Tourism officials in Wollongong, New South Wales (NSW), Australia have welcomed the opening of the new AUS$49m (US$37m, £21m, 30.5m euro) Sea Cliff Bridge, claiming it will ‘breathe fresh life’ into a coastal strip that has huge potential as a tourism and lifestyle centre.

The 665m bridge is the result of a two-year scheme to divert the Lawrence Hargrave Drive coastal route around a cliff face which was subject to rock falls.

"By re-opening the area to through traffic from Sydney, the new bridge will re-energise the region and enable us to draw tourists and daytrippers back to the 10 coastal villages that make up Wollongong's northern gateway," said Tourism Wollongong general manager Greg Binskin.

Tourism Wollongong will soon be unveiling Grand Pacific Drive, a 71km driving trail from Royal National Park to Wollongong and on to the South Coast, Southern Highlands and Canberra.

"We're also upgrading our overseas marketing thrust, because with Sea Cliff Bridge as a feature, Grand Pacific Drive is now right up there with Victoria's Great Ocean Road and other great coastal driving routes of the world," said Binskin. Details: www.tourismwollongong.com