Wollongong, Australia

Capital City

Wollongong has a population of 280,153, making it the third-largest city in New South Wales and the tenth-largest in Australia. While the geography is stunning, with its narrow coastal plain flanked by the Tasman Sea and the Illawarra Escarpment, the bureaucracy can be a persistent headache, with the city's many heritage-listed sites and protected natural areas. The climate is generally mild and temperate, but the area is prone to moist easterlies and occasional severe storms, including a significant flood event in 1998. Wollongong may appeal to those seeking an affordable coastal lifestyle outside of Sydney, but its challenges around growth and development are not to be taken lightly.