Nerves ran high when England’s wheelchair rugby league players took to the water at Wollongong’s North Beach.
Players and staff had made time in their World Cup schedule for a lesson with Pines Surfing Academy. Soon teammates were cheering each other on as they got used to balancing on boards in moving water.
It was the sort of afternoon Wollongong would love more visiting teams to have. But with eight nations in town for the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup being held at WIN Entertainment Centre, some teams had to look as far as Campbelltown and southern Sydney for a hotel where their players could stay together.
Wollongong has spent years trying to get more hotels built. The World Cup has added another question to that discussion. How many accessible rooms can a group book under one roof?
Destination Wollongong general manager Jeremy Wilshire said the region has more than 60 accessible rooms, with Sage and Hotel TOTTO among the hotels with the most.
“The challenge for that event in particular has been the number of accessible rooms required in the region at any one time,” he said.
Even within a team, Wilshire said, players needed different things. Some required fully accessible rooms. Others could use rooms with some accessible features or stay in standard rooms. A hotel could have vacancies and still be unable to take the whole squad.
It was the second time in just over a year that Wollongong had welcomed para athletes for a world championship. Last October, the World Triathlon Championship Finals brought para triathletes to the city to race on its waterfront.
Wilshire said Destination Wollongong was looking at events for the next 18 months and still chasing another global event for the city. He has previously told The Pulse Illawarra that a funding commitment for the proposed WIN Sports and Entertainment Precinct redevelopment could give hotel developers the confidence to invest.
What council’s planning rules cover
Wollongong City Council said it assesses accessibility when considering proposals for new hotels and other accommodation. Chapter E1 of its Development Control Plan covers features such as accessible paths from public spaces and drop-off points to building entrances.
The chapter does not specify how many accessible rooms a hotel must provide.
“Through this chapter, these considerations are embedded in Council’s management and assessment of all developments, including hotel developments, across our LGA,” a council spokesperson said.
The council’s Disability Inclusion Action Plan 2026–2030, adopted in June, applies universal design principles to areas including infrastructure and event planning. The council pointed to its all-abilities playground at Stuart Park and accessible cabins at its tourist parks as examples of work already underway or completed.
Ahead of the World Cup, council crews upgraded kerb ramps around the WIN precinct, increasing the number that meet accessibility standards from seven to 16.
What visitors can find before they book
Wilshire singled out Symbio Wildlife Park, Skydive Australia and Pines Surfing Academy as businesses already doing good work on accessibility. Preparing for the World Cup showed how difficult it could be to find out what local operators offered.
“A lot of businesses don’t highlight their access information too clearly,” he said.
Destination Wollongong plans to raise this with its tourism partners. Wilshire said clearer information could help visitors plan their trips and give operators a way to stand out.
Pines Surfing Academy owner Vaya Phrachanh welcomed the England squad to surf lessons in the lead-up to the wheelchair group games.
“Welcoming England’s wheelchair rugby league team was a privilege. The visit brought together athletes and surf coaches through a shared love of sport, leaving memories of laughter, connection and the satisfaction of trying something new,” he said.
“For athletes accustomed to the demands of international competition, surfing presented an unfamiliar challenge. Learning to feel comfortable on a board and respond to moving water required patience, trust and a willingness to learn. The group approached the experience with enthusiasm, supporting one another as they worked through the challenges of a different sport.”
The final group games are tonight (Friday, November 6), with England playing Ireland at 5pm and Australia taking on France at 7.30pm. Matches continue on November 9, 10 and 12 before the World Cup final at 7.30pm on Friday, November 13. All games are at Wollongong’s WIN Entertainment Centre. You can get tickets here.