The book, Sh*t Towns of Australia, is written by pseudonymous authors Rick Furphy and Geoff Rissole.

"Founded by a convict and populated by packs of deadshits and f**kwits," they write, "Nowra is basically the set of a failed Chris Lilley show."

"Despite a lack of activities, the town is filled with swarms of moronic tourists from Sydney and Canberra who neglected to do any research before going on holiday."

Wollongong cops it too: "Full of decaying buildings and relying on a raft of dying heavy industries, the crime-ridden industrial wasteland is essentially a rustier version of Newcastle."

Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery labelled the piece "a cheap shot" and suggested the authors pay a visit to the Illawarra.

"Mr Furphy and Mr Rissole need to revisit Wollongong," Cr Bradbery said. "They have't seen Wollongong in recent times.

"Wollongong has transitioned well away from that image. As far as I'm concerned they're reflecting on what was Wollongong but now it's a totally different city."