Sea Cliff Bridge: Take The High Road

SEA CLIFF BRIDGE, A CURVING 665-METRE ELEVATED ROAD SOUTH OF SYDNEY, IS REMINISCENT OF FRANCE’S GRANDE CORNICHE.

Few things are as exhilarating as driving the hair pin turns on the famed Corniche roads carved into the cliffs of the French Riviera.

But cruising along the winding Sea Cliff Bridge section of the famous Grand Pacific Drive, south of Sydney, definitely comes close.

The 665 metre stretch of elevated road, curving around the jagged coastline on slender pylons, has attracted global appeal since it opened in 2005.

Car companies line up to film iconic commercials that are seen around the world, while Tourism Australia and Destination NSW regularly use the bridge in tourism campaigns.

But the stilted bridge that attracts selfie-takers and day trippers by the car load, almost never saw the light of day.

One of the original plans was to build a bridge that, instead of curving around the coastline as it does today, went straight through the northern headland via a tunnel.

Thankfully, Grand Pacific Drive is arguably one of the best road trips in NSW, and the serpentine Sea Cliff Bridge is the star attraction these days.

From Sydney, the 140 km route takes you through the Royal National Park, down the coast past the hang gliding hot spot of Stanwell Tops, the surf beaches of Wollongong and into Kiama, home to the famous blowhole, before ending in Nowra.

If you’re keen to get out and stretch your legs, park at the southern end of Sea Cliff Bridge and walk back.

It’s a great spot to see the annual whale migration in July and August, and you might also spot eagles nesting along the cliff face.