Sydney to Wollongong via the Grand Pacific Drive
140 km route
The Grand Pacific Drive is a 140 km route from the Royal National Park through the Illawarra and Shoalhaven. It passes Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama, Gerringong and Jervis Bay.
Car hire in Wollongong
Wollongong is a stop on the Grand Pacific Drive. Budget has a depot in North Wollongong and Sixt one in Unanderra, and both close by midday on weekends (Budget at 11:00, Sixt at 12:00). The search shows every Wollongong pick-up point with cars on your dates, including any not listed here.
Updated
Wollongong at a glance
- Sea Cliff Bridge
- 665 m long, on Lawrence Hargrave Drive at Coalcliff
- Regional airport
- Shellharbour Airport, about 20 minutes south of Wollongong
- Sixt depot
- 275 Princes Highway, Unanderra; Mon to Fri 07:30 to 17:00, Sat 07:30 to 12:00, Sun and public holidays 08:00 to 12:00
- Budget depot
- Unit 5, 13 Ralph Black Drive, North Wollongong; Mon to Fri 8:00 to 16:30, Sat and Sun 8:00 to 11:00
- Train at the airport
- Albion Park Rail station is about 950 m from Shellharbour Airport
- Royal National Park entry
- $12 per vehicle per day, open 7am to 8.30pm
Compare cars at Wollongong
Prices are shown in Australian dollars. Before you book, open the offer and check where that company's desk or depot is, the bond, and what the agreement says about the roads you plan to drive.
Preparing live car hire search
Picking up a hire car in Wollongong
These are some of the depots in Wollongong. Other brands may also have Wollongong branches, so check the search results for what is actually offered.
| Company | Where | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Sixt | Local depotUnanderra, on the Princes Highway | Unanderra, on the Princes Highway |
| Budget | Local depotBudget's site lists this depot as Wollongong Downtown | Budget's site lists this depot as Wollongong Downtown |
Collecting the car
- 1
Check the depot's hours against your arrival time. Both depots close early on weekends: Sixt at 12:00 on Saturday and Sunday, and Budget at 11:00.
- 2
Sixt is in Unanderra on the Princes Highway, while Budget is in North Wollongong. Sixt's page says the depot is within 2 km of Unanderra or Kembla Grange train stations.
- 3
Wollongong railway station serves the CBD; the depots are not at the station.
Returning your car in Wollongong
- 1
Return during the depot's hours. Weekend windows are short, especially for Budget (8:00 to 11:00 on Saturday and Sunday).
- 2
If you need to return the car after hours, ask the branch how key drop off works before you book.
Drives from Wollongong
Distances are approximate and measured along the road.
Sea Cliff Bridge
The bridge opened in December 2005 to replace the section of Lawrence Hargrave Drive closed in 2003 by geological hazards along the escarpment.
Kiama
On the Grand Pacific Drive
Kiama is one of the towns on the Grand Pacific Drive, south of Wollongong.
Royal National Park
The Grand Pacific Drive starts in the Royal National Park. Entry is $12 per vehicle per day and the park is open 7am to 8.30pm.
Driving around Wollongong
Royal National Park fee
Entry is $12 per vehicle per day. Pay at the visitor centre, vehicle entry stations, pay machines or with the Park'nPay app. The park is open 7am to 8.30pm but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
Weekend depot hours
Both depots close by midday on weekends. Sixt lists shorter hours (08:00 to 12:00) on Sundays and public holidays; check Budget's public holiday hours with the depot.
Wollongong car hire questions
Rental terms differ by company. Where an answer depends on your agreement, we say so.
Where can I hire a car in Wollongong?
Sixt at 275 Princes Highway, Unanderra, and Budget at Unit 5, 13 Ralph Black Drive, North Wollongong.
Is there a car hire desk at Wollongong Airport?
Check the search results for airport pick-ups. The regional airport is Shellharbour Airport at Albion Park Rail, about 20 minutes south of Wollongong.
What are the opening hours of car hire in Wollongong?
Sixt: Mon to Fri 07:30 to 17:00, Sat 07:30 to 12:00, Sun and public holidays 08:00 to 12:00. Budget: Mon to Fri 8:00 to 16:30, Sat and Sun 8:00 to 11:00. Check the day before you travel.
How far is Shellharbour Airport from Sydney?
Shellharbour Airport is approximately 100 km south of Sydney, a little over an hour by road.
What is the Grand Pacific Drive?
A 140 km route from the Royal National Park through the Illawarra and Shoalhaven, passing Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama, Gerringong and Jervis Bay.
Does the Royal National Park charge for cars?
Yes, $12 per vehicle per day.
Nearby and often combined
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Compare Wollongong car hire
Search live prices in Australian dollars, then check the pickup point and conditions on the offer.