Wollongong to Jervis Bay road trip: Distance, time & best stops
The best stops on a Wollongong to Jervis Bay road trip include Killalea Beach, Kiama and Gerringong. By car, the distance from Wollongong to Jervis Bay is 118km, with a driving time of 1h31m.
Planning a Wollongong to Jervis Bay road trip
A Wollongong to Jervis Bay road trip takes you from the third biggest city in New South Wales to some of the most stunning white sand beaches in the world.
Wollongong offers several amazing beaches, tandem hang-gliding flights and skydives with a beach landing. To find the best Wollongong accommodation, look here.
Jervis Bay is arguably Australia’s best kept secret, and it offers dolphin cruises, sea kayaking tours and whale-watching along with those remarkable beaches. For Jervis Bay accommodation deals, hunt here.
This guide should help you plan a great Wollongong to Jervis Bay road trip itinerary. Click on the links to the town and city names for more detailed information on potential stops.
Wollongong to Jervis Bay distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Wollongong to Jervis Bay is 118km. Get lucky with the traffic and there’s a Wollongong to Jervis Bay driving time of around one hour and 31 minutes.
This assumes you’re going to Huskisson, the main town on Jervis Bay. Timings are slightly different for other spots on the bay, such as Vincentia, Callala Beach and Currarong.
Things to do in Wollongong, include admiring the twin lighthouses on the harbour and swimming at the Continental Pool.
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.
Wollongong beaches in the Australian Beaches Guide include Thirroul Beach, Austinmer Beach, Corrimal Beach, Stanwell Park Beach, North Wollongong Beach and Windang Beach.
Top Wollongong accommodation choices include the apartment-style Adina, the facility-friendly Novotel Northbeach and the golf course-adjacent Best Western City Sands.
Wollongong to Jervis Bay 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.
Wollongong to Jervis Bay drive: Gerringong and Berry
Just south of Kiama, Gerringong is another potential overnight stop. Catching the surf at Werri Beach is the main draw, but you can also go wine-tasting at Crooked River Wines.
Where to stay in Gerringong, NSW?
The best Gerringong accommodation options are:
- For two pools and a restaurant: Mercure Gerringong Resort.
- For a holiday park that the kids will love: Werri Beach Holiday Park.
- For overall quality: Park Ridge Retreat.
The next two worthwhile stops on the Wollongong to Jervis Bay road trip are Berry and Nowra. Berry is chintzy, touristy town where the shops major on arts, crafts and fudge.
You can stay at the charming Berry Village Boutique Motel and the garden-surrounded Mt Hay Retreat.
Wollongong to Jervis Bay road trip: Nowra and Jervis Bay
Nowra, meanwhile, is the administrative centre of the Shoalhaven region. Things to do in Nowra include seeing the animals at the Shoalhaven Zoo and Adventure World, kayaking along the Shoalhaven River and tasting spirits at the Tara Distillery.
Best Nowra accommodation options
The best places to stay in Nowra are:
- For solid quality, cheap rates and an outdoor pool: Parkhaven.
- For business-friendly apartments: Quest Nowra.
- For something plusher, with a big pool and 18 hole golf course: Springs Shoalhaven Nowra.
The turn off is at Falls Creek, just south of Nowra.
Jervis Bay is famous for its white sand beaches, such as Blenheim Beach and Greenfield Beach in Vincentia. Hyams Beach is the most famous, however – and justifiably.
6 Jervis Bay experiences worth booking now
- See the dolphins and lounge above the water on a dolphin cruise with boom netting.
- Explore the beaches, spotting wildlife on the way, with a sea kayaking tour.
- Watch sunset on the beach, then explore the heavens with an astrophysicist on an evening stargazing experience.
- Admire the migrating humpbacks on a whale-watching cruise.
- Try cycling on the sand on a Culburra Beach fat-biking tour.
- Discover the lesser-visited hideaways on a hidden secrets cruise.
Things to do in Jervis Bay include dolphin-watching cruises and whale-watching cruises from Huskisson, plus venturing into the little-known Jervis Bay Territory.
Where to stay in Huskisson
The best Huskisson accommodation options are:
- For a holiday park kids will love: Jervis Bay Holiday Park.
- To be right in the centre of the action: Huskisson Hotel.
- For a well-reviewed motel: Jervis Bay Motel.
You should book Jervis Bay accommodation early, as it tends to fill up well in advance.
More New South Wales travel
Enjoy the drive from Deniliquin to Echuca.
The best sights on the Tamworth to Tenterfield drive.
How long is the drive from Sydney to Nyngan?
What to see on the Sydney to Cobar drive.