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

Winding down in the Yarra Valley, where ‘work from home’ becomes ‘work from wine country’.

Steam from my morning coffee curls gently into the cool valley air, mist-veiled vineyards stretch out in neat rows below me. Magpies warble from trees, and the morning’s quiet carries the soft bleating of lambs from a nearby paddock. Midweek in the Yarra Valley has its own rhythm. It’s slower, quieter, with more empty tables at cafes and cellar doors, and walking trails I can claim all to myself. It’s as if the entire region takes a deep breath once the weekend crowd leaves.

walking trails in the Yarra Valley — You’ll find walking trails are less crowded during the week. (Image: Visit Victoria)

I haven’t come here for a holiday, but to do a little work somewhere other than my home office, where I spend too much time hunched over my desk. Deadlines still loom, meetings still happen, but with flexible work evolving from ‘work from home’ to ‘work from anywhere’, I’m swapping the view of my front yard to the vineyards.

A quiet afternoon at Yarra Valley Dairy

holding a glass of wine at Yarra Valley Dairy — Wine time at Yarra Valley Dairy, where you can enjoy a toastie or bagel in the cafe. (Image: Visit Victoria)

With the Yarra Valley just over an hour from the CBD, many Melburnians could drive here in their lunch break. I arrive late in the afternoon and am delighted to discover the Yarra Valley Dairy still open. On weekends, I’ve seen queues spilling out the door, but today there’s only one other couple inside. There’s no need to rush to secure a table; instead I browse the little store, shelves stacked with chutneys, spices, artisan biscuits and gorgeous crockery that would look right at home in my kitchen. It’s hard not to buy the lot.

a cheese tasting plate atYarra Valley Dairy — A cheese tasting plate at Yarra Valley Dairy.

I order a coffee and a small cheese platter, though the dairy has a full menu, and choose a wooden table with bentwood chairs by a wide window. The space feels part farm shed, part cosy café: corrugated iron ceiling, walls painted in muted tones and rustic furniture.

Outside, cows meander toward milking sheds. If pressed for time, there’s the option of quick cheese tastings – four samples for five dollars in five minutes – but today, I’m in no rush. I sip slowly, watching a grey sky settle over the paddock. Less than an hour ago I was hunched over my home-office desk, and now my racing mind has slowed to match the valley’s pace.

Checking in for vineyard views at Balgownie Estate

Restaurant 1309 at Balgownie Estate has views across the vines.

As my car rolls to a stop at Balgownie Estate , I’m quietly excited, and curious to see if my plan to work and play comes off. I’ve chosen a suite with a spacious living area and a separate bedroom so I can keep work away from a good night’s sleep. I could have booked a cosy cottage, complete with open fireplace, a comfy couch and a kettle for endless cups of tea, but as I am still here to get some work done, I opt for a place that takes care of everything. Dinner is served in Restaurant 1309, as is breakfast.

oysters at Restaurant 1309, Balgownie Estate — Oysters pair perfectly with a crisp white at Restaurant 1309.

On my first evening, instead of the usual walk about my neighbourhood, I stroll through the estate at an unhurried pace. There’s no need to rush – someone else is preparing my dinner after all. The walking trails offer beautiful sunsets, and it seems mobs of kangaroos enjoy the view, too. Many appear, grazing lazily on the hillside.

I wake to the call of birds and, after breakfast, with the mist still lingering over the vineyards, I watch two hot-air balloons silently drift above clouds. Perched on a hill, Balgownie Estate sits above the mist, leaving the valley below veiled white.

kangaroos in Yarra Valley — Spotting the locals on an evening walk. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Exploring the Yarra Valley on two wheels

the Yarra Valley vineyards — Swap your home office for a view of the vineyards. (Image: Visit Victoria/Cormac Hanrahan)

Perhaps because the Yarra Valley is relatively close to where I live, I’ve never considered exploring the area any way other than by car or on foot. And with a fear of heights, a hot-air balloon is firmly off the table. But when I discover I can hop on two wheels from the estate and cycle into Yarra Glen, I quickly realise it’s the perfect way to step away from my laptop and experience a different side of the region.

COG Bike offers pedal-assist e-bikes, and while the bike trail and paths into town aren’t particularly hilly, having an extra bit of ‘oomph’ means I can soak up the surroundings. Those lambs I heard calling early in the morning? I now find them at the paddock fence, sniffing my hands, perhaps hoping for food. Cows idle nearby, and at a fork in the bike path I turn left toward town.

It’s still morning, and the perfect time for a coffee break at The Vallie Store. If it were the afternoon, I’d likely turn right, in the direction of four wineries with cellar doors. The ride is about 15 kilometres return, but don’t let that put you off. Staying off the highway, the route takes you along quiet backroads where you catch glimpses of local life – farmers on tractors, weathered sheds, rows of vines and the kind of peaceful countryside you don’t see from the main road.

A detour to the Dandenong Ranges

legs hanging over the sides of the train, Puffing Billy Railway — The iconic Puffing Billy runs every day except Christmas Day.

The beauty of basing myself in the Yarra Valley is how close everything feels. In barely half an hour I’m in the Dandenong Ranges, swapping vineyards for towering mountain ash and fern-filled gullies. The small villages of Olinda and Sassafras burst with cosy teahouses, antique stores and boutiques selling clothing and handmade body care items.

I’m drawn to RJ Hamer Arboretum – Latin for ‘a place for trees’. Having grown up among tall trees, I’ve always taken comfort in their presence, so this visit feels like a return of sorts. A stroll along the trails offers a choice: wide open views across patchwork paddocks below, or shaded paths that lead you deeper into the quiet hush of the peaceful forest.

The following day, I settle into a quiet corner on the balcony of Paradise Valley Hotel in Clematis and soon hear Puffing Billy’s whistle and steady chuff as the steam train climbs towards town. Puffing Billy is one of Australia’s most beloved steam trains, running through the Dandenong Ranges on a narrow-gauge track. It’s famous for its open carriages where passengers can sit with their legs hanging over the sides as the train chugs through the forest. This is the perfect spot to wave to those on the train.

After my midweek break, I find my inbox still full and my to-do list not in the least shrunken, just shifted from one task to another. But I return to my home office feeling lighter, clearer and with a smug satisfaction I’d stolen back a little time for myself. A midweek wind-down made all the difference.

A traveller’s checklist

Staying there

Balgownie Estate offers everything from cellar door tastings to spa treatments and fine dining – all without leaving the property.

Playing there

the TarraWarra Museum of Art, Yarra Valley — Visit the TarraWarra Museum of Art. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Wander through Alowyn Gardens, including a stunning wisteria tunnel, then explore the collection of contemporary artworks at TarraWarra Museum of Art . Cycle the Yarra Valley with COG Bike to visit local wineries and cellar doors.

Eating and drinking there

Olinda Tea House offers an Asian-inspired high tea. Paradise Valley Hotel, Clematis has classic pub fare, while the iconic Yering Station offers wine tastings and a restaurant with seasonal dishes.

seasonal dishes at the restaurant inside Yering Station — The restaurant at Yering Station showcases the best produce of the Yarra Valley. (Image: Visit Victoria)

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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Winding down in the Yarra Valley, where ‘work from home’ becomes ‘work from wine country’.

A quiet afternoon at Yarra Valley Dairy

Checking in for vineyard views at Balgownie Estate

Exploring the Yarra Valley on two wheels

A detour to the Dandenong Ranges

A traveller’s checklist

Staying there

Playing there

Eating and drinking there