A trip away doesn't particularly mean great expense. Choose from a Kiama holiday house or holiday rental accommodation on Search and Stay and enjoy any or all of these eight fantastic free activities in Kiama.
1. Visit The Kiama Blowhole - FREE
Absolutely one of the best things to do in Kiama is to visit the iconic blowhole, the largest of its kind in the world. Thanks to ocean swells, water is blown more than 20 metres up in the air. The bad news is it doesn’t always happen but then sometimes this happens!! click here.
On the bright side, there is the nearby Little Blowhole, where spouts are much more common.
2. Watch for Whales - FREE
Every year between May and November, more than 40,000 humpback and southern right whales leave Antarctica and travel up and down the east coast of Australia to feed, warm up and give birth. The rugged headland around the Kiama Blowhole provides wide expanses for spotting whales, with a regular ‘whoosh’ of water as your backdrop.
Along the Kiama Coastal Walk, there are two whale watching platforms to view the whales as they migrate north. Depending on what end of the walk you are on there are platforms at Minnamurra and Gerringong. It’s a short ride on to the rolling countryside of Gerroa and Seven Mile Beach National Park, where marine life is a constant attraction.
3. Take the Plunge at One of Kiama's Rock Pools - FREE
Kiama can boast not one but four super refreshing local ocean pools. A quiet dip in one of our four ocean pools is the best way to start your day or wind down with a sunset dip before dinner.
Kiama Blowhole Point Pool
An ocean rock pool near the town centre and train station at Kiama with incredible 180 degree views. It has a natural rock bottom which has been added to with concrete and the depth is variable. Kiama Blowhole Point Pool is the home of the Kiama Ice Cubes swimming club who swim all year round. The pool is right near the impressive Kiama blowhole which is said to be the largest blowhole in the world. This swimming hole gets very popular in summer. When the tide is high you can sometimes see the waves breaking over the rocks around the edge.
Boat Harbour Ocean Pool
This beautiful, tucked-away ocean pool in Gerringong is a fantastic place to snorkel or swim. It is accessed via a walkway about 50 meters long starting at the Boat Harbour Reserve. The ocean pool floor is natural rock with sandy beach at the shallow end. Boat Harbour offers plenty of parking with basic amenities.
Continental Ocean Pool
A great place for a dip, the pool is situated at the north end of Black Beach Reserve in the Kiama township and is also known as the Olympic Pool. The pool is 50 metres in length with facilities and disabled access.
South Werri Ocean Pool
If you are looking for a relaxing place to swim away from the surf, then look no further than the Ourie Ocean Pool at the southern end of Werri Beach.
This is an irregular-shaped pool constructed in the rock shelf at the south end of Werri Beach with access via Pacific Avenue or Geering Street. There is ample parking with change rooms and amenities on site. The pool has a smooth, sloping concrete floor and nearby is a separate concrete-formed children’s wading pool. The pool and surrounding shelf are subject to natural wave action during high tides.
4. Legendary Surfing - FREE
Whether you’re an avid surfer or beginner; Kiama beaches have something on offer for everyone. Kiama beaches offer great breaks for surfers or calmer waters for swimming. If you prefer open ocean or ocean-fed rock pools – the Kiama region‘s blissful beaches don’t disappoint. Extending from Minnamurra in the north to Gerroa in the south, this part of the NSW South Coast is paradise for those who like sea, sunshine and sand. The most difficult decision to make is where to start. Just off the Minnamurra River lies one of the coast’s most legendary surf spots: Minnamurra Beach, known locally as Mystics, stretching from a rocky headland to a volcanic outcrop. The swell here is so reliable that the area has been proclaimed part of Killalea State Park’s National Surfing Reserve. Travelling south toward Kiama you’ll discover yet more breaks at Jones, Boneyard and Bombo beaches. In Kiama itself, Surf Beach draws board-bearers to its northern break, known as ‘The Wedge’.
5. Photo Bomb at the Bombo Quarry - FREE
The Bombo Quarry site is an impressive and fascinating place where the remains of ancient columnar jointing provides us with our own Aussie version of the Irish Giant's Causeway. The site also enables visitors to see examples of weathered out dykes, volcanic breccias, the contact between the Kiama Sandstone Member and the overlying porphyritic basalt (known as the Bombo Latite Member). These features adjacent to the Tasman Sea present some amazing photographic possibilities.
6. Explore the Bonaira Native Gardens - FREE
Bonaira Native Gardens provide a magical oasis easily explored by foot or bike, with a path meandering through the forest floor and plaques to identify the variety of flora. Surrounded by towering trees and dense undergrowth, it is a perfect place to enjoy a picnic lunch with friends and family. The walk takes approximately 30 minutes and is an attraction that everyone will love.
7. Immerse yourself in Kiama's Past with Kiama Heritage Walk - FREE
The Kiama region has so much to share of its past. Throughout Kiama, you’ll find information and plaques that provide a window into how things used to be – both from Indigenous culture and the two centuries since European settlement. Grab a copy of the Heritage Walks brochure from the Kiama Visitor Information Centre. This simple brochure maps out historically significant points of interest including the Kiama Lighthouse, Pilot’s Cottage, Post Office, Terrace Houses, Masonic Temple, Old Fire Station, original banks, pubs and churches in the Kiama town centre and surrounding suburbs of Gerringong and Jamberoo. You can also download Kiama Library’s App - My Place: A Digital Tour of Kiama and follow the virtual guide around the highlights of Kiama. The tour includes 15 points of interest, six audio components and takes approximately 45 minutes to navigate through – the perfect complement to your walk.
8. Take the Kiama Coast Walk - FREE
The Kiama coastal walk or part there of is an essential activity when visiting Kiama. The coastal walk can be tackled in one go, or broken into three sections
- North Section — Minnamurra River to Kiama Blowhole
- Mid Section — Kiama Blowhole to Loves Bay
- South Section — Loves Bay to Gerringong.
The whole walk totals 20km and it’s suitable for almost all fitness levels. Whether you choose to do it all at once or separate into three sections, the Kiama coast walk is undoubtedly one of the best coastal walks expect spectacular views, sealed paths, cliff tops, and the gentle sweep of golden sands every which way you look. Most of the previously mentioned activities can be enjoyed as a part of the scenic walk. Highlights include:
Here are some of the highlights:
Minnamurra Whale Watching Platform
The Kiama coast walk starts at the mouth of the Minnamurra and one of the first stops is the Minnamurra Whale Watching Platform. If you’re lucky, from late May to early October each year, you might be able to spot some whaley friends making their annual migration along the coast.
Cathedral Rocks
At the southern end of Jones Beach in Kiama Downs you’ll discover Cathedral Rocks, a unique rock formation fantastic for photos. Cathedral Rocks can only be fully accessed at low tide, so try to time your walk so that you arrive at Jones Beach just before low tide.
The Pillars of Bombo Quarry
Once you’ve explored Cathedral Rocks, follow the signage along the road, to the Boneyard and Bombo Quarry. Once you’ve reached Bombo Quarry, you’ll feel like you’ve left the Aussie east coast and landed straight on the Moon.
The area has been completed destroyed by basalt quarrying in the past, leaving behind tall columns of basalt. Large swells often pound the columns, spraying seawater high into the air and creating quite the spectacle.
Boneyard Beach, Kiama
A protected pebbly beach, the Boneyard is the perfect sheltered place to go picnicking, snorkeling or paddle boarding. If you’re looking for more of a surf beach, Bombo Beach is the Beach for you.
Passing The Kiama Blowhole
After visiting the quarry follow the path back to Bombo Beach for a swim (it can get rough though so keep an eye on the swell and the tides). The Kiama coast walk then continues on to Kiama Harbour which is home to several friendly and very large stingrays who feed on the scraps from the fishermen.
This section of the Kiama coastal walk finishes at the always-exciting Kiama Blowhole.
Surf Beach and the Famous Kiama Wedge
Want a bit more? Follow the signposts past Storm Bay and up alongside Kiama Showground, which often has rugby matches on in the cooler months – it’s probably the most scenic football field in the country. Surf Beach is Kiama’s most popular beach (patrolled from October to April) with all-weather exercise equipment and sweeping views accompanying you for this part of your journey. The Norfolk-pine-dotted headland carries you around to Kendalls Beach. The track will then take you along Surf Beach, which is home to the famous Kiama Wedge, you might see some of the region’s best board riders catching waves.
Where To Stay In Kiama
Treat yourself with a winter escape or summer holiday at Shutters Kiama, available now on Search and Stay.
Enjoy a delightful stay in a peaceful studio designed for two. A tranquil escape on the clifftops of Kiama. Embrace stunning views and allow the serenity of the sea to wash over you. Shutters is less than 5 minutes away from the beach, shops, and cafes. A great location for you to discover all the delights of Kiama. At Shutters Kiama guests will love the privacy and quiet neighbourhood. The continental breakfast hamper means a relaxing morning. All this and just a five-minute walk along the Coastal Walk clifftops to Easts Beach. A bottle of sparkling wine will welcome you to celebrate. With free parking and WiFi and air conditioning, what’s not to love! Book Shutters Kiama now or choose from other South Coast holiday houses or Kiama accommodation on Search and Stay.
Getting To Kiama
Kiama can be reached by car in 2 hours, travelling south if coming from Sydney. Make sure to turn off the Princes Highway and onto Lawrence Hargrave Drive at Helensburgh so you can drive along the Grand Pacific Drive and over Sea Cliff Bridge for stunning views!
Source: Kiama.com.au & VisitNSW.com.au