📷 Photo by Ben George on UnsplashGrand Pacific Drive
A coastal drive south from Sydney between the Tasman Sea and the Illawarra escarpment, passing Royal National Park, the Sea Cliff Bridge, Wollongong and Kiama.
- Region
- Sydney to Illawarra coast
- State
- New South Wales
- Length
- about 140 km
- Suggested time
- 1 to 2 days
- Road
- Sealed; Lawrence Hargrave Drive and Princes Highway
Before you go
- The drive is fully sealed and easy for cars and campervans; the bridge and clifftop sections are the scenic highlights.
- Weekends and school holidays bring heavy traffic, so start early or travel midweek.
- Add Minnamurra Rainforest or Jervis Bay if you want to extend the trip beyond Kiama.
The route and its highlights
Most drivers leave Sydney via the Royal National Park, then join Lawrence Hargrave Drive, which hugs the escarpment. The Sea Cliff Bridge, opened in 2005, is the best-known stretch. Wollongong follows, and Kiama is a common end point with its blowhole and harbour.
Practical advice
Fuel and food are easy to find in Wollongong and Kiama but scarce inside Royal National Park. Parking at beaches and lookouts fills on summer weekends. Rockfalls and storms have closed sections in the past, so check live traffic updates before you leave.
FAQs
How long does the Grand Pacific Drive take?
The drive itself takes about two to three hours without stops, but with the main lookouts, walks and meals it is best as a full day or a relaxed two-day trip.
Is the route suitable for caravans and campervans?
Yes, the roads are sealed. The curves along Lawrence Hargrave Drive need care, and parking at popular viewpoints can be tight for long vehicles, especially on weekends.
Places to see
Sea Cliff Bridge
A 665 m curved bridge hugging the escarpment between Clifton and Coalcliff, opened in 2005 after rockfalls…
Wattamolla, Royal National Park
In Australia's oldest national park, a lagoon and small beach sit behind a waterfall that drops straight…
Wollongong Harbour and Breakwater Lighthouse
A small working fishing harbour in Wollongong, overlooked by the Breakwater Lighthouse and Flagstaff Hill…
Nan Tien Temple
A large Buddhist temple complex near Wollongong, among the biggest in the southern hemisphere, built by the…
Kiama Blowhole
A natural blowhole in the rocks by Blowhole Point that shoots seawater high into the air when a large swell…
Minnamurra Rainforest, Budderoo National Park
A patch of subtropical rainforest behind Kiama with a raised boardwalk through strangler figs and palms,…
