South Coast Luxury Holidays: Premium Tours and Best Months

The most expensive South Coast tour on our list costs from $1950 and runs for three days. The cheapest on this page costs from $245 for a long day out. South Coast luxury holidays cover that whole range, and what you pay for is mostly privacy, time and support.

We have put the premium tours in price order, then added what the coastline looks like and which months suit an indulgent trip. Prices are the starting prices listed on each tour page, so check the tour page for current details.

What the South Coast offers a slower, pricier trip

The South Coast is a narrow coastal belt running from the Shoalhaven district in the north to the Victorian border in the south. The coastal escarpment of the Southern Tablelands sits to the west, and much of the land between is national park, including Jervis Bay National Park, Eurobodalla National Park and Beowa National Park.

To the east is the Pacific Ocean. The coastline is rocky in places, with rolling farmland, small towns and villages, and many beaches and lakes in between. Our destination notes pick out Jervis Bay's whitest-sand beaches, the Kiama blowhole, Eurobodalla and the wild Sapphire Coast.

For a fuller picture of the region, see our South Coast destination guide. The region's Wikipedia entry is at South Coast (New South Wales) on Wikipedia.

Premium South Coast tours, highest price first

Three days on the Murramarang coast

The 3 Day Murramarang Coast Journey from Batemans Bay is the top-priced option, from $1950. You walk the shoreline with vehicle support carrying your kit between daily destinations. The route passes sandstone formations, open beaches and forested ridgelines, and you stay in beachside cabins within the National Park. All meals and accommodation are included, and the pace is relaxed, low to moderate.

Private day tours from Sydney

The Private Sydney South Coast to the Southern Highlands Tour (from $1750) runs nine hours in a climate-controlled minivan. It takes in coastal scenery, vineyard country and inland villages, visiting beaches, winery estates and historic towns at your own pace. National park entry fees and onboard WiFi are covered, and you will want to arrange lunch separately.

The Private Kiama and South Coast Tour from Sydney takes 11 hours and starts from $1449. The South Coast Private Daily Group Tour runs seven to eight hours with pick-up and drop-off. The Kiama Truly Private Tour is listed at eight to nine hours, from $743.25.

A lower-cost small group day

The Jervis Bay Highlights Tour is the budget end of this page, from $245, and it is a long day of 10 to 12 hours from Sydney. It crosses Sea Cliff Bridge, looks for whales and dolphins from clifftops, visits the Kiama Blowhole and finishes at Cave Beach, where kangaroos roam freely. Drone footage and stills are included. We reckon it is the best value here, though it is not the private experience the dearer tours offer.

More options sit on our South Coast tours page.

Scenery and experiences to plan around

The towns give you a base. Shoalhaven includes Berry, Nowra, Ulladulla, Milton, Mollymook and Culburra Beach. In Eurobodalla you will find Batemans Bay, Moruya, Narooma and Tilba, where the series River Cottage Australia was filmed. The Bega Valley covers Bega, Merimbula, Pambula and Eden, and Cobargo hosts an annual folk music festival.

Gulaga National Park is the southernmost place in the state with subtropical rainforest, which makes a good contrast with the beaches. The Kiama blowhole is a headline sight. Kangaroo Valley and Berry are known for romantic weekends, especially in the cooler months.

For stays, see South Coast accommodation. Premium lodging ranges from boutique B&Bs to guesthouses and boutique hotels, and one example is Terragong 1858 in the Jamberoo Valley near Kiama, a restored Colonial Georgian house built in 1858 as a gentleman's home. If you would rather keep costs down, Holiday Haven White Sands at Huskisson and Discovery Parks Gerroa both offer powered sites and cabins. Contact them for rates.

Best months for South Coast luxury holidays

The climate is mild and warm temperate. Averages from 1991 to 2020 show the pattern below.

For a walking journey such as the Murramarang tour, we would aim for September, October or April. Those months have 26 to 27 sunny days, modest rain and maximums of 19 to 22 degrees. August has the most sunny days (28.4) and the fewest rain days (7.1), though it is cool, with maximums around 16 degrees. February is the wettest at 124.3 mm over about 13 days.

Rain here is erratic. Heavy storms can arrive at any time, most often in late autumn and early winter, so keep some flexibility in your plans. Summer and school holidays are peak times at Kiama, Gerringong and Jervis Bay, so book rooms well ahead.

Getting there

From the South Coast area, Sydney is 183 km by road, about 171 minutes. Wollongong is 95 km, about 96 minutes, and Jervis Bay is 47 km, about 60 minutes. Canberra reaches the region by the Kings Highway, and the Princes Highway links Sydney and Melbourne along the coast.

By rail, the NSW TrainLink Illawarra line serves Berry and ends at Bomaderry, about 123 km south of Sydney. Merimbula Airport and Moruya Airport have daily flights to Sydney and Melbourne with Rex Airlines. Official state information is available at Visit NSW, and our South Coast travel guide has more.

Frequently asked questions

Which South Coast tour costs the most?

The 3 Day Murramarang Coast Journey from Batemans Bay is listed from $1950, and it includes all meals and accommodation.

When is the best time for a South Coast holiday?

September, October and April offer mild temperatures, moderate rain and many sunny days. August has the driest, sunniest conditions but is cooler.

Are national park fees included in the private tours?

On the Private Sydney South Coast to the Southern Highlands Tour, national park entry fees are covered. Lunch is not, so arrange it separately.