Macquarie Pass

Macquarie Pass is an 8 km section of the Illawarra Highway (A48) that drops down the Illawarra Escarpment between Robertson in the Southern Highlands and Albion Park on the coast, in New South Wales. It opened in 1898 and runs through Macquarie Pass National Park.

The road is narrow and steep, mostly two lanes with double no overtaking lines and several single lane sections. It has many hairpin bends, tight enough that buses and trucks have to reverse on some of them.

The pass is popular with motorcyclists on weekends and public holidays, and Shellharbour and Wingecarribee councils and Transport for NSW have published a rider safety brochure, Motorcycling Macquarie Pass.

• From Robertson the highway leaves the Southern Highlands plateau and drops down the escarpment through the hairpins to Albion Park.
• The pass runs through rainforest and tall eucalypts in Macquarie Pass National Park.
• The national park has the Cascades walk and the Clover Hill trail.
• Best way to experience it: drive or ride it yourself, in your own vehicle or a hire car, or join one of the guided tours that run on it.

• Transport for NSW safety works close the Illawarra Highway between the top of the pass at Mount Murray Road and the base from 8pm to 4am, Sunday to Thursday nights, from 2 August 2026 for about four months, weather permitting. Light vehicles detour via Jamberoo Mountain Road.
• Kiama Council has announced that Jamberoo Mountain Road closes for 5 days from Monday 9 November 2026.
• Heavy rain can close the pass when the top half floods. Jamberoo Mountain Road is the light vehicle alternative.
• Load carrying vehicles over 19 m long or 2.5 m wide need a Class 1 permit on the Illawarra Highway between Tullimbar and Jamberoo Mountain Road.
• Macquarie Pass National Park is always open but can close in poor weather or high fire danger.
• Robertson sits at the top of the pass and Albion Park at the base.

• Last verified: 8 November 2026