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Unfurling south of Sydney in the Royal National Park, the Grand Pacific Drive is one of Australia’s most awe-inspiring road trips – and even if you have only a few days to explore, the South Coast’s sights and experiences refresh you, inside and out. Revel in a new sense of freedom as your 140km drive guides you through ancient rainforest, alongside the world’s whitest sandy beaches. Sip cool-climate wines and rejuvenate in luxury accommodation, and cross the landmark Sea Cliff Bridge as it snakes out over the Pacific Ocean. Stay and play in one of many charming towns – Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama, the Shoalhaven and Jervis Bay among them – and reconnect with friends old and new in unforgettable landscapes. You’ll find an energising discovery at every turn, including these highlights…
Savour new flavours
You can taste the inspiration wherever you visit on the South Coast, with memorable dining served on a platter and world-class local produce to sample at the source. Your tastebuds’ transformation begins across the Sea Cliff Bridge, where The Scarborough Hotel pub is perched on the edge of the awe-inspiring Illawarra escarpment, overlooking sparkling seas. Choose a table in the huge water-facing gardens, order the legendary fish and chips, and, from May through November, settle in for an afternoon of whale watching. Or, grab a coffee and sweet treats for the road and continue south to Kiama, where you can visit the famous Blowhole, Lighthouse and Pilot’s Cottage Museum before enjoying all-day brunch at Diggies; or onwards to nearby Gerringong, where The Hill Bar and Kitchen offers sustainably sourced modern Australian feasts. And just 15km further south at Shoalhaven Heads, Bangalay Dining plates up creative dishes like Emu Tartar and Wattleseed Kangaroo, with native ingredients to invigorate your senses. Exploring the lush hinterland? Treat yourself to a vegetarian spread at Pilgrim’s in historic Milton, and paddock-to-plate dining at Far Meadow Table in Berry, where you can also unleash your inspiration in a cooking workshop.
Unwind between the vines
Create new memories on the South Coast’s unofficial wine trail, and sample cold-climate wines at their verdant source. It all starts just inland from Kiama, near Cullungutti Mountain, where Mountain Ridge Wines offers cellar door experiences and an indoor-outdoor restaurant with views over the vines. Then move on to Coolangatta Estate, complete with a cellar door for wine and cheese flights, a formal restaurant and historic cottages. Next up is the award-winning Two Figs Winery, perched atop one of Mount Coolangatta’s foothills. As you sip shiraz or chardonnay, and tuck into a picnic platter of delicious deli goods, you’ll discover the breathtaking views over the Shoalhaven River are equally moreish. About an hour’s drive south, and just a few minutes from Ulladulla, you’ll find Cupitt’s Estate – part winery, brewery and fromagerie, with an acclaimed farm-to-table restaurant and vistas across Burrill Lake. Revitalise yourself with a stay in their new luxury pods, where the mini-bar’s stocked with boutique wine, craft beer and cheeses all made on site, and the understated elegance makes the everyday seem worlds away.
Feel awe wherever you explore
Invigorating new adventures await all along the coast. Take in a show at Anita’s Theatre in Thirroul, where there’s live music – including the Great Southern Nights festival – to make your toes tap. Every sense tingles with adrenaline as you hang glide over Stanwell Tops, and your heart soars as you skydive above Wollongong and learn to surf at Woonona. Enjoy a relaxing roll along the wildly beautiful Kangaroo River on a canoe tour or explore Jervis Bay’s glittering waterways by sea kayak. While you’re there, you can discover some of the most picturesque beaches in the world on the White Sands Walk, a 90-minute loop linking Vincentia and Greenfield Beach. Ready for a whale of a time? Jervis Bay is a haven for humpbacks and you can get up close to them on a whales and wine tour, a wildlife cruise – or even glide beside them on a whale-swim. As you come eye-to-eye with these gentle giants in the water, you’ll feel a heart-bursting sense of connection that stays with you a lifetime.
Retreat to your own private haven
There’s a relaxation station to suit every type of traveller along the South Coast. Recharge in grand-scale nature at The Dome, where you can stargaze until you fall asleep inside your clear, geodesic tent; and at Paperbark Camp, where some of the plush glamping tents feature freestanding tubs. Treat your special person to a romantic stay at the new Bangalay Luxury Villas, and you’ll reconnect in beautiful seclusion mere steps away from the Shoalhaven’s stunning beaches and national parks. Or enjoy luxe coastal style at one of Bannisters’ two hotels in Mollymook: Bannisters by the Sea and Bannisters Pavilion. The former comes with a celebrated Rick Stein seafood restaurant, while the latter offers pet-friendly rooms. Wherever you stay, you’ll find a combination of laidback luxury and natural beauty that melts away stress, leaving you feeling refreshed, centred, and ready for anything.