These are the Wollongong cycling routes worth driving down from Sydney for, and the ones locals ride every week: a flat beachside bike track, the Sea Cliff Bridge, Bald Hill, Mount Keira, the 2022 Worlds circuit, Macquarie Pass and Jamberoo Mountain. Each one has checked climb numbers, a plotted line and a coffee stop that opens early enough for a dawn start.
- 7routes
- 7coffee stops checked
- Sep to Novbest months (and Mar to May)
Coffee stops confirmed open in October 2026. Distances and elevation are approximate. Plot a route before you rely on it.
Wollongong cycling routes at a glance
| Route | Distance | Climbing | Level | Coffee stop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illawarra bike track to Thirroul | ~36 km return | Minimal | Easy | Blackbird Thirroul |
| Sea Cliff Bridge and Grand Pacific Drive | ~26 km return | ~300 m | Moderate | Husk |
| Worlds circuit: Mount Ousley Road and Mount Pleasant | 17.5 km lap | ~100 m a lap | Moderate | Connies Cliff Road Cafe |
| Bald Hill and Bulli Pass loop | ~40 km | ~600 m | Hard | The Local on Walker |
| Mount Keira and Mount Kembla loop | ~30 km | ~550 m | Hard | Kiss & Drop |
| Macquarie Pass from Albion Park | ~50 km return | ~750 m | Hard | Marley Janes Cafe |
| Jamberoo Mountain and Macquarie Pass loop | ~60 km | ~900 m | Epic | Moonacres Kitchen |
Illawarra bike track: Wollongong to Thirroul
Car-free coastal kilometres for recovery days, new riders and anyone on a borrowed bike.
- Distance
- ~18 km each way
- Climbing
- Minimal
- Start
- Wollongong Harbour
- Effort
Most bike rides in Wollongong start on this shared path whether people mean to or not. It runs north from the harbour past North Beach and Stuart Park, then hugs the coast through Fairy Meadow, Bellambi and Bulli to Thirroul. The full run is about 18 km each way.
It is mostly flat. Expect one short, steep ramp of roughly 100 m near Thirroul, and a few spots where the path narrows past surf clubs and car parks. Ride it at social pace. Walkers, dogs and kids on scooters own it after 8am on a sunny weekend.
Blackbird Thirroul
A short roll from the end of the track, open from 6am seven days. They bake their own sourdough and pies.
DirectionsRide notes: traffic, surface and bail-outs
- Shared path the whole way. Keep left, ring early and slow right down around the surf clubs.
- Bubblers and toilets at most beach reserves along the way.
- Bail out anywhere: the South Coast train line runs parallel, with stations at Thirroul, Bulli, Woonona and North Wollongong.
Kit for this one: a Vapour Jersey and a pair of bib shorts, plus sunnies for the glare off the water.
Sea Cliff Bridge and Grand Pacific Drive to Stanwell Park
The postcard ride: cliff road, ocean on your right, the bridge at the end.
- Distance
- ~26 km return
- Climbing
- ~300 m
- Start
- Thirroul Beach
- Effort
Lawrence Hargrave Drive is the Grand Pacific Drive section between Thirroul and Helensburgh, 19.5 km in total. From Thirroul it rolls north through Austinmer, Coledale, Wombarra and Clifton before you swing out over the water on the Sea Cliff Bridge. The bridge and its neighbour span about 665 m between Clifton and Coalcliff, and they opened in December 2005 after rockfalls closed the old cliff road.
Bikes share the traffic lanes on the bridge, with shoulders of roughly 1.2 m each side. From Coalcliff the road drops into Stanwell Park, where most riders turn for home.
Go early. By mid-morning on a summer weekend the road fills with tourist traffic and people pulling over for photos.
Husk
Right on Lawrence Hargrave Drive at the turnaround, so there is no detour. Opens at 6:30am every day, which beats most of the beach crowd.
DirectionsRide notes: traffic, surface and bail-outs
- Narrow, winding road with parked cars and bus stops through the villages. Ride single file through the tight bits.
- Do not stop on the bridge carriageway for photos. Use the pedestrian path or the lookouts either end.
- Bail out at Coledale, Scarborough, Coalcliff or Stanwell Park stations.
Kit for this one: the Pinnacle Jersey and a Core Gilet for the sea breeze on early starts.
Worlds circuit: Mount Ousley Road and Mount Pleasant
Ride the 2022 World Championships city lap, including the climb that split the race.
- Distance
- 17.5 km lap
- Climbing
- ~100 m a lap
- Start
- North Beach
- Effort
In September 2022 the world's best raced laps of a 17.5 km city circuit. It runs along the beach, through the CBD and up through the northern suburbs, where the course climbs Mount Ousley Road and turns onto Ramah Avenue for the Mount Pleasant climb.
Mount Pleasant is just over 1 km long. The middle section holds about 11 to 12% for roughly 250 m, and the top kicks into the teens. One lap is a short leg-opener. Three or four laps with Ramah Avenue at full gas is a proper session.
A quick warning on names. The Mount Ousley Road on this lap is the suburban road near the university. It is not the M1 descent off the escarpment, which is a freight route with interchange works under way. Stay off that one.
Connies Cliff Road Cafe
On the corner opposite North Beach, a few hundred metres from where the lap starts and finishes. Open from 6am daily.
DirectionsRide notes: traffic, surface and bail-outs
- Open city roads with lights, roundabouts and parked cars. Sunday morning is the quietest window.
- Ramah Avenue is residential and steep. Descend it slowly and expect driveways and kids.
- Mount Ousley Road carries commuter traffic toward the university. Hold your line and keep it predictable.
Kit for this one: Pinnacle bib shorts and a bidon you can grab without looking.
Bald Hill and Bulli Pass loop
Coast road north, the climb to Bald Hill, then back down the escarpment.
- Distance
- ~40 km loop
- Climbing
- ~600 m
- Start
- Thirroul
- Effort
This loop takes route 2 and keeps going. From Stanwell Park, Lawrence Hargrave Drive climbs to the Bald Hill lookout: about 2 km at close to 10%, with hang gliders launching off the headland beside you. It keeps rising more gently through Stanwell Tops and Otford to Helensburgh.
From Helensburgh, head south on the Princes Highway along the top of the escarpment to Bulli Tops. Then drop down Bulli Pass, roughly 3.5 km averaging around 9%, back to the coast.
Prefer to climb Bulli Pass? Ride the loop in reverse.
The Local on Walker
Helensburgh sits at the top of the loop, after the climbing and before the highway section. Refill bottles here before Bulli Pass.
DirectionsRide notes: traffic, surface and bail-outs
- Bald Hill car park gets packed on weekends. Watch for cars reversing and doors opening.
- Bulli Pass is steep with tight bends and a busy lane of traffic. Brake before the corners, not in them, and stay well clear of the gutter after rain.
- The Princes Highway between Helensburgh and Bulli Tops is fast. Use the shoulder and ride single file.
- Bail out at Helensburgh or Otford station, or cut the loop short by turning around at Bald Hill.
Kit for this one: a Core Gilet zipped up for the Bulli Pass descent, and Thermal Arm Warmers on cooler mornings.
Mount Keira and Mount Kembla loop
Wollongong's home climb, with a technical descent as the encore.
- Distance
- ~30 km loop
- Climbing
- ~550 m
- Start
- Wollongong CBD
- Effort
Mount Keira Road is the climb most local riders measure themselves on. The main ascent is about 5.8 km at roughly 6.5%, but it is not even. The first kilometre into the forest averages around 10% and pitches up to about 14% on the sweeping left-hander. After that it eases to 4 or 5% for much of the top half, with a few hairpins to break it up.
The summit sits at about 464 m with views up and down the coast. Roll back down to Harry Graham Drive, along to Mount Kembla, then take the Cordeaux Road descent home. It is fast and technical, with pitches steeper than 12%.
Kiss & Drop
A small suburban cafe in West Wollongong, close to the bottom of the mountain. It opens at 6am most days, so you can climb in the cool and still be back for a bacon and egg roll before the town wakes up. Note it shuts at midday on weekends.
DirectionsRide notes: traffic, surface and bail-outs
- Light traffic early, plus sightseers driving up to the lookout later in the day.
- The Keira descent has tight corners and a surface that turns slick under the canopy after rain. Deer and lyrebirds wander onto the road at dawn.
- Water and toilets at the summit park. Nothing else until you are back in the suburbs.
Kit for this one: the Pinnacle Jersey and a gilet in the back pocket for the descent.
Macquarie Pass from Albion Park
Ten-plus kilometres of rainforest hairpins up to the Southern Highlands.
- Distance
- ~50 km return
- Climbing
- ~750 m
- Start
- Albion Park
- Effort
Macquarie Pass is the Illawarra Highway's climb from the coastal plain to Robertson. The timed climb is about 10.5 km at roughly 6%, gaining around 640 m through Macquarie Pass National Park. The road is narrow, with single-lane sections and hairpins tight enough that long trucks struggle on them.
From Albion Park, follow Tongarra Road west across the flats to the base, climb, then turn at the top or ride on into Robertson. It is steady rather than savage.
Check Live Traffic NSW before you go. The pass has had stop/slow roadworks, night closures and rain closures over the past year, and it shuts when the top half floods.
Marley Janes Cafe
On Tongarra Road, the road you ride out to the pass, with an outdoor area that has room for bikes and parking at the door. Start here, finish here.
DirectionsRide notes: traffic, surface and bail-outs
- Popular with motorcyclists on weekends and holidays. Hold a predictable line and give them room on the hairpins.
- The surface is sealed but patchy in places, and leaf litter and water collect in the shaded corners.
- No water or food on the climb. Fill up in Albion Park, or in Robertson at the top.
Kit for this one: Pinnacle bib shorts for the long saddle time, and arm warmers for the cooler air at the top.
Jamberoo Mountain and Macquarie Pass loop
The big Illawarra day: up the steep side, down the long side.
- Distance
- ~60 km loop
- Climbing
- ~900 m
- Start
- Albion Park
- Effort
Jamberoo Mountain Road is the hardest climb in this guide. From the valley it is about 13 km to the top at around 5% overall, but that number hides the real story. The steep section is roughly 6 km averaging close to 9%, gaining around 500 m. Some locals call it the hardest climb they have ridden.
Ride from Albion Park to Jamberoo village, climb past Barren Grounds onto the plateau, and roll across to Robertson. Then come home down Macquarie Pass. Doing it this way round means you climb the steep side and descend the longer, steadier one.
Kiama Council finished drainage, widening and guardrail works on Jamberoo Mountain Road in 2026, with some line marking still to come. Check the council's public notices for closures before you commit.
Moonacres Kitchen
Right on the Illawarra Highway in Robertson, after the climbing and before the descent. The baking is the drawcard. It gets busy, so order takeaway if the queue is long.
DirectionsRide notes: traffic, surface and bail-outs
- Heavy vehicles over 12 tonnes and 10 m are not allowed to use Jamberoo Mountain Road as a detour, so it stays fairly quiet. Expect cars and caravans on weekends.
- Robertson is your only proper resupply. Carry two full bottles and food for the climb.
- The Robertson plateau can sit several degrees cooler than the coast and is often misty. Pack a layer for the Macquarie Pass descent.
Kit for this one: Thermal Arm Warmers, a Core Gilet and a second bidon. Read our chamois cream guide before a day this long.
What to wear cycling in Wollongong
The coast is mild most of the year. The problem is the escarpment: you climb hot, then descend cold and wet with sweat.
Average highs sit around 24 to 25°C on the coast, but humidity and the UV make it feel harder. Start by 6am, cover your arms or use sunscreen, and carry more water than you think. Our summer kit guide covers it in detail.
Prime time. Mornings start in the low to mid teens and warm up fast. Arm warmers and a gilet you can strip off and pocket handle almost every ride. See how layering for early starts works.
Mild by southern standards, but the Robertson plateau and the shaded descents are a lot colder than the beach. A thermal jersey or long sleeve over a baselayer, plus gloves for the descents.
Pinnacle JerseyHumid coast road mornings
Pinnacle Bib ShortsLong Macquarie Pass days
C&C Core GiletEscarpment descents
Thermal Arm WarmersCool starts, warm finishes
All our jerseys are race cut: snug and close-fitting when you are in position. Prefer more room on a long day in the hills? Size up one for a relaxed fit, and check the jersey size guide first. Choosing bibs for these climbs is covered in our bib shorts buyer's guide.
Wollongong bunch rides and clubs
- Illawarra Cycle ClubThe region's racing club. Summer Thursday evening crits at the Lindsay Maynes Park circuit in Unanderra, road races on closed roads at the top of Mount Keira, plus group training rides and a juniors program.
- Illawarra Bicycle Users Group (iBUG)Wollongong's advocacy and social riding group. It runs community rides and women's riding programs, and has been closely involved with the annual Ride Wollongong festival.
- Kiama BUGSocial group rides most days of the week from Kiama and Jamberoo, including a Saturday loop of about 70 km through Kiama, Windang and Albion Park, and longer Wednesday rides into the Southern Highlands.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best cycling routes in Wollongong?
For scenery, ride Lawrence Hargrave Drive over the Sea Cliff Bridge to Stanwell Park. For climbing, Mount Keira is the local benchmark and Macquarie Pass is the long one. Jamberoo Mountain is the hardest. The Illawarra bike track from Wollongong to Thirroul is the best flat, car-free option.
Is there a bike track from Wollongong to Thirroul?
Yes. A shared path runs about 18 km from Wollongong along the coast through North Wollongong, Fairy Meadow, Bellambi and Bulli to Thirroul. It is mostly flat, with one short steep ramp near Thirroul. Expect walkers and families on weekends.
Can you ride a bike over the Sea Cliff Bridge?
Yes. Cyclists ride in the traffic lanes, and there are shoulders of about 1.2 m on each side. The separate path on the bridge is for pedestrians, so walk your bike there if you want to stop for photos.
How hard is the Mount Keira climb?
The main climb is about 5.8 km at roughly 6.5%, rising to a summit of about 464 m. The first kilometre is the hardest, averaging around 10% with a pitch near 14%. After that it eases to 4 or 5% for much of the top half.
Is Wollongong worth the drive from Sydney for a day ride?
Yes. It is about 90 minutes from central Sydney by car, or you can take the South Coast train with your bike. You get coast roads and proper escarpment climbs within a short ride of each other, which is hard to find closer to the city.
Climb hot, descend cold? Sort the kit first.
Wollongong rides swing from humid sea-level heat to cool escarpment air within an hour. Pack layers that come off on the climb and back on for the descent.
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Route details checked October 2026. Roads, closures and cafe hours change. Spotted something out of date? Email us and we will fix it.
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