Sydney to Eden road trip: Distance, driving time and best stops
The best stops on a Sydney to Eden road trip are the national parks, glorious beaches and gorgeous South Coast towns. The Sydney to Eden drive is 477km in distance, with a driving time of six to seven hours.
A Sydney to Eden road trip takes you from the big city to the southernmost town on the New South Wales South Coast. If going along the coastal route from Sydney to Melbourne, this is the splendid first half of the journey.
Sydney offers tall ship cruises on the harbour, Opera House tours and historic pub tours. To get the best deals on Sydney accommodation, book here. To find Sydney tours and experiences that suit your tastes, step this way.
For Eden accommodation, search through the options here.
There are two ways to tackle the drive – as a big slog down for the start of a holiday, or an opportunity to take in a few more South Coast hotspots along the way. Doing the Sydney to Eden drive as a road trip is unquestionably more enjoyable if you’ve got the time.
Sydney to Eden distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Sydney to Eden is 477km. That makes for a driving time of six to seven hours, depending on traffic.
This coastal road trip from Sydney initially heads through the southern suburbs along the Princes Highway. It passes between Royal National Park and Heathcote National Park, then follows the Illawarra Escarpment towards Wollongong.
Sydney to Eden road trip: Illawarra and Wollongong
At Helensburgh, there’s a decision to make – keep going along the highway, or divert down Lawrence Hargrave Drive. The latter route is more scenic and doesn’t add a massive amount of time to the journey.
Either way, you can stop to see the Aussie wildlife at Symbio Wildlife Park. Go the coastal route and you can take the Sri Venkateswara Temple and Kelly’s Falls, before reaching the coast at hang-gliding hotspot Bald Hill. This overlooks Stanwell Park Beach.
The coastal roadtrip then goes past Coalcliff Beach and one of Australia’s top Instagram spots – the Sea Cliff Bridge. Built around the cliffs, this bridge snakes its way over the sea.
Wollongong beaches
Afterwards, you’re into Wollongong’s northern suburbs, where the Scarborough Hotel, Wombarra Beach, the Coledale Rock Pool and Austinmer Beach are among the top attractions.
Stick to the highway and options for a stop include the Bulli Lookout, the Mount Keira Lookout and the Wollongong Botanic Garden.
6 fantastic Wollongong experiences to book before you arrive
- Tandem hang-gliding flight from Bald Hill – float down towards the beach.
- One hour private surf lesson in Woonona – learn the basics, and get standing on your board.
- Illawarra Fly ziplining course and treetop walk – test your nerves high up in the canopy.
- Tandem skydive with beach landing – feel the rush of freefall.
- Explore the city on a scavenger hunt – a fun way to get to know Wollongong better.
- Half day deep sea fishing adventure – haul in some big boys.
Either way, you end up in Wollongong. For things to do in Wollongong, try is close to the latter, while other Wollongong attractions include the twin lighthouses on the harbour.
Wollongong accommodation options worth looking at include the Adina aparthotel, the facility-heavy Novotel Northbeach and the golf course-focused Best Western City Sands.
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