This post was originally published on A Globe Well Travelled in 2019. The content has been revised and updated with fresh information.
Whether it’s a car commercial or an Instagram reel from your favourite travel photographer, chances are you’ve already seen photos of Sea Cliff Bridge.
This snaking stretch of road that looks like it’s floating magically above the ocean and is part of the Grand Pacific Drive, a coastal route that begins just south of Sydney and winds its way down through some of New South Wales’ most spectacular scenery. Built in 2005 to bypass a dangerous section of cliffside prone to rockfalls, Sea Cliff Bridge now offers safe passage and unforgettable views.
My husband and I have visited Sea Cliff Bridge twice since we moved to Sydney, most recently during a week-long nature getaway down the NSW South Coast. We were lucky to visit on a sunny day with almost no wind—ideal conditions for flying our drone and capturing some incredible aerial footage of the bridge arcing out over the Pacific Ocean.
Driving over this scenic bridge is a popular activity for tourists road tripping through this part of Australia, but you don’t need your own wheels to experience it. You can also visit Sea Cliff Bridge on a guided tour, or take public transport for an easy day trip from Sydney.
Quick summary:
Sea Cliff Bridge is one of the most scenic coastal drives near Sydney, and it’s easy to visit on a day trip. In this post, you’ll find out how to get there by car, train, or guided tour, plus the best lookout spots, where to walk, and tips on food, weather, and parking.
Recommended tours & tickets:
🌊 Sea Cliff Bridge & Kiama Blowhole Tour – Walk the bridge, explore remote beaches, see the blowhole in action, and discover NSW farmland and coastal towns.
🐨 Wildlife, Waterfalls & Wine Tour – Visit Sea Cliff Bridge, meet koalas at a wildlife park, hike to waterfalls, and enjoy a boutique wine tasting.
🦘 Symbio Wildlife Park – A great detour by car or included in the Wildlife & Wine tour. See koalas, kangaroos, and more.
How to get to Sea Cliff Bridge from Sydney
Option 1: Join a guided tour
If you want to let someone else handle the logistics, there are some fantastic small group tours that stop at Sea Cliff Bridge as part of a full-day south coast adventure.
🐨 Wildlife, Waterfalls and Wine Tour
This small group tour covers Sea Cliff Bridge, a visit to Symbio Wildlife Park to meet koalas and kangaroos, lunch by the beach, a scenic forest walk to waterfalls, and a wine tasting in the Southern Highlands.
🌊 Sea Cliff Bridge, Kiama Blowhole and Farmlands Tour
This tour explores the Grand Pacific Drive and beyond, with stops at Bald Hill, Sea Cliff Bridge, Kiama Blowhole, and the dairy-farm-dotted hills of Saddleback Mountain. Expect a mix of beaches, rural towns, and spectacular ocean views.
Option 2: Rent a car and drive
We rented a car from Sydney and headed south through Royal National Park—Australia’s first national park! The drive is scenic and full of picnic spots nestled beside rivers and gum trees. Just note that entering the park by car requires a national parks day pass, which you can buy at the entrance gate.
After exiting the park, we stopped at a few vantage points which offer some of the best Sea Cliff Bridge photography spots:
- Otford Lookout: It’s not the best lookout for Sea Cliff Bridge, but Otford is a peaceful spot where we stretched our legs, watched hang gliders soar overhead, and spotted a few curious lizards sunning themselves nearby.
- Stanwell Tops (Bald Hill Lookout): This spot has the best view of Sea Cliff Bridge. This clifftop spot is popular on sunny weekends, with a food van often parked up and plenty of action from paragliders launching into the sky.
From there, it’s just a 10-minute drive down the hill to the bridge itself. If you’re wondering where to park at Sea Cliff Bridge, you’ll find parking spots along Lawrence Hargrave Drive both before and after the bridge. Be sure to pull over and walk it—it’s only 500 metres long, but trust me, the views are worth every step.
🦘 If you’re driving, consider stopping at Symbio Wildlife Park in Helensburgh, just a few minutes inland from Stanwell Tops. It’s a great detour—especially if you’re travelling with kids or haven’t yet had a chance to see Australia’s iconic animals (such as koalas and kangaroos) up close!
Option 3: Take the train and walk
This is the most budget-friendly way to visit. From Sydney Central Station, hop on the South Coast Line train heading to Coalcliff Station (trains leave every 30–60 minutes and take around 1–1.5 hours).
Once you arrive, walk downhill along the footpath next to the road. It’s a 45-minute scenic walk to Scarborough Station, and the Sea Cliff Bridge lies between the two.
Walking along Sea Cliff Bridge gives you a real sense of scale that you won’t get from the inside of a car. It’s wild to see and hear the waves crashing onto the rocks beneath your feet, a reminder of just how powerful Mother Nature can be. There’s a mix of coastal energy and impressive man-made engineering that makes the experience feel kind of surreal.
Make sure to bring a day pack with water, snacks or a picnic lunch, comfy walking shoes, and a light jacket—it can get windy down there!
Where to eat near Sea Cliff Bridge
For a cheap lunch, bring along some picnic food. There’s a few small park areas on either side of the bridge where you can stop to eat, and Rube Hargrave Park on the south side also has a public bathroom and a tap to fill your water bottle.
If you don’t BYO lunch, then there are options for buying food in the local township. The Scarborough Hotel is a popular spot as it has a huge beer garden overlooking the ocean. This would be a good option if you’re taking the train as it’s only a few minutes walk from Scarborough Station.
Unfortunately, we found the vegetarian options lacking at Scarborough, so we drove a few minutes further down the road to Coledale and stopped in at Earth Walker & Co for some tasty pastries and sandwiches with coffee.
Best time to visit Sea Cliff Bridge
- Early morning or late afternoon: Soft light = perfect photos.
- Weekdays: Fewer crowds, especially outside school holidays.
- May–November: It’s whale season! Bring binoculars and keep an eye out for migrating humpbacks.
Driving over Sea Cliff Bridge is a must for any Australia east coast road trip, or if you’ll just be visiting Sydney, I highly recommend a trip down the coast if you have a half-day to spare. It’s super nice to get out of the city to see some scenic parts of New South Wales!
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