Wollongong is located 80 kilometres south of Sydney on a narrow coastal strip bordered by the Royal National Park to the north, Lake Illawarra to the south, the Tasman Sea to the east and the Illawarra Escarpment to the west. The primary city of the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Wollongong enjoys a magnificent natural environment ranging from rainforests to spectacular sea cliffs and unspoilt beaches.