EV road trip: Your guide to driving from Sydney to Kiama

Make the most of a road trip down the NSW South Coast with tips for smooth driving, easy charging, and unforgettable coastal stops.

One thing I’ve always said I’d miss if I ever moved overseas is the distinctive charm of Aussie coastal road trips. The combination of stunning natural beauty, endless ocean views, and that signature laid-back vibe makes for an experience like no other. It’s a thought I was reminded of while on a weekend road trip down the South Coast of NSW from Sydney to Kiama and its surrounds. It just delivers the goods: spectacular views, great food, and that relaxed vibe I was so in need of.

What made the trip even better was that I got to do it in the new all-electric Porsche Macan . I don’t own an EV (though I’m definitely curious about making the switch), but the idea of cruising along the coast with zero emissions is certainly appealing and the Macan’s smooth handling and quiet performance made it feel effortlessly luxurious.

Here’s how I made the most of a weekend away on an EV road trip from Sydney to Kiama.

Morning

A.P. Bakery

All road trips should start strong with coffee and an indulgent breakfast. If the weather is sunny, make a beeline to A.P Bakery in Surry Hills. Head through the ground floor of Paramount House and up the elevator to the rooftop, where you’ll be greeted by a lush urban oasis and a menu of high-quality baked goods. Think: warrigal greens and ricotta pie, vanilla cream and rhubarb croissants, and mango, coconut and almond Danish.

Sea Cliff Bridge

Make your way to the Royal National Park to take the scenic route to Wollongong. In doing so you’ll pass through the picturesque Stanwell Tops and embark on one of Australia’s most iconic drives over the Sea Cliff Bridge. Approximately 665 metres long, it offers breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and rugged coastline. The bridge has a designated pedestrian walkway for visitors to enjoy the scenery.

Afternoon

Lunch in Wollongong

Trucking along to Wollongong, stop in for lunch at Restaurant Santino. This trattoria-style eatery’s menu features a variety of modern Italian dishes, from handmade pasta to fresh seafood and expertly crafted sides. Don’t miss the conchiglie with prawn, salmon roe, sorrel, and bisque, and the potato salad with green goddess dressing, capers, fefferoni, and mint oil. Pair this with one of the mocktails like the Bizarro Spritz.

Head out for a stroll along Wollongong City Beach. The coastal views and fresh air are the perfect way to unwind before hitting the road again.

Check-in to Oceanview Kiama

Continue your journey until you hit Kiama. One of the best and most convenient places to stay is at Oceanview Kiama . This spacious beachfront apartment is in the heart of town and sleeps up to four guests. The modern coastal interiors and ocean views are the perfect balance of luxurious and laid-back, fostering the right ambience for unwinding after a day of exploring or to just while away a few hours on the balcony.

Ev charging station The Pacific Kiama — The EV charging station at The Pavilion is right next to the beach.

If you’re travelling in an EV, you’re in luck – there’s a convenient charging station less than a minute’s walk away at The Pavilion. Kiama Council has installed two Electric Vehicle (EV) chargers, making it easy to top up your car. I personally charged the Macan for about an hour to make sure it was fully topped up after having driven it around Sydney for a few days (a full charge provides a range of 516-612 kilometres), but if you need more time, it’s no problem – just leave your car parked there at any point during your stay. Fees are as follows:

Connection Fee: $0.50

Per kWh Charge: $0.50

Idle Fee: $5.00 for every 10 minutes after the vehicle is fully charged.

There is a range of websites and apps available to plan your EV road trip. I used the free PlugShare app , which provides comprehensive coverage of charging stations across Australia.

Kiama Blowhole and Kiama Lighthouse

The Kiama Blowhole and Kiama Lighthouse are two of the most iconic landmarks in the area, they sit next to one another and are just a 10-minute walk away. The Kiama Blowhole is one of the largest natural blowholes in the world. This 2.5-metre hole in the rock platform shoots water up to 30 metres into the sky when the tide is churning from the south-east. You can take a casual stroll through the rock formations while admiring the coastal views.

Evening

Fish and chips by the beach

It wouldn’t be a coastal trip without enjoying fish and chips by the beach. By The Sea Takeaway Kiama offers top-notch beer-battered fish (chicken salt is a must), calamari, and grilled barramundi at affordable prices. If you don’t like seafood, they also serve a range of burgers and Indian curries. Grab some takeaway and walk over to Storm Bay to get stuck in while admiring the beautiful calming ocean vistas.

Morning

South Werri (Ourie) Ocean Pool, Gerringong

Kickstart your day with a refreshing dip in the South Werri Ocean Pool.

First thing in the morning, drive 15 minutes down to Gerringong for an early morning swim at the South Werri (Ourie) Ocean Pool. This 33-metre pool at the southern end of Werri Beach is an idyllic and peaceful place to swim away from the surf.

After your swim, it’s worth taking a leisurely drive around Gerringong as you’re treated to spectacular ocean and cliff views and rolling green hills. The Macan’s sunroof really added to the summer vibes, making the experience even more enjoyable.

Views of Gerringong — Take a scenic drive around the picturesque Gerringong.

Breakfast in Gerringong

Make the most of the views by having breakfast at Sea Vista Cafe . Tuck into avocado toast, eggs benedict, or a smoothie bowl while admiring the unspoilt beach and ocean scenes.

Afternoon

Kiama coastal walk

Stretching 20 kilometres from Kiama to Gerringong, the Kiama Coast Walk is one of the most picturesque walks on the East Coast passing windswept headlands and pristine beaches. The walk is broken into three sections: North, Mid, and South, with each section ranging from 5 – 8 kilometres. As the accommodation is close to the blowhole, it’s a great starting point, with the walk leading you to Loves Bay. You’ll pass by stunning beaches and lush landscapes, and from May to November, you might even spot whales migrating along the coast.

Evening

Dinner at Silica Restaurant

After a walk, indulging in a well-earned meal is only right and Silica Restaurant dishes up modern Australian against a spectacular outlook of Surf Beach. Savour fresh plates that hero locally-grown produce such as orecchiette with mushrooms, garlic pangrattato, and Pecora Dairy Yarrawa and caramelised pineapple with The Pines caramel gelato, and zabaglione. Takeaway is also available and includes battered or grilled fish with chips, grilled fish, calamari, and fresh wraps.

Morning

Breakfast at Native

Start the day right with a hearty breakfast from Native Kiama.

For breakfast, head straight for Native , a laidback cafe that offers an all-day brunch menu. Highlights include Gran’s Granola, a house-made blend served with yoghurt and seasonal fruit, and the haloumi breakfast bagel with avocado and tomato relish. Take your meal outside and sit amidst the vibrant atmosphere of Terralong Street.

Minamurra Falls walk

The 20-minute drive to Budderoo National Park is truly delightful as you pass by rolling green hills with dramatic cliffs as the backdrop. The Minamurra Falls walking track in the Minnamurra Rainforest is a 4.2-kilometre return journey (1-2 hours) through dense subtropical rainforest where you’ll likely spot some friendly lyrebirds. The reward is Carrington Falls, a breathtaking 50-metre waterfall that cascades into a deep gorge.

Note: The Grade 4 walk is predominantly uphill on the way to the waterfall and has no wheelchair accessibility.

Lunch in Wollongong

For a relaxed meal on your way home, head to The Scarborough Hotel in Scarborough, approximately one hour from the rainforest. The pub sits on a cliff boasting a panorama of the Pacific Ocean, extending up the coast to Sydney. Nab an outside table to enjoy casual bites like snapper and prawn pie.

Discover our guide to the best things to do in Kiama

Makers, bakers, artists, chefs, crafters – Ballarat and its surrounds are overflowing with creative spirits. All dedicated to keeping traditional skills alive for a city that is humming with artful energy.

Modern makers: a new generation of artists and artisans

“Keeping craft alive is a noble cause,” says Jess Cameron-Wootten, a charming and passionate master leathercrafter and cordwainer, who handmakes traditional leather boots and shoes in Ballarat’s old Gun Cotton Goods Store.

Ballarat was recognised in 2019 as a UNESCO Creative City of Craft and Folk Art, and today it’s a place where craft traditions converge with contemporary needs. Nothing quite captures this convergence as a visit to Wootten , the workshop and store of Jess Cameron-Wootten and his partner Krystina Menegazzo.

heritage buildings in Ballarat — Ballarat’s streets are lined with heritage buildings. (Image: Matt Dunne)

Jess’s father was an artisan bootmaker, or cordwainer. Now Jess and Krys and their small team of artisans continue the tradition, but with a modern spin. The company’s boots and shoes, made completely from scratch, are renowned for their quality and longevity. Wootten also craft shoes, bags, belts, leather aprons, wallets and more.

Cosy beanies, gloves, alpaca socks, “unbreakable” shoelaces and various other goods – many from local craftspeople and small-scale makers – fill the shop’s shelves. “We’re always happy to support a mate,” says Jess. “People love to see the workshop and where things are made. Our clients care about quality and sustainability,” Krys comments. The company slogan ‘Made for generations’ says it all.

Ruby Pilven’s ceramics at Ross Creek Gallery. (Image: Tara Moore)

For Ruby Pilven, craft is also in the DNA – both her parents were potters and with her latest porcelain ceramics, Ruby’s young daughter has been helping add colour to the glazes. “I grew up watching my parents in the workshop – I’ve always been doing ceramics,” she says, although her Visual Arts degree was in printmaking. That printmaking training comes through particularly in the rich layering of pattern. Her audacious colour, unexpected shapes and sudden pops of 12-carat gold are contemporary, quirky – and joyful.

You can see Ruby’s handcrafted ceramics, and work by other local and regional artists, at Ross Creek Gallery , a light-filled space surrounded by serene bushland, across from the mudbrick house her parents built in the 1980s. A 10-minute drive from Ballarat, it’s a tangible link to the region’s well-established craft traditions.

How Ballarat is preserving the past

artisans making crafts at the Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades, Ballarat — The Centre for Rare Arts & Forgotten Trades holds workshops to preserve crafts and skills.

While tradition is ongoing, there’s a danger that many of these specific type of skills and knowledge are fading as an older generation passes on. Step forward the Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades .

The seven purpose-built studios occupy a fabulous modern building adjacent to Sovereign Hill, with state-of-the-art facilities, enormous windows and landscape views across to Warrenheip and Wadawurrung Country.

artisanal works at the Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades, Ballarat — Check out artisanal works at the Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades.

Practising artisans run hands-on workshops. Fancy making your own medieval armour? Or trying your hand at blacksmithing, spinning wool, plaiting leather, weaving cane or craft a knife? Book a class and learn how. “It’s about creating awareness and also sharing knowledge and skills before they are lost,” explains Deborah Klein, the centre manager.

A city steeped in food and flavours

Chef José Fernandez preparing American streetfood at Pancho — Chef José Fernandez creates vibrant South American street food at Pancho. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)

One skill that hasn’t been lost is that of cooking. Ballarat’s burgeoning gastronomy scene runs the gamut from an artisan bakery (the atmospheric 1816 Bakehouse) to cool coffee shops, speakeasy cocktail bars and distilleries to fine-dining venues. But I’m still surprised to find Pancho , José Fernandez’s South American street food restaurant, serving fried cheese tequeños, fiery fish tacos, Argentinian grilled chicken.

The room is as lively as the food – a whirl of colour filled with gifted and thrifted paintings, photos, tchotchkes (trinkets), plants. There’s a Mexican abuela aesthetic going on here. Even before the music and mezcal kick in, it’s fun. Heads up on the drinks menu – an authentic selection of mezcal, tequila, South American wines and Mexican cerveza.

a cocktail at Itinerant Spirits, Ballarat — Enjoy a cocktail at Itinerant Spirits. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)

The spirit is willing, so after lunch we head towards the gold rush-era Ballarat train station and across the line to the old 1860s Goods Shed for Itinerant Spirits . At one end, a massive German copper still looms behind a wall of glass. The fit-out embraces deep olive-green tones, original bluestone walls, steamer trunks as coffee tables, heritage timber floors, oversized lamp shades and cognac-hued modernist leather seating.

the Itinerant Spirits Distillery & Cocktail Bar, Ballarat — The distillery operates from an old goods shed. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)

Gallivanter Gin, Vansetter Vodka and Wayfarer Whiskey – the key spirits distilled – star at the bar. The spirits are crafted using grains from the Wimmera Mallee region, and native botanicals foraged in the Grampians. Seasonal cocktails are inspired by local people and places (I loved The Headland, inspired by Sovereign Hill and flavoured with old-fashioned raspberry drops). Sample the spirits, and join a cocktail masterclass or a distillery tour. It’s a seductive setting – you’ll likely find yourself ordering a charcuterie platter or pizza as the evening progresses.

The Ballarat stay combining history and luxury

one of the rooms at Hotel Vera, Ballarat — The rooms at Hotel Vera have a contemporary style. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)

New lives for old buildings keeps history alive. Vera, Ballarat’s boutique five-star hotel, has taken it to the next level: it’s a palimpsest, a subtle layering of early 1900s and 1930s Art Deco architecture with a sleek new wing. There are seven spacious suites, each a dramatically different colour, with designer chairs, blissful bathrooms. High-end pottery and hand-picked artworks imbue the spaces with personality.

Vera’s intimate, award-winning restaurant, Babae, is subtly theatrical with sheer drapes and gallery lighting, its bespoke timber furniture and brass-edged marble bench setting the stage for food with a sharp regional focus. “We have goat’s cheese from a local supplier, handmade granola from local Vegas & Rose, truffles from nearby Black Cat Truffles, fresh food from our garden, and regional wines,” says joint owner David Cook-Doulton.

Celebrating the local makers, bakers, growers and producers, and the master chefs who work their magic is all part of the rich tapestry that links Ballarat’s history to its vibrant present.

A traveller’s checklist

Getting there

It’s 90 minutes from Melbourne, either on the Western Freeway, or hop on a V/Line train from Southern Cross Station.

Staying there

Hotel Vera is a centrally located Art Deco boutique hotel. Consider Hotel Provincial , which feels like a sleek country house, but with its own restaurant, Lola.

a contemporary room at Hotel Provincial, Ballarat — Hotel Provincial has country house vibes.

Eating there

dining at Mr Jones, Ballarat — The table is set at Mr Jones. (Image: Tony Evans/ Visit Victoria)

Culinary whiz Damien Jones helms Chef’s Hat winner Mr Jones Dining with quiet assurance. His modern Asian food is deceptively simple with deep, intense flavours. Low-key, laid-back ambience, lovely staff, thoughtful wine list.

Cocktails are definitely a thing in Ballarat. Reynard (fox in French) is foxy indeed, a clubby space with top-notch cocktails and small bites. Grainery Lane is extravagantly OTT with its massive 1880s bar, myriad chandeliers, brass gin still, Asian-inspired food and lavish cocktails.

dining at Grainery Lane, Ballarat — Dining at Grainery Lane.

Playing there

a laneway filled with artworks in Ballarat — An artful laneway in the city. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)

Check out local design legend Travis Price’s wall murals in Hop Lane with its colourful canopy of brollies, or in Main Street. The Art Gallery of Ballarat’s off-site Backspace Gallery showcases early-career artists in a stylish, contemporary space. First Nations-owned and run Perridak Arts connects people to place, bringing together art and crafts in this gallery/shop.

a woman admiring artworks at Perridak Arts Gallery — Perridak Arts is a First Nations-run gallery. (Image: Tony Evans)

The wineries of the Pyrenees are close at hand with their welcoming cellar doors and robust reds. Join a behind-the-scenes tour at the Centre for Gold Rush Collections .

Don’t forget the giant bluestone Kryal Castle , ‘the land of adventure’, for a little medieval magic, and not just for the kids: get ready for Highland-style feasting, jousting, even overnight stays.

EV road trip: Your guide to driving from Sydney to Kiama

Make the most of a road trip down the NSW South Coast with tips for smooth driving, easy charging, and unforgettable coastal stops.

Morning

A.P. Bakery

Sea Cliff Bridge

Afternoon

Lunch in Wollongong

Check-in to Oceanview Kiama

Kiama Blowhole and Kiama Lighthouse

Evening

Fish and chips by the beach

Morning

South Werri (Ourie) Ocean Pool, Gerringong

Breakfast in Gerringong

Afternoon

Kiama coastal walk

Evening

Dinner at Silica Restaurant

Morning

Breakfast at Native

Minamurra Falls walk

Lunch in Wollongong

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Meet the makers shaping Ballarat’s new era of creativity

Makers, bakers, artists, chefs, crafters – Ballarat and its surrounds are overflowing with creative spirits. All dedicated to keeping traditional skills alive for a city that is humming with artful energy.

Modern makers: a new generation of artists and artisans

How Ballarat is preserving the past

A city steeped in food and flavours

The Ballarat stay combining history and luxury

A traveller’s checklist

Getting there

Staying there

Eating there

Playing there