The Gong via Great Pacific Drive

There's a new marketing effort for the Grand Pacific Drive - a scenic coastal route from Sydney to Wollongong. Took me a day to get to Wollongong and back. Here's how I did it:

• Get on to Princes Highway. I made my entry from Marrickville.
• Turn left into the Royal National Park via Farnell Avenue.
• Pay the vehicle entry fee of $11. Don't forget to leave the receipt on the dashboard.
• Stop at the Visitors' Center to buy a park map and use the toilet.
• Take the 30-min Bungoona Path at the end of which is a great lookout of the Hacking River and its banks.
• Drive along Sir Bertrum Stevens Drive and head for Wattamolla to see the beach and the lagoon.
• Continue along Lady Wakehurst Drive. Stop at Otford Lookout and Bald Hill for magnificent views of the South Pacific Ocean.
• Turn left when you hit Lawrence Hargrave Drive.
• Further south is the newly-opened 665-metre Sea Cliff Bridge linking Coalcliff and Cliffton.
• Continue south along Scarborough, Wombarra, Coledale, Austinmer, and Thirroul.
• At Bulli, turn left at Point Street, then left at Blackall Street for Sandon Point and Bulli Beach.
• Turn right at Farrell Road, left at Carrington Street, right at Park Road, then left at Railway Parade.
• Follow the road and you'll pass by the Science Centre and Planetarium, North Wollongong Beach and Novotel on your right.
• Take a left on Bourke Street, then turn right at Cliff Road/Marine Drive for the Wollongong Harbour and the lighthouses at Flagstaff Hill.
• Stop by the WIN Sports and Entertainment Centre for a late lunch.
• Take a left at Corrimal Street, which later becomes Springhill Road.
• Take a right at Five Islands Road, then left at Glastonbury Avenue.
• Follow the signs to Nan Tien Temple.
• Get back to Five Islands Road, and right at Princes Highway.
• Turn left at Cordeaux Road, then right at Harry Graham Drive.
• After a lot of twists and turns, take a right at Mt. Keira Road.
• Turn left at Queen Elizabeth Drive for Mt. Keira lookout with the best views of the whole Wollongong.
• Head back to Mt. Keira Road, left at Princes Highway back to Sydney.