Wollongong to Gerringong road trip: Distance, time & best stops

The best stops on a Wollongong to Gerringong road trip include Killalea Beach and Kiama. By car, the distance from Wollongong to Gerringong is 51km, with a driving time of 36m.

Planning a Wollongong to Gerringong road trip

A Wollongong to Gerringong road trip takes you from the third biggest city in New South Wales to one of the state’s most charming historic towns.

Wollongong offers several amazing beaches, tandem hang-gliding flights and skydives with a beach landing. To find the best Wollongong accommodation, look here.

For Gerringong accommodation deals, hunt here.

This guide should help you plan a great Wollongong to Gerringong road trip itinerary.

Click through on the links for more detailed links about individual towns and attractions – and remember to stock up on your road trip essentials before setting off.

Wollongong to Gerringong distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Wollongong to Gerringong is 51km. Get lucky with the traffic and there’s a Wollongong to Gerringong driving time of around 36 minutes.

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.

Things to do in Wollongong include admiring the twin lighthouses on the harbour and swimming at the Continental Pool.

Wollongong beaches in the Australian Beaches Guide include Thirroul Beach, Austinmer Beach, Corrimal Beach, Stanwell Park Beach, North Wollongong Beach and Windang Beach.

Wollongong accommodation choices include the apartment-style Adina, the facility-friendly Novotel Northbeach and the golf course-adjacent Best Western City Sands.

Wollongong to Gerringong road trip: Shellharbour and Kiama

On the south side of Wollongong, the Princes Highway goes through Albion Park, and only a short detour away from Shellharbour’s snorkelling hotspot Bushrangers Bay.

It then goes near legendary surfer haven Killalea Beach and runs through Kiama. Here, the Bombo Headland has incredible basalt columns and the ocean crashes through a hole in the rocks at the Kiama Blowhole.

You can also go swimming at Kendalls Beach or the Blowhole Point Ocean Pool.

Kiama accommodation options include the usefully central Nova Kiama, the more luxurious Sebel Harbourside Kiama and the much cheaper Surf Beach Holiday Park.

Road trip essentials that many travellers forget

Search on the web, and you’ll find ludicrously long lists of equipment to take on a road trip. Australia Travel Questions isn’t going to do that to you. But it is worth buying the following road trip items before setting off. Click through for a good range of options.

Charging cables – yes, you’ll probably need a spare at some point.
Car charger adaptor – in case your rental car has the old-fashioned cigarette lighter rather than a USB.
Multi USB charger – for those hotel rooms that don’t have enough power sockets.
Fold-up chairs – to make anywhere a picnic spot.
A really good water bottle – go for a bigger one than usual to last the longer drives.
Packing cubes – save space but, more importantly, avoid unpacking everything every night.

Just south of Kiama, Gerringong is a pretty coastal town. Catching the surf at Werri Beach is the main draw, but you can also go wine-tasting at Crooked River Wines.