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.
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from the editor
Welcome to our Winter issue!
There’s something about the colder months on our coastline that strips everything back — the crowds thin out, the light goes golden and low, and the place reveals a quieter, more considered version of itself. This issue leans into all of that – so make a cup of something hot and enjoy it slowly. It was made with a lot of love.
Which brings me to something I want to share with you. Coal Coast Magazine, at its heart, a one-person operation. A small, stubborn, beautiful publication run on passion, late nights, and a budget that would make most people wince. For a long time, that’s been part of what makes it what it is — but it also takes its toll.
It’s with a full heart that I’m letting you know I’ll be taking a break for the rest of 2026. No more issues until the new year.
But please don’t read too much into that. We’re not going anywhere.
This is a chance to be present with my family, to slow down, and to give some big ideas the breathing room they deserve. We’ll be using the time to reflect and revamp — to think carefully about what Coal Coast Magazine can be, and how we can show up for this community even better in the years ahead.
Consider it ‘long service leave’ with something good waiting on the other side.
We’ll be back in 2027, refreshed and genuinely excited to share what we’ve been working on. In the meantime, our back issues (8 years worth!) are online for a slow afternoon read, and we’ll still be sharing the local love on socials. You can’t shake us that easily!
Thank you for being here. For your support, your messages and your enthusiasm for our little magazine. We exist because of our Coal Coast community, and that doesn’t change one bit.
See you in 2027.
Kate and Team Coal Coast Magazine
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Coal Coast: a term which recognises a prominent rock found beneath our area’s surface, while celebrating our glittering coastline and local heritage.