On Friday, holidaying motorists headed south got caught up in a traffic queue at the Kiama bends which stretched as far as 13 kilometres - and added 75 minutes to their trip.

The problems extended to Kiama with traffic on South Kiama Drive at a standstill.

By lunchtime on Saturday, the NSW Traffic Management Centre had reported traffic queues 5½km long at Gerringong, which had created delays of 20 minutes, with a three-car accident on South Kiama Drive.

In Berry, southbound traffic queued up to a kilometre long on the Princes Highway; at Milton, the queue stretched 1½km.

At North Batemans Bay, eastbound traffic on the Kings Highway approach to the Princes Highway was backed up for 3km on Saturday.

Yesterday traffic problems were experienced in both directions around the middle of the day but eased in the afternoon.

At lunch yesterday at Albion Park Rail, northbound traffic on the Princes Highway between Lake Entrance Road and Illawarra Highway was heavy while southbound traffic queued for 3km on the Kiama bends.

At Berry, northbound traffic stretched 1½km on the Princes Highway.

At Milton, southbound traffic on the highway was queued for 3km but at Ulladulla northbound traffic queued for 5km.

Heavy traffic is expected to continue this week with significant northbound delays expected as many holidaymakers return home for New Year celebrations.

"Motorists are advised to plan their trip, allow plenty of additional travel time, expect delays and take regular breaks," a NSW Transport Management Centre spokesman said.