Southern Highlands & South Coast 7-Day Road Trip + FREE Map

Most people land in Sydney and head straight for the harbour.

But fly into Sydney’s newest airport and you’re about an hour from the Southern Highlands, with the magical South Coast just over the hill.

This Western Sydney Airport road trip links Camden’s farms, Bundanoon’s gorges, Kangaroo Valley’s platypus and Kiama’s blowhole in one loop.

So this is the 7-day itinerary we’d recommend, with no long drives and no backtracking. If you’ve got 2 spare days, we’ve added a Jervis Bay extension at the end.

Road trip snapshot

• Distance: ~400km round trip
• Drive time: ~6 hrs 20 min across the trip
• Areas covered: Camden, Picton, Bundanoon, Berrima, Bowral, Fitzroy Falls, Kangaroo Valley, Berry, Kiama, Minnamurra, Knights Hill. Add-on: Jervis Bay
• Best time: September to November, then April to May
• Vehicle: 2WD hire car is fine, all roads are sealed
• Pet-friendly: Partly. Many cellar doors and cafes have dog-friendly outdoor areas, but national park walks don’t allow dogs
• Good for: Fly-in couples and friends wanting a slow food, farm and waterfall loop.

Day 1: Airport > Camden & Mount Annan

• Distance: ~27km
• Drive time: ~33 min (plus stops)

Pick up the hire car and ease into it, because today is all gardens, farms and a bit of colonial history.

Don’t rush. Everything today is within 30 minutes of everything else.

Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan

We came straight here from the airport on our first afternoon, with a picnic. Then we followed the Muru Nangamai Pathway to the Dreaming area and Summit Lookout, past native gardens.

• Allow 2 to 3 hours.
• Entry is by vehicle or per person, so check prices and hours online (more info here).

• Gledswood Homestead & Winery: One of Sydney’s oldest colonial homesteads. We did the wine tasting and the history talk with damper at the Stockmans Camp, so book ahead and check opening days (more info here).
• Camden Town Farm farmers market: It runs Saturdays only, 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM on Exeter Street, with breakfast stalls and resident cows and calves. We walked the free Nepean River Trail from there, then browsed Camden’s historic main street.
• Fat Goose Farm, Wedderburn: We finished here at golden hour, doing the farm tour and picking our own flowers while geese wandered past. Pick-your-own runs in flower season, so check dates and book ahead.

Where to stay in Camden?

For vans and cabins, Camden Holiday Park is a few minutes from the main street. If you’d rather a bed, try Camden Valley Inn, where we stayed. Or for a modern hotel a few minutes from the Botanic Garden, Rydges Campbelltown is a great option, with its own restaurant, Otis.

Day 2: Camden > Picton > Bundanoon

• Distance: ~96km
• Drive time: ~1 hr 20 min (plus stops)

It’s about 96km from Camden to Bundanoon via Picton and Thirlmere, and it’s a packed day with a sunrise balloon, lunch and a steam train.

Then you’ll head on to Bundanoon for the night.

• Balloon Aloft Camden sunrise flight: We floated over the Macarthur countryside at sunrise with breakfast included. Book well ahead, as flights are weather dependent and can be cancelled (more info here).
• Lunch at Picton Social: We ate at this family-run cafe on Argyle Street before the steam train. All-day brunch, good coffee and local art on the walls.
• NSW Rail Museum, Thirlmere: We rode the steam train, which leaves from inside the museum and takes about 45 minutes. Rides only run on set days, so book online and collect tickets at the counter with extra time before departure (more info here).
• Picton Karting at Maldon: A fun extra if you’ve got spare time.

Where to stay in Bundanoon?

For tents and small vans, Gambells Rest Campground is a small national park site near town. Or if you’d rather a bed, try the pub rooms at Bundanoon Hotel, the B&B comforts of Bundanoon Lodge, or the off-grid cabins at Aruna Estate, where we stayed.

Day 3-4: Bundanoon, Berrima & Bowral

• Distance: ~40km over 2 days
• Drive time: ~51 min in total

You’re staying put in Bundanoon for two nights. One day is for gorge walks and one is for Berrima and Bowral.

Swap them around to suit the weather, because the escarpment roads can be foggy and slippery when it’s wet. Allow extra time and keep your headlights on.

Bundanoon

• Breakfast at Osborn House: We had a proper country breakfast here on Osborn Avenue before our walk. Check opening hours and book ahead.
• Fairy Bower Falls loop walk: About an hour past waterfalls and sandstone gullies in Morton National Park. The start is a few minutes’ drive from the village down Gullies Road. Check park alerts for closures and entry fees.
• Glow Worm Glen walk: An easy bush track to see glow worms at dusk. It’s free. Take a torch.

Berrima

Berrima is 31km from Bundanoon, about 40 minutes. It’s a Georgian village with a lot packed into a short walk.

• PepperGreen Estate cellar door: We did a private tasting in the cellar, with cool-climate wines. Check cellar door hours.
• Berrima historic main street: We walked it straight after our tasting, past the Surveyor General Inn, Gumnut Patisserie, Michael Reid gallery and Berrima Gaol. Some sites charge entry or tour fees.
• Lunch at Eschalot: One of the best long lunches in the Highlands. Book ahead, especially on weekends.

Bowral

Bowral is 9km on, about 11 minutes.

• Corbett Gardens Tulip Time: Thousands of tulips at the Bowral festival. It’s seasonal, usually September to October, so check festival dates.
• Bradman Museum & Oval: The museum at Bradman Oval, dedicated to Sir Donald Bradman. There’s an entry fee, so check hours (more info here).

Head back to Bundanoon for your second night. There’s no need to change accommodation.

Day 5: Bundanoon > Fitzroy Falls > Kangaroo Valley

• Distance: ~59km
• Drive time: ~1 hr (plus stops)

Waterfalls in the morning, then down into one of the prettiest valleys in NSW.

It’s 30km and about 27 minutes to the falls, then another 29km to Kangaroo Valley.

Fitzroy Falls & Belmore Falls

• Fitzroy Falls lookouts: We spent an afternoon here. The main lookout over the 80m falls is an easy 200m walk from the visitor centre, with longer trails if you want more. A NSW national park vehicle fee applies.
• Belmore Falls lookouts: Short walks to Hindmarsh Lookout and the falls lookouts near Robertson, only a small detour. It’s free, but check park alerts as some lookouts can close.

Kangaroo Valley

The platypus kayak was one of our highlights of the whole trip.

• Kangaroo Valley Adventure Co platypus kayak: We did the 6:30 AM start for platypus spotting, then a guided kayak on the Kangaroo River. Book ahead, as it’s best at dawn or dusk.
• Lunch at The General Cafe: We ate here in the village after the paddle.
• Hampden Bridge: A free 30-minute stop at the 1898 castellated suspension bridge on the edge of the village. It’s the valley’s signature photo.
• The Friendly Inn: We had a pub dinner here in the heritage inn, across the road from where we stayed. Check opening hours.

Book the platypus kayak early. The 6:30 AM start means a proper sleep-in is off the cards, but it’s the best time to spot them.

S&C Travel Tip

Where to stay in Kangaroo Valley?

For vans, Glenmack Park is dog-friendly and a five-minute walk to the pub, while Holiday Haven Kangaroo Valley is quieter with self-contained cabins. If you’d rather a bed, we stayed at Wildes Boutique Hotel, right in the village.

Day 6: Kangaroo Valley > Berry > Kiama

• Distance: ~28km
• Drive time: ~30 min (plus stops)

Today you leave the Highlands, drop down to the coast and finish at the South Coast classics of Berry and Kiama.

It’s just 12km to Cambewarra and Berry, then 16km on to Gerringong and Kiama.

Cambewarra & Berry

• Cambewarra Mountain Lookout: Sweeping views over the Shoalhaven and out to Jervis Bay, the best panorama on the way down. It’s free and takes 30 to 45 minutes.
• Abergail Farm Highland cows: We did the farm experience on Tannery Road, feeding the shaggy cows. Sessions run about an hour, so book ahead.
• Queen Street shops, Berry: We stopped for the heritage main street, with boutiques and bakeries under the verandahs.
• Famous Berry Donut Van: Hot cinnamon donuts on Queen Street. Expect queues at peak times.

Berry is our go-to for a slow eating weekend, so if you want more donut vans, wineries and sunsets, read our full Sydney to Berry road trip guide before you go!

Gerringong & Kiama

One thing to check first: when we were here in late September 2026, part of the Kiama Coast Walk near Gerringong was closed because the lagoon was open to the ocean. Check track access before you go and use the swap below if it’s shut.

• Soul Clay Studios pottery class: We did a two-hour wheel-throwing session in Gerringong with the studio owner, Zeynep. Pieces are glazed and fired, ready about 3 to 4 weeks later (postage at cost), so book ahead.
• The Hill Bar & Kitchen and Tasman Drive lookout: We had lunch on Fern Street, then drove up Tasman Drive (locals now call it TikTok Hill) for the view over Gerringong’s headlands. It was our swap for the closed walk.
• Kiama Coast Walk (southern section): A clifftop track out and back from Werri Beach or Loves Bay, with whales in season. It’s free, but some sections cross farmland so stick to the marked track.
• Kiama Blowhole & Little Blowhole: Kiama’s signature sight and an easy sunset stop. It’s free and best with a decent swell.

Keen to keep going past Kiama? For more beaches, towns and sunsets, check out our Sydney to Batemans Bay road trip guide for the next adventure!

Where to stay in Kiama?

For vans and campers, Surf Beach Holiday Park is dog-friendly and above the main beach. If you’d rather a bed, Kiama Harbour Cabins have sea views. For glamping, we stayed at Cicada Luxury Camping. Arrive before dusk for the view.

Day 7: Kiama > Minnamurra > Illawarra Fly > Airport

• Distance: ~150km
• Drive time: ~2 hrs (plus stops)

It’s the longest drive of the trip, but you’ve got a rainforest and a zipline on the way. Check the Illawarra Fly opening times against your flight before you book.

Kiama & Minnamurra

• Breakfast at Diggies Kiama: We had our last coastal breakfast on Blowhole Point. Check opening hours.
• Minnamurra Rainforest loop: A raised boardwalk through subtropical rainforest in Budderoo National Park. A NSW national park vehicle fee applies, and it takes 1.5 to 2 hours.

If you’ve got more days to play with, our NSW South Coast road trip guide shows how far south this coast keeps delivering!

Knights Hill

It’s 19km and about 22 minutes from Kiama and Minnamurra.

• Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventures: We did the zipline tour and the treetop canopy walk above the escarpment, a fun finish with big views. Book online, then take the Hume Highway back to the airport (more info here).

How far is the Southern Highlands from Western Sydney Airport and can you do it all in a hire car?

Yes, you can do it all in a hire car. This loop is about 400km and about 6 hours 20 minutes of driving across the trip.

A 2WD is fine, because every stop is on sealed roads, including Macquarie Pass.

The biggest day is Day 7 at about 150km, then Day 2 at about 96km. There’s also no backtracking, as you loop out through the Highlands and back up the coast.

Just allow extra time in fog or wet weather on the escarpment roads, and keep your headlights on. If you want to skip driving altogether, you’d need tours, but that’d miss most of the small stops.

Bonus: Jervis Bay (add 2 days)

Booderee beaches, Hyams Beach and whale-season swims make a great extension, branching off from Gerringong and Kiama. A 2WD is fine.

• Murrays Beach: Swim in clear water at a protected cove in Booderee National Park, and it’s quieter than Hyams Beach. The Booderee entry fee applies (more info here).
• Green Patch Beach: Swim and spot kangaroos on the sand, which is a Booderee classic. The same entry fee applies.
• Swim with humpback whales (Woebegone Dive): We did this from the Woollamia boat ramp, a few minutes from Huskisson. It’s seasonal and weather dependent, so book well ahead.
• Aboriginal cultural experience, Booderee: We spent time with Bernie McLeod at Booderee Botanic Gardens, then explored the beaches. We stayed at Bay and Bush Jervis Bay in Woollamia and ate at Pasta Buoy and the Huskisson Hotel.

For the full beaches and wildlife rundown, see our Sydney to Jervis Bay weekend road trip guide and plan it out!

Planning your Southern Highlands road trip

Best time to go

Our pick for a Southern Highlands itinerary is spring, and April to May is the runner-up.

Spring (September to November) is the best, with spring colour, tulips in Bowral and whale season on the coast.

Autumn (April to May) is next best, with autumn leaves in the Highlands.

What to pack

• Picnic gear for the Mount Annan garden
• A warm layer for the 6:30 AM platypus kayak and sunrise balloon
• A torch for Glow Worm Glen
• Walking shoes for the gorge and rainforest tracks
• A rain jacket for foggy escarpment days
• Swimmers and a towel for the Jervis Bay add-on

Top tips

• Time Day 1 for a Saturday if you want the Camden Town Farm farmers market.
• Book the balloon, steam train and kayak early, as they’re weather or date dependent.
• Carry some cash or card for national park vehicle fees at Fitzroy Falls and Minnamurra.
• Dogs are fine at many cafes, but not on national park walks.

FAQs