| The Grand Pacific Drive coastal route is a worthy yet laidback rival to its Victorian inspiration, the Great Ocean Road. It may lack natural wonders like the Twelve Apostles, but the Grand Pacific Drive is naturally wonderful.
Starting at the Royal National Park in Sydney’s south, this route carves through craggy cliffs past rainforests, beaches and seaside villages, climaxing at the Sea Cliff Bridge, to Wollongong and beyond. You can pop in at one of the many towns along the way that have been revitalised with new attractions and restaurants. |
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When you take the turn off the Princes Highway at Audley, arriving at the world’s second oldest national park, tell the ranger you’re just driving through and you won’t have to pay the $11 entry fee. If you do want to stop for a while, you can take a bushwalk that leads to ocean views and beautiful beaches, and set up a picnic at Bundeena, Garie or Wattamolla.
Follow the road through the park until you reach the heights of Stanwell Tops and watch hang-gliders and paragliders take off from Bald Hill lookout.
The nearby Symbio Wildlife Park is home to endangered and native animals such as red pandas and Tasmanian devils. Daily shows and keeper talks will keep the kids happy, so will the chance to touch a snake, feed a kangaroo or cuddle a koala.
Make your way down through the villages of Stanwell Park, which has a lovely quiet beach, and Coalcliff, just before the Sea Cliff Bridge. If you’d like to walk across, park off to the left and take the uphill pathway so you can return to your car downhill.
The Sea Cliff Bridge curls around the coast and arcs out over the ocean. At its highest point the 665-metre structure stands 41 metres above sea level, with great views down the coast.
The bridge is an attraction in itself as it marks the point where the Illawarra Escarpment dips into the Pacific Ocean. In the past this notorious black spot, between Clifton and Coalcliff, was prone to large rock falls from above and landslides from below.
Lawrence Hargrave Drive, as the road is known, was closed in 2003. Three years later the Sea Cliff Bridge was revealed as the safe, scenic $49 million solution.
Continue your drive through Scarborough, where you can visit the historic Scarborough pub. Major renovations are expected to be complete by summer. Further south, Coledale is an attractive spot for beach camping and family-friendly surf.
Chedo’s Cafe (748 Lawrence Hargrave Drive) was the first business in town after the bridge opened, attracting visitors with its rattan lounges, Mediterranean cuisine and local artworks on the walls.
The popular hamlet of Austinmer is often compared to the Cornish seaside in England, and has beautiful beaches, rock pools and great gelato at the Austi Beach Cafe.
Of all the region’s coastal villages, Thirroul takes the style stakes, with good shopping and arts. Check out the Beach Art Gallery, Oskar’s Wild Bookstore and Coffee Shop, and Thirroul Antiques Centre. The new Samuel’s Restaurant (382 Lawrence Hargrave Drive) offers alfresco dining in a modern atmosphere.
Things get more suburban on the approach to the Gong but the city’s waterfront precinct is impressive. Great restaurants, bars and cafes line the streets, creating a cosmopolitan yet casual vibe. Most Wollongong eateries have fantastic views, such as the Beach House Seafood Restaurant (16 Cliff Road), and Lagoon Seafood Restaurant (Stuart Park, North Wollongong).
Five Islands Brewery, arguably the best pub in the city, is booked in for a summer makeover. A microbrewery, pub and restaurant, it sits opposite City Beach under the football stadium.
Tourism Wollongong estimates that within the next year another 500 accommodation rooms will open up to visitors. The Ibis Hotel, in the heart of the city, is due to open this month, and the Best Western City Sands and Wollongong Golf Club has also had a facelift to enhance its 18-hole golf course that overlooks the ocean.
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The Grand Pacific Drive is billed as extending beyond Wollongong, so head south to Shellharbour, Kiama and Shoalhaven (you can keep driving along the coast all the way down to Melbourne) or go west to the beautiful Southern Highlands and then travel south to Canberra.
NRMA’s Travel Planner can give you directions to take in all the sights on the Grand Pacific Drive, and you can also book your accommodation from a range of options. Visit NRMA Travel. For more details on the Grand Pacific Drive call Tourism Wollongong on 1800 240 737 or visit Grand Pacific Drive. |
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