Sydney to Kiama road trip: Distance, drive time, stops & attractions

The Sydney to Kiama drive is 123km in distance, with a driving time of around 1h45m. Attractions on the Sydney to Kiama drive include the Royal National Park, Bald Hill and Minnamurra Beach.

The Sydney to Kiama drive is one of the most scenic short road trips in New South Wales. Particularly if you stick to the coast rather than just zooming down the Princes Highway.

Sydney’s enormous collection of experiences includes all-inclusive sunset dinner cruises, behind-the-scenes tours of the Opera House and whale-watching cruises. Also worth looking at are helicopter flights over the harbour and coastline, jet boat thrill rides and historic walking tours.

To find Sydney tours and experiences that suit your tastes, step this way.

To book a Kiama day tour from Sydney, click here.

Sydney to Kiama distance and driving time

The quickest drive from Sydney to Kiama is 123km in distance, with a driving time of around one hour and 45 minutes. But you don’t significantly add to that Sydney to Kiama distance by taking a few stops along the way.

The Sydney to Kiama drive largely follows the route from Sydney to Wollongong. After heading through southern Sydney suburbs such as Brighton-le-Sands, Kogarah, Sylvania and Kirrawee, the Princes Motorway then threads between Heathcote National Park and the Royal National Park. The latter is Australia’s oldest national park.

Sydney to Kiama road trip: Motorway or coastal route?

You then pass through Engadine, Heathcote and Waterfall, reaching Helensburgh. Here, there is a decision to make – carry on down the quickest route or enjoy the scenic drive along the coast to Wollongong.

The Princes Motorway follows the Illawarra Escarpment. There are good photo stops at the Sublime Point Lookout, Bulli Lookout and Mount Keira Lookout on the way.

The coastal route, however heads down Lawrence Hargrave Drive from Helensburgh. Top stops include at Symbio Wildlife Park, the Sri Venkateswara Temple, Kelly’s Falls and hang-gliding favourite Bald Hill, overlooking Stanwell Park Beach.

You then continue on to Coalcliff Beach and drive along the stunning, coast-hugging Sea Cliff Bridge, before entering Wollongong’s northern suburbs. Attractions along the route include the Scarborough Hotel, Wombarra Beach, the Coledale Rock Pool and Austinmer Beach.

Sydney to Kiama road trip via Shellharbour and Killalea

After rejoining the Princes Highway, the Sydney to Kiama drive then passes through Albion Park, a suburb of Shellharbour on the southern side of Lake Illawarra. Kiama is very close to Shellharbour, but there are two excellent beaches worth diverting to on the way. Killalea Beach is famous for its surf breaks, while Minnamurra Beach is longer, narrowing to a spectacular spit at the mouth of the Minnamurra River.

Once in Kiama, top attractions include Kendalls Beach, the Bombo Headland’s striking basalt columns and the dramatic Kiama Blowhole.

Kiama accommodation options include the handily-located Nova Kiama, the plush Sebel Harbourside Kiama and the rather cheaper Surf Beach Holiday Park.

More New South Wales travel

How long does the Wollongong to Sydney train take?

Splash around in the rock pool at Burgess Beach, Forster.

Swim at the Blue Pool in Bermagui.

Detour down the Capertee Valley on the drive from Lithgow to Mudgee.

Drive from Port Macquarie to Tamworth along the Oxley Highway.