What are the largest cities in New South Wales?
The largest cities in New South Wales are Sydney, Newcastle, the Central Coast and Wollongong. Newcastle and Wollongong are industrial and port cities north and south of Sydney.
Sydney, with about five million people, dominates the state. Newcastle, about 160 kilometres to the north, grew around coal mining and steel making and is now one of the world's largest coal export ports. Its beaches and harbour make it a popular regional city.
Wollongong lies about 80 kilometres south of Sydney between the escarpment and the sea. Its Port Kembla steelworks and university are major employers. The Central Coast, between Sydney and Newcastle, is a fast-growing area of beaches and lakes.
Inland centres
Important regional cities include Albury on the Murray River, Wagga Wagga, Dubbo, Tamworth and Orange. They serve large farming areas and connect rural communities to services and transport.
Much of the state's population lives along the coast, and travel times between these centres have shrunk thanks to motorways and fast intercity trains.
Did You Know?
Tamworth, in northern NSW, hosts the famous Tamworth Country Music Festival every January.