A lifeguard on patrol at Warilla Beach. Photo: Shellharbour City Council.
As the Illawarra warms up to a sunny 27 degrees Celsius this Saturday, beachgoers will also welcome back lifeguards and surf lifesavers, with patrols officially returning across Wollongong, Shellharbour and Kiama for the 2025–26 season.
In Kiama, council lifeguards and volunteer surf lifesavers will have the iconic red and yellow flags out across its most popular spots as the swim season begins.
Kiama supervising lifeguard Craig Bowley said swimmers and spectators needed to heed the warnings and swim between the flags.
“No matter how confident you are in the surf, one rule applies to everyone: if there are no red and yellow flags, don’t swim,” Craig said.
“While our beaches are stunning, they can also be unpredictable.
“South Bombo Beach, in particular, is one of the most hazardous locations along our coastline.”
Kiama patrol hours will include Surf Beach patrolled daily from 10 am – 4 pm, and Jones Beach and Werri Beach patrolled on weekends only from 10 am – 4 pm.
Beach safety will ramp up further from 22 December, when its full summer lifeguard team comes on board.
To improve safety, Kiama Council and Surf Life Saving NSW have installed emergency relay beacons (ERBs) at high-risk areas including South Bombo, Kendalls Beach, and Blowhole Point.
In an emergency, the beacons connect people immediately to the Surf Life Saving NSW Operations Centre and alert nearby lifesavers via text.
In Shellharbour, Mayor Chris Homer said lifeguards would return to patrol key pool and beach locations as a welcome return to the outdoor lifestyle Shellharbour was known for.
“Shellharbour’s beaches and pools are a big part of our lifestyle,” Cr Homer said.
“It’s great to see people getting outside and enjoying the water again.
“We want everyone to enjoy the water safely, so please remember to swim between the flags and follow the signs so everyone can stay safe.”
In the 2024-25 summer season, Shellharbour lifeguards welcomed 343,151 beachgoers and 367,489 pool visitors, performing 73 rescues, a decrease from 77 in the previous season.
From Saturday, Shellharbour North Beach and Warilla Central Beach will be patrolled seven days a week from 9 am to 5 pm, continuing through to 26 April next year.
Oak Flats Pool will also extend its operating hours for the summer season from Friday, operating Monday to Friday from 6 am to 7 pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 6 am to 6:30 pm.
Albion Park and Warilla swimming pools will open on 1 November.
Beverley Whitfield Ocean Pool is closed until mid-December for major accessibility upgrades.
While the pool is closed, free swimming is available at Oak Flats Pool during designated hours.
In Wollongong, North Wollongong Beach is patrolled year-round, but its 16 other beaches – from Stanwell Park to Windang – will see the arrival of council and volunteer surf lifesavers from Saturday.
Patrols differ from beach to beach, with either 9 am or 10 am starts and finishing daily at 5 pm.
High season patrols will see hours extended in many locations from 25 October, before peak season hits on 22 December.
Helensburgh Pool improvement and refurbishment works are continuing, with it not expected to reopen until January.
Further information for patrols of each of the three areas can be found on council websites.
