

wollongong-city-of-innovation.jpgWith the world becoming more and more environmentally aware, travelers are also becoming more interested in seeing how other countries tackle the difficult challenges that come with finding ways to be more environmentally sensitive. New South Wales’ second largest city is proudly taking a leadership role in developing ways for their citizens’ to lessen their ecological footprint.

Futureworld Eco-Technology Centre is a pioneer in sustainable technologies. The organization has a six-and-a-half hectare site that houses their Eco-Technology Exhibition Centre. Exhibits focus on renewable energy and greenhouse gas reduction, water conservation, and waste reduction, and exhibits are fully interactive. Highlights include full-scale wind turbine blades and a power generation unit, a water wave tank demonstrating wave energy, a model of a solar powered ferry, a waste minimization and recycling facility and a miniature eco-house demonstrating ways to make your home more environmentally friendly. The exhibits are located both indoors and out.

In addition to being so environmentally progressive, Wollongong has much to offer tourists. While in the area, you might be interested in stopping by the Wollongong Science Centre and Planetarium. Here, families can enjoy star and laser shows in the planetarium and view the sky in the observatory. Popular exhibits focus on archaeology, energy, and Antarctica, and the centre also runs several science themed shows at their theatre.

As would be expected in such an environmentally friendly city, Wollongong is home to many parks. MacCabe Park is located inside the city, and features a playground, war memorial, and amphitheatre. Greenhouse Park was formerly a waste dump, but since 1992 has been under restoration to create a green corridor within the city. Sitting next to the wetlands of Tom Thumb Lagoon, the park is a great example of land reclamation.