Dotted with beaches and lined with quaint, coastal town streets with cute cafes and unique eats, Kiama can be found on the New South Wales South Coast. Here, beautiful beaches, scenic coastal walks and curious natural wonders await.
While it makes a great location for a weekend away, it’s close enough to the city that you can easily do it in just one day too. At less than a two-hour drive to Sydney, a Kiama day trip packs all the delights of a summer vacation.
When we have tourists visiting Sydney for an extended time, along with the Blue Mountains, Kiama is one of our top picks for day trips. It’s got the perfect amount of coastal charm within a very manageable distance.
TL;DR: A Kiama Day Trip in a nutshell
- Where is it? Kiama, NSW (About two hours south of Sydney)
- Budgeting: All activities mentioned in this itinerary are free (except for any food purchased)
- What to do and see: Kiama Coastal Walk, Kiama Blowhole, Kiama Lighthouse, plenty of beaches
- When to go: Sunny days in spring, summer or autumn
Best things to do in Kiama on a day trip
With just one day, there’s only so much you can pack in. These are our favourite things to do and see when we’re in Kiama.
Kiama Coastal Walk
How long is it? 12 kilometres total for the out-and-back track from Loves Bay to Werri Lagoon (or 20 kilometres, one-way, of you do the entire walk)
Facilities: There are toilets, water and showers available at Werri Lagoon. There was a toilet at Loves Bay, but it was locked when we were there.
In its entirety, the Kiama Coastal Walk stretches 20 kilometres from north to south. It starts at Minnamurra River, just north of Kiama, and ends at Werri Lagoon, in Gerringong. It’s usually broken up into three sections, from Minnamurra River to Kiama Blowhole, Kiama Blowhole to Loves Bay and Loves Bay to Werri Lagoon.
We did the southernmost section, from Loves Bay to Werri Lagoon as it involved the least amount of walking through built-up areas.
You’ll follow along grassy, rolling green hills by the sea for the majority of the walk. Without many hazards like tree routes or stairs to climb, enjoying the views without worrying about tripping was one of the best things about this walk.
The lush slopes stretch to the sea, and the path follows along a narrow (but not too narrow!) patch of land between farms and the ocean at varying heights. One minute you’ll be atop a soaring cliff reminiscent of a layer cake, the next you’ll be along a rocky beach next to crashing waves.
Map of this walk
(Including the Minnamurra River to Kiama Blowhole and Kiama Blowhole to Loves Bay sections)
Kiama Blowhole
Facilities at Kiama Blowhole: Toilets, cafe.
No visit to Kiama is complete without a pitstop at the infamous blowhole.
One of the largest of its kind in the world, the blowhole throws a plume of water (not to different to a whale’s spray) through an opening in the rocks when the water hits it in just the right way.
It may not sound like much, but it is quite the site and not far from town, so well worth a visit.
There is a viewing platform with plenty of space to see the blowhole from various angles.
Note: The rougher the water, the larger the plume tends to be. So if you’re visiting on a choppy day, you may get a bit wet if you stand too close!
Kiama Lighthouse
Facilities: Toilets, cafe.
Located right next to the Kiama Blowhole sits a classic white lighthouse that’s been perched on a cliff at the edge of town since 1887.
Visiting at the golden hour will reward you will stunning lighting of the stark white against the blue sea and the dark brown rocks of the Blowhole.
It sits on a small headland with plenty of grassy areas with views out to Kiama’s many beaches and makes a great place for a little picnic. We picked up some fish and chips from in down and brought them up here for an early dinner overlooking the ocean.
How to get to Kiama
Drive: It’s about a 1-hour, 45-minute drive to Kiama from Sydney’s CBD.
Train: Sydney Trains offer direct service to Kiama from the CBD. It’s along the South Coast Line, which runs to Central and Bondi Junction via Wollongong. From Central, the trip is about 2 hours, 15 minutes.
If you’re planning on going anywhere a bit outside the city centre, including the Kiama Coastal Walk from Loves Bay, you’ll find it easier with your own vehicle. It’s about a five-kilometre trip from the station. There’s no bus running to the start of the walk, but you could also take a taxi in a pinch, if needed.
Where to eat in Kiama
While there’s dozens of spots to eat in Kiama, we went to the following while in town based on a combination of location and favourable Google reviews:
Parfait Patisserie
Where is it? 38-40 Manning Street, Kiama
A cute little French-inspired cafe and bakery, Parfait Patisserie was conveniently located on one of the main streets in Kiama – Manning Street. Here we tried two pies – one beef and one lamb – and a danish, along with coffees. All were tasty and satisfied the late-morning, pre-coastal walk craving.
By the Sea Takeaway
Where it is? 72 Terralong Street, Kiama
What’s better than fish and chips on a day by the ocean after a long coastal walk? Nothing. While there were no true stand-out fish and chip shops that were open and popping up on Google Maps, By The Sea had an ideal location near the lighthouse and blowhole and had much better reviews than other nearby takeaways.
The Fisherman’s Basket is more than enough for two, but you may want to add on extras so you don’t have to fight over who gets the extra calamari or other items that come in odd numbers. Of course, no meal is complete from a fish and chip shop without adding potato scallops. Overall, the meal was satisfying, except for the calamari. Usually a favourite, they were very thin and pretty flavourless.
When is the best time to go on a Kiama day trip?
Sunny days during spring, summer and autumn would be the best times to visit Kiama.
Visit when it’s too cold and when it’s dry. Considering most things to do in the area are outdoors, if it’s raining wouldn’t be ideal.
If you’re heading to the beach, summer is your best best. Thehe ocean water does get quite cold in the area.
Avoid visiting during school holidays, if you can. The south coast is a popular place to visit during the breaks.
Where else can I go in Kiama?
Whether you’re a fast traveller or are extending your day trip into a weekend, there are a few more things to do in Kiama and the area:
- Beaches: There’s plenty of beaches to enjoy in town and nearby. Surf Beach, Jones and Werri Beaches are patrolled.
- Saddleback Lookout: Just 10 minutes from Kiama, this lookout offers panoramic views of the coast
- Jamberoo Action Park: About 15 minutes from town, Jamberoo has plenty of water slides to ride, mini golf and a chair lift.
Does Kiama have markets?
Yes! If you’re a market lover and want to make sure you plan your Kiama day trip when they’re on, go on the third Sunday of the month. Held at Black Beach in the centre of town, the Kiama Seaside Markets will be on from 9am to 3pm.
