The lifestyle magazine that Illawarra locals love

Welcome to Coal Coast Magazine, your premier guide for exploring the vibrant life and culture in the Illawarra, including Wollongong, Kiama and Shellharbour.

As a leading lifestyle publication, our pages are brimming with captivating stories, showcasing the best of local events, remarkable talents, and the unique spirit that defines our community.

At Coal Coast Magazine, we’re committed to bringing you a high-quality lifestyle publication through an insider’s perspective on what makes the Illawarra truly special. From breathtaking natural landscapes to bustling community gatherings, we cover it all with an eye for the extraordinary moments that weave the fabric of our local life.

Whether you’re a long-time local or a curious traveller, our print and digital magazine provides a thorough guide to experiencing the full spectrum of life in the Illawarra and South Coast.

As a free, independent publication, we tell real stories with authenticity and passion. Coal Coast Magazine is designed to be read on the beach, displayed on a coffee table, lovingly stored on a bookshelf as part of a collection or passed onto a friend.

Join us as we celebrate the art, culture, and people that make our region shine. Dive into our latest issue to discover why Coal Coast Magazine is more than just a publication—it’s the locals’ way of life.

from the arias to the illawarra

Indigenous singer songwriter Emily Wurramara has unfinished business in Dharawal country. Fresh off the back of her historic ARIA win, she’s bringing her encore NARA tour to Wollongong’s Music Lounge on March 21, as part of the Great Southern Nights initiative.

food traditions

Aside from being delicious and comforting, tried and true family recipes say so much about our identity, where we came from, and what is important to us. We meet Helensburgh resident Yuko Waldon, who shares the Japanese curry recipe that she makes regularly for her family.

being married to the sound

With the launch of her newest album 'Married to the Sound', Elana Stone speaks on her musical evolution, the impact of motherhood and her home of the Illawarra region.

collaboration over competition

For International Women's Day we've teamed up with fellow editor and champion of local independent media, Genevieve Swart from the Illawarra Flame! Together, we're doing a world first – interviewing each other! Meet editors Genevieve and Kate - their journeys, inspiration, and how they bring fresh and positive perspectives to the local media landscape.

finds for you – issue 05

Look no further... Your one-stop shop for local experiences & support services.

from the editor

Last week we made the tough decision to hit pause on our upcoming Autumn Issue #27.

As a small business that relies solely on advertising to print, we’ve been impacted by the knock-on effect of the cost of living and increasing paper prices.

We pride ourselves of producing a high-quality publication, that remains FREE for our readers, however there is no way we can produce a magazine of the quality we always have, considering the financial burden that other local businesses, our advertisers, are also facing.

Our purpose has always been to #supportlocal and share the stories of our fantastic community. Not only will we back in Winter to bring you your favourite print magazine, but we will continue to assist local businesses, makers and shakers on our website by uploading the positive, community-minded content that is the heart of #coalcoastmag.

Keep following along on Instagram and Facebook as we continue to bring you beautiful stories and images as we’ve always done.

To our advertisers and readers, thank you for your support and understanding.

Kate and Team CCM x

Upcoming Events

Coal Coast: a term which recognises a prominent rock found beneath our area’s surface, while celebrating our glittering coastline and local heritage.