Wollongong is located in the Illawarra Region of New South Wales, about 80 kilometres south of Sydney. The entrance to City of Wollongong will be an experience you wont forget, whether by car, bus or train the descent from the top of the escarpment down the Grand Pacific Drive on the Sea Cliff Bridge along the sparkling coastline is an inviting welcome.

Wollongong City is a rural and residential area, with substantial industrial and commercial areas. Urban development is mainly along the coast, between the Illawarra Escarpment in the west and the Tasman Sea in the east. The City encompasses a total land area of 714 square kilometres, including bushland, dams, cliffs and beaches.

The port of Port Kembla provides an obvious competitive advantage for industry within the area. It is one of Australias strategic heavy industry export ports, handling massive amounts of coal, iron ore and steel.

Wollongong is thought to be named from an Aboriginal word meaning 'the sound of the sea'. Warm summers and mild winters mean that the area's wide range of outdoor recreational activities can be enjoyed all year round. The majority of residents live only minutes from the beach and Lake Illawarra, which cater for an endless array of water sports such as surfing, fishing, water skiing, sailing, swimming and diving.

The magnificent Illawarra Escarpment offers opportunities for bushwalking, picnics and horse riding, and the numerous lookouts provide panoramic views of the coastline. Wollongong also has one of the best cycleway networks in the state, stretching from Bulli in the north, through Puckeys Estate at North Wollongong and down to Windang on the Citys southern boarder.