Whether you combine them into one epic week-or-so on the road or squeeze them into a weekend, these quaint towns are packed with charm. We’ve personally visited all of them, either as overnight stays or pitstops on larger road trips and have absolutely no regrets visiting each one.
Our favourites: Best South Coast towns
Kiama
Where is it? 1.5 hours south of Sydney (123 kilometres)
Where should you visit if you only have time for one thing? Kiama Blowhole.
Where lush, green hills meet the sea, Kiama is just far enough away from the city to make it feel like a getaway, but close enough to also be manageable as a day trip. A frequent day trip of ours, this stunning gem on the south coast is easily one of our favourites on this list.
It’s got beautiful beaches, coastal walks, towering lighthouses, nearby wineries and one of the region’s most unique attractions: a natural blowhole that spews water as high as 30 metres into the air. It’s within reach of quite a few spots to see along the coast that are perfect for couples, solo travellers and families alike. Wineries, beaches, farms and even a waterpark are all nearby.
🏨 Where to stay in Kiama:
- The Sebel Kiama: Book directly with the hotel | Agoda | Booking.com | Expedia
- Nova Kiama: Book directly with the hotel | Agoda | Booking.com | Expedia
Narooma
Where is it? 4.5 hours south of Sydney (356 kilometres)
Where should you visit if you only have time for one thing? Barunguba Montague Island for swimming with seals (you’ll need to join a guided tour).
Home to natural lazy rivers and some incredibly friendly seals, Narooma is a true treasure amongst these south coast towns. Getting to be a bit of a drive from Sydney (it’s probably best visited on a long weekend or as part of a larger road trip), the journey is well worth it.
Along the coast you’ll find quiet beaches with barely a soul around, yet the town has a surprising amount of bustling Merivale establishments with plenty of fresh, local oysters to go around.
🏨 Where to stay in Narooma:
- Amooran Oceanside Apartments: Book directly with the hotel | Agoda | Booking.com | Expedia
- The Tree Motel: Book directly with the hotel | Agoda | Booking.com | Expedia
Berry
Where is it? 2 hours south of Sydney (144 kilometres)
Where should you visit if you only have time for one thing? Berry Donut Van.
With its main drag Queen Street lined with general stores selling nick nacks, classic ice creameries and clothes you won’t find at any Westfield in Sydney, Berry is the idyllic New South Wales country town.
It’s surrounded by rolling green hills and is just a short drive out to wineries like Silos Estate or Mountain Ridge. During the summer months, you can pop over to Shoalhaven’s beaches for a swim.
If you’re just passing through for a stretch of the legs and have time to just one thing in town, visit the Berry Donut Van. We’ve never managed to skip a fresh, warm donut from here when in town. No visit to Berry is complete without a warm, cinnamon sugar donut from the iconic spot.
🏨 Where to stay in Berry:
- Coolangatta Estate: Book directly with the hotel | Agoda | Booking.com | Expedia (✅ We’ve stayed here!)
- The Berry View: Book directly with the hotel | Agoda | Booking.com
- Mandala Berry: Book directly with the hotel | Booking.com | Expedia
Milton
Where is it? 3 hours south of Sydney (220 kilometres)
Where should you visit if you only have time for one thing? A wine tasting or lunch at Cupitt’s Estate.
With the charm and looks of a country town, but just a few kilometres from the ocean, Milton’s historic village is perfect for stretching your legs on the way further down the coast. But it’s nearby wineries, bushwalking tracks and farm-to-table restaurants may have you wanting to stay a bit longer.
We love passing through the town on our way down south, and can’t resist popping into the Heritage Bakery for a piping hot pie. We’ve also spent the weekend at a holiday house overlooking the stunning coastline just outside town.
🏨 Where to stay in Milton:
- The Rooms Milton: Book directly with the hotel | Agoda | Booking.com
Mogo
Where is it? 3.5 hours south of Sydney (287 kilometres)
Where should you visit if you only have time for one thing? Mogo Zoo.
This tiny town has an equally cute name and main street. Lined with local stores, ice cream shops and a very unique pottery housed in an old church, Mogo has a population of less than 300 people.
We’ve both passed through Mogo on the way further down the coast and stayed nearby in South Durras and spent the day exploring the town, including its surprisingly impressive zoo. The Mogo Wildlife Park is home to giraffes, zebras, tigers, meerkats and lions, which you can see without the crowds (or prices) of Sydney’s Taronga Zoo.
🏨 Where to stay in Mogo:
- Jaguar Stay: Book direcly with the hotel | Agoda | Booking.com
Bodalla
Where is it? 4 hours south of Sydney (330 kilometres)
Where should you visit if you only have time for one thing? Bodalla Dairy Shed.
If you need an excuse to stop and get ice cream on a sunny, summer day, Bodalla is it. The yellow weatherboard cheese factory and shop is exactly what you’d picture when you hear about a small town dairy and the ice cream it churns on the premises is just as delicious as it is refreshing. We indulged in some of the bush tucker flavours, which included native ingredients like Kakadu plum, wattleseed, lemon myrtle and lilly pilly.
Of course, there are a few small shops in town as well for those interested in something other than cheese and ice cream.
🏨 Where to stay in Bodalla:
- Bodalla Dairy Shed Guest Rooms: Book directly with the hotel | Booking.com
Other destinations to check out along the way:
- Bateman’s Bay
- Moruya
- Tathra
- Merimbula
- Eden
Map of these South Coast towns
Length of a South Coast road trip
From Sydney down to Eden near the Victoria border, it’s a huge 500km. Non-stop, that’s a 6-hour drive. But, along the way there’s plenty to do and see. Here’s how we’d break up the trip if we had three, five or seven days.
3 day South Coast road trip
- Day 1: Sydney to Kiama
- Day 2: Kiama to Berry
- Day 3: Berry to Sydney
5 days South Coast road trip
- Day 1: Sydney to Kiama
- Day 2: Kiama to Narooma
- Day 3: Narooma to Merimbula
- Day 4: Merimbula to Bateman’s Bay
- Day 5: Bateman’s Bay
7 days South Coast road trip
- Day 1: Sydney to Berry
- Day 2: Berry to Bateman’s Bay
- Day 3: Bateman’s Bay to Narooma
- Day 4: Narooma to Tathra
- Day 5: Tathra to Eden
- Day 6: Eden to Mogo
- Day 7: Mogo to Sydney
