The South Coast unfolds along the Princes Highway south of Sydney — Jervis Bay is about three hours, the Sapphire Coast a good deal further. A car (or a tour) is the way to do it; here's how it all connects.
The Princes Highway (via the M1) is the spine of the coast. Rough drive times from Sydney:
There's no major airport on the coast. For the far south (Sapphire Coast), small regional airports at Merimbula and Moruya have limited flights. Most visitors drive from Sydney or fly into Sydney first.
The South Coast is long and spread out, so a car is the practical choice — towns are 20–60 minutes apart and the best beaches and national parks sit off the highway.
The freedom to reach Jervis Bay's beaches, Booderee, the Kiama coast and the far-south headlands at your own pace. Fuel up in the larger towns.
Train to Kiama or Nowra plus local buses works for the northern coast; for Jervis Bay and beyond, a guided tour is far easier.
The South Coast is at the far end of NSW — best as part of a longer trip, usually via Sydney.
A day tour from Sydney covers the Jervis Bay highlights; a multi-day tour runs the coast to the Sapphire Coast without the driving.
If time is short, focus on one stretch — Kiama to Jervis Bay is the classic northern run and the easiest from Sydney.
Jervis Bay (Huskisson) is about 3 hours' drive south of Sydney, around 190km via the M1 and Princes Highway. Kiama is closer at about 1.5 hours, while the far-south towns like Narooma and Eden are 4.5 to 6 hours away.
Yes — the South Coast Line runs from Sydney through Kiama to Bomaderry (Nowra), which covers the northern coast. South of Nowra there's no train, but NSW TrainLink coaches continue down the coast.
For most of the coast, yes — it's spread out and the best beaches and parks are off the highway. The northern coast around Kiama and Nowra is doable by train and bus, and guided tours cover Jervis Bay and beyond without driving.
There's no major airport. Small regional airports at Merimbula and Moruya serve the far south with limited flights. Most visitors drive from Sydney or fly into Sydney first.
Sydney to Eden on the far Sapphire Coast is around 6 hours non-stop (about 480km), but the coast is best enjoyed over several days with stops at Kiama, Jervis Bay, Mollymook and Narooma along the way.
Cooee Tours acknowledges the Yuin and Dharawal peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the South Coast, and the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community who own and care for Booderee, and pays respect to their Elders past and present.