The Best Stops on the Grand Pacific Drive

We had no planned stops the Grand Pacific Drive, and managed to have a wonderful trip, but felt like we wasted time in some spots. Read through our tips so you only hit the best stops on the Grand Pacific Drive.

We enjoyed a lovely Easter holiday a few weekends ago at the gorgeous beaches in Jervis Bay, NSW. The area is calm, quiet, and has tons of National Parkland to prevent development. We will be sharing more about some of the specifics of our trip in the coming weeks, but today we are focusing on the drive.

Since we live car-free, we needed to hire a vehicle for our long-weekend trip. Usually, we default to one of the major rental companies, but when we factored in fuel cost, our GoGet membership was a more affordable option. It is definitely the most convenient because we picked up a RAV4  a block away from our home.

As much as I love riding bikes and walking, I have to say that the car was such a luxury during this holiday. Normally we are proud to carry everything we need for an adventure, but our backs thanked us for being able to put a cooler, tent, beach gear, and the hiking backpack in the back of the car, even if our bodies could have used an excuse to burn off all that Easter chocolate.

This trip was our first “road trip” outside of Sydney, and we eagerly anticipated picnic lunches, beach side stops, and fun family singing. What we did not anticipate is the level of carsickness to which CZ is prone. She vomited on three outfits within the span of our first 3.5 hour drive – thankfully, we always pack extras in the diaper bag! Needless to say, we were a bit more strategic with nap timing on our return trip and she fared much better.

When planning our trip, I read glowing reviews for traveling on the Grand Pacific Highway. However, after our first puke-cident, I wasn’t convinced about the benefits of opting for the slower route. Additionally, we found some of the scenic highways in Tassie a bit more touristy than our preferred travel style.

However, the Easter congestion on the main highway made the decision for us, and we hopped onto the Grand Pacific Drive to ride along the coast. The views and lookouts were quite incredible, and we would have enjoyed stopping more along the route. While we didn’t have the care-free drive that I envisioned, we did complete a very scenic, albeit slightly stressful journey to Jervis Bay.

We loved most of our side trips, but I wish that someone had put together a comprehensive guide for us on where to stop along the roads. Unfortunately we can’t offer any food recommendations, the places we dined at were chosen more for location than quality, and were quite average. Below are some of our favourite stops and one worthwhile tip.

The Best Stops on the Grand Pacific Drive

1. First stop from Sydney should be near the beginning of the drive at Bald Hill Lookout at Stanwell Park. Get out of the car to enjoy epic views of the Sea Cliff Bridge snaking along the shore line towards Wollongong. Honestly, I lacked excitement about our choice of the scenic route until this stop. JZ and I took turns quietly and sneakily (so as not to disturb a snoozing CZ) exiting the vehicle with our cameras, and admiring the truly extraordinary views. It got me excited about the drive, and also wishing we had more time to walk along the pedestrian footpath on the bridge down below!

2. Go on a mid-drive walk in Coledale or Kiama. There are several places along the highway to stop for walks of varying durations. We stopped at the Mike Dwyer Reserve in Coledale on our way to Jervis Bay for a picnic lunch and jaunt down to the beach. The shorter length was perfect for CZ, and we made good use of the picnic tables. On our return trip, we stopped in Kiama and walked along a portion of the expansive (26km) Kiama Coast Walk. The blow hole was a bit underwhelming (certainly no Old Faithful), but the views and gorgeous blue water left us wanting more than just an afternoon in that cute little coastal town. We are thinking about making a weekend trip for Anzac Day!

3. Get off the highway. And not just to frantically pull over and pluck a screaming toddler out of the car seat before she pukes again. But some of our favourite stops were a little off the highway, not on the prescribed lookouts (which were also great). The views of Seven mile beach near Wollongong from the Gerroa Headlands astounded us. The weather was absolutely perfect, and the water looked so inviting. We also parked on a side street for views of the decidedly disappointing Cathedral Rocks in Kiama. Even though the attraction failed to wow us, we all enjoyed scrambling on rocks by the water. (JZ still wants to return to check out the rocks via the cave at Jones Beach) A big plus for these stops was the ample parking, a big difference from the lookouts packed with holiday goers.

View of Seven Mile Beach from Gerroa headlands

4. Our last piece of advice is to split up your travel. The Grand Pacific Highway route extends the duration of your trip from Sydney to Jervis Bay by about an hour. It may be difficult to enjoy your desired stops and reach your destination in time when traveling solely on the scenic highway. Instead, exit the A1 and catch some of the drive on your way down, and then leave the rest for your return. We enjoyed stopping at the Bald Head Lookout, Mike Dwyer Reserve, Bulli Beach, and Gerroa Headlands on our way down. And spent some quality time in Kiama at the Blowhole and Cathedral Rocks on our return trip. We found this solution allowed us to see the whole drive, while providing sufficient time to enjoy our stops.

In keeping with our preference for slow travel, we enjoyed the scenic drive with plenty of opportunities for photographing and walking. While car trips will still be kept to the minimum, we feel a bit more Aussie with a road trip under our belts.

What’s your favourite road trip?

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