Wollongong, informally referred to as ‘The Gong’, is a seaside city located in the Illawarra region of New South Wales. Wollongong lies on the narrow coastal strip between the Illawarra Escarpment and the Pacific Ocean and is approximately 68 kilometres south of Sydney. Wollongong had an estimated urban population of 302,739 at June 2018, making it the third-largest city in New South Wales after Sydney and Newcastle, and the tenth-largest city in Australia. From skydiving to trike rides, art galleries to museums, pristine beaches to walking trails - Wollongong is the ultimate destination to escape the everyday. Being only an hours' drive south of Sydney, Wollongong is the perfect spot for a coastal weekend getaway.