With Sydney turning up the heat and the city getting muggier by the day, an escape from the city is imminent. The South Coast of New South Wales mightn’t receive the adulation bestowed upon its northern counterpart, but it’s all the better for it. Avoiding the pitfalls that all too often accompany increased fame and interest, the NSW South Coast has remained relatively untouched and unspoiled; its untamed landscape spans beautiful white sand beaches, rugged hinterlands, and native bushland, while quaint country towns offer oldschool hospitality and retro charm. So basically like the North Coast before it became the place to be.
That said, it’s not so untouched that it’s still completely stuck in the past. Gone are the days when campsites, motels, and caravan parks were the only available form of lodgings; there’s now a concise but strong set of unique and luxurious accommodation options available on the NSW South Coast.
When it comes to an ideal road trip destination, the NSW South Coast delivers on two essential fronts: the journey and the destination. Hugging the coastline might extend the drive down, but it’s undoubtedly the best way to experience the region — and, with the right steed, a few extra kilometres is mere child’s play. With that in mind, we hopped into a Jaguar I-Pace to explore the best places to visit, stay, eat, and play on the NSW South Coast.
Ready to escape the city? Here’s how to do a NSW South Coast road trip in style.
The car
For our road trip from Sydney to the NSW South Coast, we opted to take the Jaguar I-Pace. The Jaguar I-Pace is the British marque’s flagship electric car and comes with an estimated range of 470 kilometres (as with all EVs, that’s liable to reduce in highway driving conditions).
We made the approximately 350 kilometre drive from Sydney to Mossy Point on a single charge with 19% remaining, before plugging into a standard household socket overnight, which took it to 35% the next morning. The Jaguar I-Pace uses a CCS2 DC charger which has fast-charging capabilities. The fastest charger we found was a 75kW charger in Batemans Bay, which took it from 25% to 70% in just under an hour.
Now, I roll my eyes everytime someone erroneously uses the words ‘quiet luxury’ to describe quotidian objects like earphones and sunscreen (yes, truly). Which is why I regret to inform you, dear reader, that I must join the legions in describing the automotive in question as quiet luxury. However, in the case of the Jaguar I-Pace, the descriptor feels apt. Not only is it quite literally quiet (the whisper soft engine is in fact so quiet that the vehicle is fitted with an Audible Vehicle Alert System (AVAS) when reversing in order to signal its presence to pedestrians), the driving experience is elevated without being shouty.
Jaguar markets the I-Pace as a ‘performance SUV’ and while we’re not exactly sure what that denotes, there’s no denying that it has a decidedly different appearance to anything else on the market. Its roofline is more akin to a sedan, eschewing the traditional boxy rear end in favour of an angular, flat rear. Along with seamless door handles that pop-out upon unlocking the vehicle and vents on the hood, this contributes to better aerodynamic performance.
The driving experience is best described as seamless; in the city and on busy roads, there’s not much in the car that vies for your attention. And that’s a good thing — easy is good. But on the open road, particularly on those twisty coastal roads, is where the I-Pace shines. Despite being quite a hefty beast (not to mention surprisingly wide), steering feels almost zippy; while the weight of the car is definitely felt, a low centre of gravity keeps body roll to a minimum.
Inside, the roomy leather interiors coupled with features that feel present rather than pronounced contribute to a sense of comfort. The majority of functions are controlled via the 10-inch touchscreen display, however there’s just the right amount of tactility by way of buttons for driving modes and traction control as well as push-pull knobs and a separate touch screen for setting the air conditioning that preclude it from feeling clinical. Overall, the Jaguar I-Pace manages to sit in the oxymoronic space of being reliable and fun. You always feel safe and comfortable in it and the driving experience is consistently pleasing. Kinda like dating an actuary who turns out to be far more interesting than your wannabe guitarist ex. Or something like that.
The drive
The fastest way to drive from Sydney to the NSW South Coast involves taking the Pacific Highway (M1) before getting onto Princes Highway (A1) and following it all the way down. However, the best way to drive down to the NSW South Coast is by detouring through the Royal National Park. If time is on your side, pay a visit to the oft-photographed Figure Eight Pools (be warned that it is quite a hike) or head to the Audley Boatshed and rent a rowboat to battle up Hacking River.
Once you’ve gotten your nature fix, eschew the Princes Highway in favour of Lawrence Hargrave Drive and take the Great Pacific Drive which hugs the coastline and leads to the Sea Cliff Bridge, an iconic stretch of road that snakes across the coastline and protrudes over the water. This section of the road is pure joy, particularly when experiencing it in the Jaguar iPace’s dynamic mode. It’s easy to get distracted here, so take care to keep your eyes on the road (and maybe swap driving duties with your passenger on the way back!).
After rejoining the Princes Highway, you’ll soon hit Wollongong. The laidback coastal town has undergone a seismic shift when it comes to dining options. Visit Babyface for an elevated take on modern Australian dining, executed with locally and sustainably sourced produce and finished with a flourish.
On the caffeine side of things, Lili J serves up Reuben Hills coffee alongside roasters like Small Batch and Code Black inside a converted house, with vintage furniture, unvarnished paint, and indoor plants imparting a quaint feel that belies the modern coffee setup at play. Meanwhile, Sydney natives will be pleased with the pours at Opus Coffee Brewers, which primarily uses Surry Hills’ Single O, alongside a continually rotating selection of guest roasters on filter coffee. We’d also recommend nabbing a bagel (you can’t go wrong with the salmon) for the road.
Once you’ve gotten your food and beverage fix, rejoin the Princes Highway and continue heading south towards Kiama.
Where to stay
The latter half of the past decade has seen the NSW South Coast bestowed with a viable selection of boutique accommodation. Making the most of the natural beauty of their surroundings, they combine warm hospitality with luxurious touches to create a stay that’s impactful yet decidedly unpretentious.
Bangalay Luxury Villas
Comprising 16 standalone self-contained lodges, Bangalay Luxury Villas offers the luxury of privacy. Flanked by palm trees and lush greenery or the gentle hills of Shoalhaven golf course on one side and Seven Mile Beach on the other, each villa epitomises indoor-outdoor living with floor-to-ceiling windows capturing a peaceful outlook and private outdoor spaces to enjoy the foliage. The onsite restaurant, Bangalay Dining, is helmed by chef Simon Evans, who prioritises local and native ingredients—expect to see the likes of warrigal greens, saltbush, and samphire on his menu—paired with ancient techniques to create thoroughly contemporary dishes.
Price: from $670AUD/night
Address: 30 Staples St, Shoalhaven Heads, NSW, Australia
Explore and book Bangalay Luxury Villas here.
Dovecote
Sitting on a working cattle farm overlooking Werri Beach in Gerringong, Dovecote comprises two individual properties—The Headland and The Range—that prove high-drama can coexist with serenity. The duo of architecturally designed properties—the work of Atelier Andy Carson—boast features like indoor wood-burning fireplaces, swimming or plunge pools, and even an outdoor fireplace. The larger of the two properties, The Headland, is set atop a hill and features a duo of connected cantilevered buildings that maximise their coastal views and allow for privacy while travelling in larger groups.
Price: from $1150AUD/night
Address: 27 Princes Hwy, Gerringong, NSW, Australia
Explore and book Dovecote here.
Motel Molly
Ok, it’s a motel. But hear us out. Capturing the relaxed vibe of the region, Motel Molly pairs retro charm with boutique touches, crafting a space that offers guests the freedom to come and go as they please while enjoying a design-led space. The seaside property incorporates elements of the Mediterranean into its design, with intricate tiling, curvilinear forms, and pastel tones reigning supreme. Room offerings encompass everything from oceanside suites to expansive three-bedroom apartments, catering to solo travellers, couples, and larger groups.
Price: from $234AUD/night
Address: 2 Shepherd St, Mollymook, NSW, Australia
Explore and book Motel Molly here.
The Oaks Ranch
Further down the coast, The Oaks Ranch acts as a paragon of calm. Located on a former dairy farm, The Oaks Ranch offers a chic respite in Mossy Point. Home to 14 rooms (as well as a recently opened detached guesthouse), the newly redesigned main building (which enjoyed a past life as an equestrian centre) exudes Spanish Mission style, with an abundance of arches and a stucco-clad exterior providing the ideal backdrop for thoughtfully curated landscape design that includes potted cacti and bougainvilleas that bring a touch of the Mediterranean to regional New South Wales. Holding court on 300 acres of cultivated and native grounds on which kangaroos roam freely, amenities include a 9-hole golf course and a magnesium pool overlooking the sprawling landscape.
We spent two nights at The Oaks Ranch; read the full review here.
Price: from $275AUD/night
Address: 340 Old Mossy Point Rd, Mossy Point, NSW, Australia
Explore and book The Oaks Ranch here.
Where to dine on the NSW South Coast
Flour Water Salt
If you’re planning on staying at one of the self-contained accommodation offerings in this guide to the NSW South Coast—or simply feeling peckish on the way down—a visit to Flour Water Salt in Kiama is a must. Stock up on artisanal sourdough and pick up a box of almond or chocolate and hazelnut croissants for breakfast the next morning.
Address: 49 Shoalhaven St, Kiama, NSW, Australia
Pilgrims Vegetarian Cafe
Pilgrims Vegetarian Cafe has been doing vegetarian food well before it entered the zeitgeist. Ideally located right on the Princes Highway, this Milton institution first opened its doors in 1980 and its burgers (try the Bliss or Millennium) are well worth the stopover.
Address: The Settlement Shop 8/9, 97 Princes Hwy, Milton, NSW, Australia
Cupitt’s Estate
A local favourite for small-batch wine, Cupitt’s Estate is home to a boastful dining room that overlooks the vineyard. The seasonal menu takes a farm to table approach and comes with tailored pairing recommendations from both Cupitt’s Estate and other local wineries. For a more casual approach, the wine garden offers relaxed al fresco dining, with a round of oysters or a cheese board serving as the ideal accompaniment to the local pourings.
Address: 58 Washburton Rd, Ulladulla, NSW, Australia
Arlo
The in-house restaurant at The Oaks Ranch, Arlo executes hearty modern Australian fare with a deft touch using the finest South Coast produce. The concise menu primarily features mains from land and sea, however the goats curd & spinach agnolotti and oven baked halloumi with herb salad are our picks of the bunch.
Address: 340 Old Mossy Point Rd, Mossy Point, NSW, Australia
What to see and do on the South Coast of NSW
The South Coast of NSW is a wide ranging region that encompasses everything from the Shoalhaven towns of Ulladulla, Milton, Berry, and Mollymook to the Eurobodalla Shire towns of Batemans Bay, Moruya, Mossy Point, and Narooma, as well as the Bega Valley. With that in mind, it’s difficult to distill everything there is to see and do on the NSW South Coast into one guide. However, we’ve put together some of our highlights and (attempted!) to structure it from north to south.
The Kiama Blowhole is iconic for a reason; it’s the largest in the world and even when it’s not at peak form it’s still pretty impressive. The blowhole often overshadows the lighthouse and the headland views around it, but both are worth getting out of the car for. Pay a visit to Flour Salt Water and pick up some carbohydrate-laden supplies for the road.
If you’re heading inland to Berry, you’ve probably heard about the cinnamon donuts at The Famous Berry Donut Van. While those are indeed good, we’ll also add the Berry Tea Shop to your list; the Madame Grey is an elevated twist on the classic Earl Grey and the freshly baked scones are perhaps the superior baked good (controversial, we know).
The tiny heritage town of Mogo is one of our favourite ways to wile away an afternoon. That quintessential old school hospitality people are always bemoaning the demise of (hint: these sentences often start with “back in my day”)? Well, it’s still here. Located between Batemans Bay and Moruya on the Princes Highway, it exudes retro charm and is teeming with cute things to do. Mogo Collective, Mogo Bowerbird Garage, and Hidden Treasures offer upcycled and antique wares that make for unique home decor or gifting options, with Mogo Collective also stocking a selection of vintage apparel. Families with kids (or the young at heart) would also do well to visit the Mogo Wildlife Park.
Lots of Lollies Mogo and Mogo Fudge (both in the same building) are a sugar-addict’s dream (hi, it’s me). Stock up on the fudge and be sure to grab an ice cream too; the servings are generous and a refreshing departure from the anemic scoops of the city.
The Eurobodalla region is home to enough beautiful nature walks to short circuit your Apple watch. That said, our favourites are the Burrewarra Point Banksia Walk (a short walk from the Burri Point Road car park), which offers expansive views of the coastal headlands. Continue up the walking path from the lookout and you’ll find the remains of a concrete bunker which was part of a radar station used by the RAAF during World War II.
Photographers and birdwatchers will find the Broulee Island Nature Reserve worth exploring. The ‘island’ is connected to the mainland by a permanent sandbar that’s accessible on foot, with the walk around the island featuring an abundance of ocean views and known for its variety of native plants and birdlife (keep an—eagle!—eye out for fairy wrens and white-bellied sea eagles).
The Moruya River is home to water activities like boating, surfing, and kayaking. Alternatively, let someone else take the wheel and take in the coastline from a Moruya Seaplane. The drive from Moruya to Narooma is a scenic one (the name Narooma comes from the Aboriginal word for ‘clear blue water’). Visit the natural beauty that is the Wagonga Head inlet before cooling down with a scoop or two from the Narooma Ice Creamery Cafe.
The small town of Tilba acts as a portal to another time. Much like Mogo, it boasts a quaint little gallery and patisserie as well as leather, tea, and craft shops. It’s also home to Tilba Real Dairy — if you’ve eaten at a few restaurants on the South Coast, it’s likely you’ve already tried Tilba Dairy’s jersey yogurts or cheeses. Pop in for a cheese tasting (try the vintage) and pick up a pot of yogurt before heading home.
Beach hopping on the South Coast of NSW
Should you ignore everything we’ve written above (ouch) you can still have a pretty darn good trip by simply beach hopping your way down the South Coast. Beaches are beaches (blue water, white sand; you know the drill) so we’re not going to go into specifics here. From north to south, these are our favourite beaches and swim spots: Green Patch Beach, Myrtle Beach, Lilli Pilli Beach, Mosquito Bay, Guerilla Bay Beach (this is also a popular snorkelling spot), and Nelson Beach.
What to pack
The South Coast of NSW is a welcome respite from the muggy heat of Sydney. It’s a fair few degrees cooler, with temperatures tending to stay within the low to high 20s. It’s warm enough to take a dip in the pool or one of the (many) beaches along the coast, yet not so hot that your legs stick to the seat while driving (always an ick). Naturally, a bikini is a must for lounging poolside — I’m currently coveting a set in Bydee’s Azzurro print. These pleated shorts from Uniqlo lend a tailored look to summer wear and can be styled with the aforementioned bikini during the day or with a silk shirt come nightfall (I like this one from Toteme or this one by Max Mara). A cotton mini dress, like the Mayve Knit Dress from Reformation, is a good throw on and go option for when you want a low effort, high impact outfit.
When it’s hot outside, lightweight skincare products come in clutch. The serum-like consistency of the Ultra Violette Queen Screen SPF 50+ means it’s ideal for summer days, while Fenty Skin’s Start’R Set comes in the perfect size for travelling. Pack it all into a hardwearing nylon weekender, like the Wanderer from Osprey London.
The playlist
Part and parcel of a good road trip is the tunes. As you head out of Sydney and hit the open road, the air gets clearer and the radio gets…fuzzier. To prevent the crackling of static from disturbing the serenity of your road trip, we’d recommend hitting play on a good playlist. A slightly off-kilter choice, the Music for Bathing playlist curated by Aesop is the ideal accompaniment to a laid back coastal journey, while this Night Drive playlist evokes all the vibes and hits just as well during the day as it does after dark.
Words by T. Angel
