Grand Pacific Drive

Early Morning : Royal National Park

Get an early start from Sydney (like 7am) and head 45mins south to Australia's oldest national park with beaches, rainforests and stunning cliffs! There is no fee if you drive through the park but if you are looking to stop and explore the park, there is an entry fee of $12 per vehicle.

There are so many coastal walks you can choose from so depending on the duration of your trip, we suggest stopping by Wattamolla beach or even Governor Game Lookout which is a perfect pit stop for a car tour. If you have 3+ days on this trip then you can even experience a trail or two, our favourite being the Wattamolla to Eagle Rock trail.

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The Wattamolla Beach is a family friendly, white sand beach with a creek, lagoon and waterfall! There is also a picnic area if you want to just enjoy the sand in your toes and experience a slice of the most picturesque beaches in the Royal National Park.

Optional Spots if you have more days:

If you have a more than 3-day trip planned, you could always explore some of the other wonderful walks in the area, however we would keep these for other separate trips to explore the Royal National Park in parts.

Late Morning: Helensburgh

Your next stop is a 20-minute drive to the first Hindu-style temple in Australia: Sri Venkateshwaram Temple!

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When to Go
Open daily from 8 am to 12 pm, and 4 pm to 8 pm.
We recommend visiting on a weekday to take advantage of the free guided tours. Alternatively, visit on the weekend (like we did!) and enjoy some amazing food.

Food – Great Value for Money
The canteen is open on Saturdays, Sundays, and on festivals or public holidays from 10 am to 4 pm. It is closed Monday to Friday during regular working weeks.

We got our lunch, desserts, masala tea, 1kg of mixture, and four samosas for just $50!

Highly recommend the delicious Masala Dosas ($9).

Toilets
Modern toilet and shower facilities are available (maintained by volunteers – please be respectful).

Parking
Parking is available both inside and outside the temple.

Lunch

Enjoy an authentic South Indian vegetarian meal from SVT Temple canteen (available only on weekends). If you want to avoid the queues, you could pre-order your meal using their website or mobile app.

Optional Spots :

Afternoon : Enjoy scenic lookouts

Bald Hill Lookout

This is one of the most beautiful lookouts in NSW (maybe we are biased since this was the first lookout we visited on our first ever NSW roadtrip!) but with handgliders drifting in the area and the wind in your hair this is one you cannot miss!

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Sublime Point Lookout

It's a great picnic spot with 180 degree views over the sea, the rainforest and the 17 beaches that span the coastline to Wollongong!

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Optional Spots if you have more days :

Glenbernie Orchid Farm:

Glenbernie Orchard is a fourth-generation family-run orchard in Darkes Forest that grows apples, peaches, and nectarines. Fruit picking season runs from mid-November to April. Peaches and nectarines start around mid November, and apples are usually ready from late January through April.

Headland Hotel, Austinmer Beach 🍽️✨ has amazing food and stunning ocean views 🌊, so we highly recommend stopping by for food here!

Evening : Wollongong

Check in to your stay at Wollongong and relax for a bit before stepping out to explore the nearby areas.

Dinner

For seafood lovers, your options are unlimited. Choose from options such as Nonabel Coffee Lounge, Anchorage Restaurant, etc. Multiple other options available for other cuisines too in this coastal city.

Optional Stops :

Mount Keira Lookout

Mount Keira Lookout is a must-visit spot, standing tall at 463.9 meters.

Keen to do the trail? The Mt Keira Ring Trail is a grade 4 circuit hike/ approx 4 hours to complete. The best starting spot is Byarong Park car park and if you want to make a day of it, there is a picnic area too for you to enjoy a barbecue!

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Accommodation