Bus services across the Northern Illawarra will increase by around 10 per cent from August, providing more travel options and stronger connections between suburbs, train stations and key destinations.
Northern Illawarra passengers will spend less time waiting for a bus and have more travel options across the week, with 83 additional weekly services beginning from Monday 3 August.
Part of the Minns Labor Government's $150 million Bus Service Uplift Program, the changes will deliver around a 10 per cent increase in weekly bus services, boosting frequency across the week and making it easier for people to get to work, school, university, shops and appointments.
The new timetable has been designed to better reflect how people travel, delivering more frequent services during busy periods, stronger connections across the network and improved access to key destinations including the University of Wollongong.
Route 90 between Austinmer and Wollongong will become a high-frequency service during weekday peak periods, with buses every 10 to 15 minutes. Sunday services will also double in frequency to every 30 minutes, with later evening services until 9pm.
Students and staff travelling to the University of Wollongong will benefit from simpler and more direct bus services, with Route 91 providing a dedicated university connection from Austinmer, Bulli and Corrimal, reducing duplication and better meeting passenger demand.
Route 92 will operate mostly every hour, replacing the current two-hourly service and providing improved connections at Corrimal through a new loop service linking Bulli and Corrimal.
Together, the changes will improve travel between Wollongong CBD and Northern Illawarra suburbs, including Corrimal, Fairy Meadow, Woonona, Bulli and Thirroul, making public transport more convenient, reliable and easier to use throughout the week.
Some school bus services will also be adjusted to reduce congestion, provide greater flexibility and better align with school start and finish times.
The improvements will also strengthen bus-rail connections at Thirroul, ensuring passengers are well placed to benefit from the updated South Coast rail timetable later in 2026, which will see trains running every 15 minutes in peak periods and every 30 minutes off-peak between Wollongong and Sydney CBD.
Together, these improvements will deliver a more connected, reliable and convenient public transport network for communities across the Northern Illawarra.
Quotes attributable to Minister for the Illawarra and the South Coast, Ryan Park:
"The Illawarra is a growing region. These additional services will make sure we can continue to meet increased demand.
"These are services that people rely on every day to get to school, work, and around their communities. This boost will make it easier for people get to where they need to go sooner.
"The Minns Government is doing what the Coalition never did - investing in the essential services our communities need."
Quotes attributable to Member for Wollongong, Paul Scully:
"These extra bus services will make everyday life easier, cutting wait times and getting passengers to their destination sooner.
"Whether you're travelling to work, school, the shops, appointments or just out and about these services will make living your life around Wollongong more convenient."
Quotes attributable to Member for Heathcote, Maryanne Stuart:
"I've listened to the concerns raised by our community, including regular bus users, and advocated strongly for more services because as our region grows, our bus network needs to keep pace with growing demand."
"With fuel prices putting pressure on household budgets, more frequent buses will mean less time waiting, while giving people a cheaper, more sustainable and more active way to get around."
