The best things to do on the Grand Pacific Drive, traveling between Sydney and Kiama. 

If you’re a traveler in Australia who wants to have an incredible day trip from Sydney, visit the Grand Pacific Drive!

This beautiful coastal drive allows you to escape the crowds of the city and experience a more peaceful, local side of New South Wales.

This the Illawarra Region of NSW, which is full of relaxing coastal towns and gorgeous beaches.

I recommend renting a car and driving to all the best Grand Pacific Drive attractions yourself.

But if you won’t have a car you can take the Southern Train Line from Sydney to reach any of these attractions.

After living in and exploring this area of Australia for a couple months now, I’ve compiled a list of some of the best things to do on the Grand Pacific Drive.

This road continues for 140 km all the way down to Shoalhaven, but this post will only go as far south as the Kiama region.

Here are 12 of the best things to do on the Grand Pacific Drive, between Sydney and Kiama!

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12 Best Things To Do On The Grand Pacific Drive

From hiking, to sipping coffee in a cafe, to visiting the best lookouts, here are the best things to do on the Grand Pacific Drive!

This is one of my favorite parts of Australia. it’s charming and tranquil, yet it’s within an hour of Sydney, the Blue Mountains, and the Royal National Park.

Check out my NSW South Coast Road Trip Guide if you plan to continue driving south, or consider going all the way to Melbourne!

1. Hike The Sublime Trail

This is one of my favorite things to do on the Grand Pacific Drive!

For a challenging hike, climb up to Sublime Point Lookout in Thirroul. The hike is only about 30 minutes, but it’s incredibly steep and not for the faint-hearted.

The winding wooden steps take you through the dense forest up the Illawarra Escarpment cliffside, and eventually, you have to climb metal ladders as the terrain gets too steep.

Once you reach the top, the breathtaking panoramic view and fresh coastal air will make you forget about your burning thighs.

2. Browse Through Coledale Market

Every fourth Sunday of the month, a trendy market covers the grounds of Coledale Public School.

Countless stalls of interesting homemade and vintage goods will captivate you for hours, and there are even a few hot food stalls where you can eat lunch.

The market runs from 9am until 3pm, and there’s often live music to serenade you while you shop.

This is a fantastic place to stop along the Grand Pacific Drive if you’re in the area on the right Sunday!

3. Visit The Sea Cliff Bridge

The Sea Cliff Bridge is one of the best attractions on the Grand Pacific Drive.

It’s very cool to drive along it and to look at it from above.

You can also park along the side of the road and walk on the sidewalk that runs along the bridge.

For the best view, venture into the bush and start climbing up the hill along the trails until you can see over the bridge and take an epic photo.

4. Surf At Sandon Point

Turn off the main road briefly to visit Sandon Point, a beach and headland located in the town of Bulli.

The waves here are incredible and the water is often crowded with surfers.

Even if you don’t surf, it’s so much fun watching all the experienced surfers bobbing in the rippling ocean and shredding on the massive waves.

Read next: The Best Time To Travel To Australia – A Complete Guide

5. Swim In The Rock Pools

While strolling along the many beaches in the area, you are bound to come across a rock pool.

These rectangular pools are essentially just walls of concrete that create a “pool” out of the ocean water and sandy floor.

They allow you to enjoy the sea without getting rocked by waves, and Australians often use them for swimming laps.

I find the rock pool in Austinmer to be one of the best places to see on the Grand Pacific Drive.

6. Relax In A Public Library

The Wollongong City Library has locations in Corrimal, Thirroul, Wollongong, and a few other towns in Illawarra.

If you live in Australia you can join for free.

But even if you’re a visitor you can still browse through the books, read the interesting magazines, and chill out in the quiet, comfy reading areas on a rainy day.

Find more things to do in Wollongong and spend a few days here!

7. Venture To Kelly’s Falls

In Helensburgh, you can pull over from Lawrence Hargrave Drive into a small car park with signs for Kelly’s Falls.

Climb the short route through the forest to find two beautiful waterfalls located within a few minutes hike of each other.

They are both picturesque, and the serenity of being immersed in nature feels amazing.

Check out my full list of my 23 favorite waterfalls near Sydney!

8. Drink Coffee In A Cafe

Australians love their coffee, and you can often find big morning crowds at the local cafes.

There are simply too many adorable cafes with good quality coffee to count.

So just stop in whichever one catches your eye and indulge in some warming drinks, homemade desserts, and smashed avo toast.

Some of my favorites are Bread, Espresso & in Thirroul, Quay Canteen in Wollongong and Pilgrims Vegetarian Cafe in Corrimal.

9. Hike The Wodi Wodi Trail

This peaceful woodland trail begins right next to Coalcliff train station.

It is perfect for a hot, sunny morning as the towering Eucalyptus and Gumtrees create a shady canopy over the forest walkway.

Follow the Forest Walk uphill for a beautiful view over Stanwell Park.

10. Learn To Surf at Killalea State Park

Also known as “The Farm”, this gorgeous surfing reserve has the most picture-perfect beach full of consistent waves and crystal clear water.

It has the perfect little waves for surf lessons, and also some bigger waves in the southern corner for more experienced surfers.

It’s about 1.5 hours south of Sydney, and 30 minutes south of Wollongong.

11. Explore Kiama and The Blowholes

Kiama is one of the most noteworthy coastal cities to visit along the Grand Pacific Drive.

Full of little cafes and artsy shops, it’s a pretty town for exploring and walking along the beach.

On a day with a big swell and high tide, check out the famous Kiama Blowhole and its neighbor the Little Blowhole.

Check out my NSW Photo Diary for more of my favorite photos in this beautiful state!

12. Visit Werri Beach

For a classic, South Coast beach day, spend some time at Werri Beach in Gerringong.

Just south of Kiama, this large stretch of soft sand is framed by rich green coastal scenery on the sides and rippling waves in the front.

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So those are 12 of the best things to do on the Grand Pacific Drive!

You can also spend some time in Wollongong, one of my favorite cities along the Grand Pacific Drive. Check out 15 Best Things To Do In Wollongong, Australia for all the highlights there!

If you’re traveling south from Sydney to Kiama, you’ll see some beautiful scenery and visit some amazing towns. So I hope this article was inspiring.

Visit the official Grand Pacific Drive website for more info!

A couple things to note before traveling to Australia:

• You need a visa to visit Australia. Visit iVisa.com to get your visa online.
• Travel insurance is a good thing to have as well. I recommend Squaremouth Insurance because they have affordable plans and a helpful live chat!

For more travel articles around New South Wales, Australia, check out these links:

East Coast Australia Road Trip Guide (Noosa To Sydney)

12 Fun Things To Do In Port Stephens

A Guide To The Royal National Park: Sydney, Australia

Sydney to Melbourne Road Trip Guide

How To Spend A Weekend In Blackheath, Blue Mountains

For anyone interested in living and working in beautiful Australia, check out:

Guide To Working Holiday Visas In Australia (First and Second Year)