Wollongong ( ), informally referred to as "The Gong", is a seaside city located in the
Illawarra region of
New South Wales,
Australia. Wollongong lies on the narrow coastal strip between the
Illawarra Escarpment and the Pacific Ocean, 82 kilometres (51 miles) south of
Sydney. Wollongong's Statistical District has a population of 292,190 (2010 est.), making Wollongong the
third largest city in New South Wales after Sydney and
Newcastle, and the
tenth largest city in Australia.