Grand Pacific Drive

A compact, signposted coastal drive that can be done in a day, or slowed down with beach stops and an overnight.

Time to Drive: The signed route totals 140 km. Many drivers take most of a day with stops, or split it with a night around the coast.

Best Time to Go: Tourism is at its peak from May to September each year. Expect the busiest roads and lookouts in that period.

Getting there: Start from Royal National Park south of Sydney and follow the signed route via Wollongong to Nowra. The easiest access is by car from Sydney.

Costs: Budget for fuel, meals and any paid parking at popular beaches and lookouts. No toll is part of the drive itself.

Road conditions: Sealed public roads throughout, including the 665 m Sea Cliff Bridge section and the 210 m Lawrence Hargrave Drive Bridge. Both bridges have pedestrian and cycling lanes alongside traffic lanes.

The Grand Pacific Drive is a scenic drive in New South Wales that starts in Royal National Park, crosses the 665 m Sea Cliff Bridge, then continues through Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama in the Shoalhaven region, and finishes in Nowra over a total length of 140 km. It also includes parts of the Southern Highlands, giving you an easy option to mix coast with a cooler inland detour.

The signature engineering highlight is the Sea Cliff Bridge, commissioned in August 2003 and opened on 11 December 2005, built after the cliff-hugging road it replaced was considered dangerous. Nearby, the 210 m Lawrence Hargrave Drive Bridge also carries South Coast traffic, and both structures include pedestrian and cycling lanes.

The drive has been actively promoted as a tourism route, with new signage presented in 2012 and a later “Go Grand” campaign (June to August 2025). Along the way, many stops are short and close together, so it suits drivers who want frequent pull-offs, coastal walks and beach time rather than long highway stints.

• Royal National Park to Sea Cliff Bridge (approx. 35 km) - Ease out of Sydney into forested parkland, then follow the coast towards the drive’s most famous ocean-facing span. If you have time, park up and use the pedestrian lane for a safer photo stop.
• Sea Cliff Bridge to Wollongong (approx. 20 km) - Continue along the escarpment edge into the region’s main city; lookouts and beach access points come quickly. In town, it is easy to break for a meal before the next string of coastal suburbs.
• Wollongong to Shellharbour (approx. 25 km) - A straightforward coastal leg with plenty of chances to duck off to beaches and short walks. This section is also where you can start thinking about a quick inland deviation later toward the Southern Highlands.
• Shellharbour to Kiama (approx. 20 km) - A compact hop between seaside towns where the point is frequent stops rather than distance. Build in time for parking and short strolls.
• Kiama to Shoalhaven region drives (approx. 20 km) - South of Kiama you are in the Shoalhaven region; pace slows naturally with more small-town pull-offs. This is a good area to choose between staying coastal or turning inland.
• Shoalhaven to Nowra (approx. 20 km) - Finish the signed route in Nowra, a practical base for fuel, supplies and onward travel. From here you can continue exploring the coast or head inland towards the Southern Highlands.

Tourism is at its peak from May to September each year, which usually means more company at lookouts, tighter parking near popular stops, and slower traffic in bottlenecks. If you prefer a quieter run, go early in the morning and avoid the middle of weekends.

Because the drive includes cliffside coastal roads and high-profile bridge viewpoints like the Sea Cliff Bridge, allow extra time in windy or wet weather and expect pedestrians and cyclists near the bridge approaches.

Most travellers begin from Sydney and join the route at Royal National Park, then drive south to finish in Nowra. Starting in Sydney makes it easy to hire a car and keep the drive as a one-way coastal day trip.

At the southern end, Nowra is a convenient place to refuel and decide whether to continue further along the South Coast or loop inland via parts of the Southern Highlands before returning north. Many people drive it north-to-south for the simplest access and a natural flow from city to coast.

No permit is needed to drive the Grand Pacific Drive itself, and it is made up of regular public roads.

Plan for standard running costs: fuel, and potentially paid parking at busy coastal stops. Drive to local road rules and be prepared for congestion at popular viewpoints in peak season (May to September).

If you want to turn the 140 km route into an unhurried trip, the easiest overnights are in bigger centres like Wollongong or around Kiama, where you will find the widest choice of accommodation and dining without needing big detours.

For a practical finish, Nowra works well as a base for onward exploring in the Shoalhaven region or an inland return via the Southern Highlands. In peak months (May to September), it is sensible to book ahead if you are travelling on weekends.