ULURU, KATA TJUTA (THE OLGAS), AND KINGS CANYON.

VISITED SEPT 2022

Firstly a reiteration of introductory stuff and how to do the area when bucks down. If you have already seen this in "THE RANT'' pass on by to ** ** down page.

Thing is ULURU IS EXPENSIVE Isolation/transport costs account for some of it - the monopoly of Ayers Rock Resort the rest. Whoever gave ARR the monopoly for Yulara should hang his head in shame.  Accommodation at YULARA (Uluru's town  which was largely built by Ayers Rock Resort,)  is mainly in 4 or 5 flash hotels, 3,4 and 5 star which cost 2 or 3 times their equivalents in Sydney. $600 a night is not uncommon. Good grief!! The only inexpensive sleep is at the spacious and pretty good campground (also run by ARR) - if you don't like tents there are abt a dozen overpriced (but good value compared to the hotels) cabins - book early, they're popular. Of course, all you drive-in dudes in your vans and rigs will find lotsa ok spots and facilities in the campground. There were hundreds of rigs there with plenty of space for more. In comparison the tent areas were running less than 10%.

NOTE - except for high summer when it gets VERY hot and visitation is lower, book early for ALL accommodation. 

The layout of the resort is pretty good - accommodation, the Town Square, and the Shell station are spaced around a ring road - a free RESORT SHUTTLE BUS circles this every 20-30mins. You can also walk across the duned center on dedicated paths in about 15min. The highest dune has a pretty good viewpoint and attracts a crowd for Ulura/the Olgas sun-ups/downs. Many accommodation options have viewpoints too. None are as good as the dedicated viewing spots within the park, of course.

Transport is a joke with rental cars post COVID at $300+ a day minimum. 

Most tours are run by AAP-KINGS or affiliates and are overpriced, so too is the JUMP ON JUMP OFF BUS which at least works out cheaper than the others for much the same thing. I thought I'd just get a bus ride but my driver gave good commentaries - "SNAKEBITE" (Mick) my driver for all trips was super-informative and a riot to boot. I'm assuming other drivrs also give info. 

Their girl at the desk in the tour office, Town Square, was very efficient and could organise stuff the website suggested not possible. But the JO/JO bus does not have guides who accompany treks as the more exxy options do.

Apart from the free RESORT SHUTTLE the only other bargain transport option is the free coach to and from airport and accommodation.

Food costs likewise are a joke. How about $30 for a burger or $14 for a beer in the hotels? Cafes etc in the Town Square were only a bit cheaper. The camp ground had a food truck with lower but still outrageous prices. The only places with reasonable tariffs (given transport costs) were the IGA supermarket and the Shell station. In fact the Shell was a gem - need some item of hardware? The Shell probably has it. And more.

So Uluru is expensive. Here's what I'd do to see the joint at minimal cost:

1 - get on Jetstar's "Specials" email list. This is where I found the $99 return fare (Sydney), These fares don't always come up on Jetstar's "Friday Frenzies".

2 - spend the minimum time at Uluru to save accommodation and other costs - I planned 7 nights but experience shows 4 would suffice (if you want to include a daytrip to KINGS CANYON - if not, 3 would do) when flying in after mid-day as most do.

Stay in the campground to avoid horrendous hotel costs. If you must have a roof, stay in one of its cabins. Which must be booked early.

3 - buy a "Hop On/Off" 2 day ticket for days 2 and 3. 

On day 2 get up early for its ULURU SUNRISE trip. After sunrise stay on board for the Uluru circuit where the driver explains a lot of stuff. Stay on until the last near-rock stop (MALA WATERHOLE) from where you do a walking circuit of the rock. This takes 3-5 hours, so arrange to be picked up by the bus after your circuit (I don't recommend the Cultural Center - the last stop. It's a pretty boring 20mins walk each way from the rock. I was underwhelmed by the stuff at the center) 

You will get back to camp pre-lunchtime-early pm if you don't include the Cultural Center.

4 - Arrange for the bus to pick you up for the ULURU SUNSET TRIP (this is where the website said "overbooked" - girl in office said "no problem"). The dedicated bus viewing area is much closer than Yulara viewpoints and well worthwhile. After the viewing the bus goes directly back to Yulara

5 - on day 3 get up early for HO/HO bus's OLGA SUNRISE run. The bus then goes to the head of either THE VALLEY OF THE WINDS trek (8km/3-4 hours circuit (but you can shorten this by returning from some viewpoints), tough gradients+surface even for fit/experienced dudes) or the WALPA GORGE trek (shorter almost 3km/1 hour return - gradient milder:should be ok for people of average fitness - surface quite tricky underfoot in parts and as warned by driver some sections surprisingly cold on a mild Spring morning). Note A - the driver does not accompany the trekkers either walk as on some of the more expensive tours    B - the shorter trek  gets walkers back earlier, in time to be driven back to Yulara before the driver returns to pick up trekkers from the longer option - this longer option still gets back to Yulara in time for lunch.

6 - on day 4 get up extra early for AAT KING'S one day trip to KINGS CANYON. I found this the most enjoyable day, the guide ANNA and driver JASON were excellent, allowed plenty of sleep time both ways, and accompanied trekkers with good commentary and plenty of rest stops. There was a choice of trek (A - the Rim Walk is the tougher starting with 500 very steep/rough steps after which the going is way easier except for dudes like me with 2 new knees where stiffness and lousy sense of balance made some of the rougher sections a bit of a challenge:

and B -an easier/shorter Garden Walk in the canyon itself which finished early enough to allow Jason to take some participants to the helicopter area for an extra-cost flight.

This KINGS CANYON 1 day visit returns to Yulara late afternoon.

7 - next morning, get up at a normal time (at last!), pack and wait for the free airport shuttle, hoping your flight hasn't been cancelled (mine was, the first in years they told me - duh!  Note: the incoming flight a week before had been postponed 3 hours. Not looking real good, Jetstar).

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Note the above's what I'd do as a cash-down single aged male wanting to visit the area. Of course it's horses for courses - sooner or later rental car prices are going to return to more reasonable levels which may make my bus transport suggestions not the best option. Also people doing the big trip  in their own van or rig will organise differently. But no way would I drive all the way from the capital cities (except maybe Adelaide) soley to visit the area. As part of a big trip - okay.

Not sure about travelers out of Alice Springs - I know there are 1/2/3 day guided tours out of the Alice into the area but it's a hell of a distance (Uluru 468km each way; over 300 to King's Canyon) - you do the figuring as to if you should do it.

The final big question. IS IT WORTH IT?

Look, there are equal gorges, valleys, mountains, sights and treks much closer to home eg Sydney has them all nearby in the Blue Mountains. Compared to overseas nothing in the red center blew me away like the Grand Canyon or the Yosemite landscapes, or even Spain's higher areas. 

But face it, Uluru, Kata Tjuta and King's Canyon are ICONIC and should be seen by all Australians and as many visitors as possible - so if you can afford it, do it.

** ** MY TRIP

 

DAY ONE - FRIDAY 

Sydney airport was a circus - check-in lines starting near the door - flight delayed 3 hours which was just as well because it took 3 hours to get to the counter.

Trip itself pretty good, free coach waiting to transfer 5km to accommodation.

Campground check in pretty quick (can vary according to RV arrivals), Check-in office had a few campy and touristy things for sale/the nearby SHELL much better. Outside check-in office was a food truck with exxy coffee and food - once again the SHELL was much better.

The campsite is huge with abt a dozen un-powered tent regions, half this number of powered tent areas, at least 10 shower/toilet blocks, lotsa pay BBQs, and space for several hundred RVs. I found the largely indigenous staff kept the place in good order. Security seemed good with several after dark police cruise-thrus in a spotlight-toting ute.

Chez Tezza yellow-blue tent rear left, from camp kitchen - good spot with shower block only 10m further left of tent. More grass than red dirt. Hardy crowded.

Only problem with location - abt a 5min walk to laundry block/clothes lines.

BTW I found tent life no improvement from the Cairns trip a few weeks before - stiffness with my 2 new knees and loss of balance make the low tent's entry and in-tent activities very difficult. A higher tent would help but at almost 77 I ain't doing that. I figure I have done my last camping trip. Future holidays will be guided cruise-liner jaunts - with LADY TEZZA guiding me from cabin to buffet.

Camp kitchen was spacious, never seemed crowded, had plenty of seating and table space outside this shot. Had microwave and several pay BBQs. No stove. Good hot water and kept clean by conscientious staff who also did a great job at the shower/toilet blocks. However no jug or kettle, only one wash up area (which could be dominated for over half an hour by an RV owner doing the big weekly wash up) and the 2 crowded fridges were always packed to the rafters.

Another camp patron told me there was a second much smaller camp kitchen, but I couldn't find it. Thing is one and a bit camp kitchens is way insufficient for a park of this size. Dunno what it is like peak season (the cooler months).

Campground had a pool - popular in the hotter afternoons of Spring although the kids told me the water was cold.

DAY 2 - SATURDAY(first full day in the area)

 ULURU SUNRISE AND KATA TJUTA TREK

With no car I needed a bus, and I figured a guided tour would give me information about both places from experts. AAT KINGS seemed to have the only morning departure which covered BOTH Uluru and Tata Tjuta so I went for it.

Results were mixed. This had to be one of the few cloudy mornings in recent times so the Uluru sunrise had....no sunrise!

Bit cloudy.  The rock is abt 25km by road south of Yulara. The sunrise viewing area is abt 5 km from the rock. Colouring comes from iron oxide dust which changes shade with the incidence of light. 

Note semi-arid landscape. Early mornings in Spring range from mild to quite cold - most of mine were mild but one 3am got down to 5degrees - I was snug as a bug in my cold weather sleeeping bag.

Late spring and early autumn days (peak times at Uluru) can get real hot so carry plenty of water. I'm also told the bush flies become unbearable - apparently local merchants stock up big on face-nets. I pack some eucalyptus oil, one of those marvelous does-everything products including acting as an insecticide - gotta admit when I splashed a bit across my face the flies didn't bother me. But they were not real bad to start with. Downside - had to fight off all these desperate and dateless divorcees - that stuff smells real nice.

AAT's expert commentary on the geology, history and general features of the area was excellent. 

And I really enjoyed the WALPA GORGE trek. This almost 3km/2 hour return hike is not real difficult in gradient and should not worry people of average fitness. Underfoot, the weathered conglomerate made for some tricky sections with my new knees which are still stiff and affect my balance. Nevertheless, despite the guide's cracking pace I managed to arrive at the turnaround point not far behind.

NOTE for keen trekkers: AAT - KINGS does the other main (and tougher) KT trek (VALLEY OF THE WINDS) on its afternoon tour. But I'm told the guide turns around at the second viewpoint and does not do the full circuit.

Turnaround for WALPA GORGE trek. Some keen trekkers climb to highest point, despite warning signs. 

Weathered conglomerate can be tricky underfoot for gimps like me.

AAT got me back to Yulara before lunch, giving plenty of time after munchies to catch the resort shuttle around to Town Square to shop the IGA and check the scene.

That night it rained quite steadily. Unlike the last rainy night a few years back the tent didn't leak (the over-tarp I rigged up from a $4 Bunnings' tarp worked a treat) but condensation in such a small area made for a miserable night. Small tents, wet nights and condensation are keen bedfellows.

DAY 3 - SUNDAY (2nd full day in the area) 

HOP ON/HOP OFF BUS TO ULURU.

This outfit's website asked not to book the popular SUNRISE or SUNSET trips because of heavy patronage. Suggests to me they need more buses to cover demand. Anyway I got them to pick me up for their 2nd trip to Uluru at 8.35. 

This delivered me to the Cultural Center at 9.25 after a circular bus tour of the rock with driver "SNAKEBITE"/ MICK proving every bit as good as the AAT people in explaining the geology, history and general features of the area. Plus he had a wicked sense of humour. This is why I suggest using the JO/JO BUS exclusively for Uluru/Kata Tjuta in my 4 day money saving itinerary up page. 

I wasn't whelmed by the Cultural Center to the point where I took no pix. The 20min bushwalk to the nearest point of the rock was pretty boring too. That nearest point is MALA WATERHOLE.

MALA WATERHOLE is the site of the old rock climb. It can still be seen by the grey trail up the rock. I gotta admit it looks seriously steep despite helper chains back in the day. I'm glad they closed it because at almost 77 with 2 new knees I'm silly enough to climb it. Fitness wouldn't beat me (I'm so fit I got muscles on my boogers) but general stiffness and loss of balance would.

The side track into the waterhole and nearby KANTJU GORGE was relatively short.....

....but the smallness of the waterhole surprised me, given the previous night was pretty wet. However this one is permanent (must be spring-fed) which would have been a God-send to desert travelers back in the day. 

 I had enough time before the bus came back to start my circumnavigation of the rock (I planed to finish this on the 'morrow). Thing is, the full circumnavigation takes a bit longer than between buses unless you are Speedy Gonzales. So why not knock over 20% now?

The base walk across to MUTITJULU WATERHOLE had several fine views - this one better reflects last night's rain.

 I got to MUTITJULU about 10 mins. before the 12.20 bus. Got back to the campground around 1300 - lotsa time for lunch and to hit the laundry. Around sunset I wandered across to the central dune IMALUNG VIEWPOINT.

Pretty good roll call for this secondary viewpoint which is much further away than the dedicated places within the park. KATA TJUTA over left shoulder.

KATA TJUTA from YULARA's mid circle dune viewpoint.

DAY 4 - MONDAY (the 3rd full day in the area).

- Back to ULURU to complete the base walk circumnavigation.

I caught the HO/HO BUS from the campsite bus stop at 11.50 for its 3rd run into the park. I got out at MUTITJULU WATERHOLE to continue my base walk of yesterday. I had abt 7.5km to do in 3 hours.

The base trail is flat and has a fair surface. These Segways are a great extra-cost way to do the circuit - a rider told me they are surprisingly easy to ride. Popular too were many rental bicycles.      Trekkers? - I passed about a 100 trekkers in the 3 hours. Temps reached about 30C.

The spectacular scenery continued. This looks like indigenous art but in fact is the result of natural weathering of the sandstone.

I arrived at MALA WATERHOLE thus completing the circuit begun the day before in good time for the bus.

DAY 5 - TUESDAY (the 4th full day in the area)

AM - HOP ON/OFF BUS TO KATA TJUTA SUNRISE AND VALLEY OF THE WINDS TREK.

This was another the website said was booked out - the HO/HO  girl at the tour center said "no problem" - what a champ! I was glad because I hadn't seen enough of THE OLGAS and really wanted to do the VALLEY OF THE WINDS.

Pre dawn crowd at the KATA TJUTA sunrise viewing platform. 30 mins earlier we had seen the most incredible meteorite. The best of my almost 77 years - pre-dawn lack of light in the desert helps.

THE OLGAS from the viewpoint.The sun is actually hitting the rocks - not as dramatic as Uluru. But way more rugged.

Behind us, the sun was rising behind ULURU. Fair bit of telephoto here - true size about 2/3 this.

The HO/HO BUS gives a choice between hiking easier WALPA GORGE or doing the longer more difficult VALLEY OF THE WINDS after the sunrise viewpoint. Having done WALPA with AAT - KINGS I naturally went for THE VALLEY.

This 8km/3hr return loop has some very steep and rough sections. Unfit people should give it a miss. People of normal fitness will need a few rests and may turnaround at one of the two intermediate viewpoints (actually AAP's afternoon guide turns EVERYONE around at the second viewpoint which is abt. 40% of the circuit. Admittedly they have already seen the best of the landscape). I've heard park rangers close the trail in temps exceeding 38C.

The HO/HO BUS has no guide and the driver does not accompany trekkers - he throws them out at the trailhead with trek instructions and to be back in 3.5 hours. He then takes less enthusiastic/capable trekkers across to WALPA. That trek is much shorter/easier and gives the driver time to return those hikers to YULARA before he comes back to pick up THE VALLEY trekkers.

I found THE VALLEY a real test. My new knees are fine for endurance, I have rebuilt my fitness but I messed up medication in the home rehab. stage so they are stiff and lack flexibility - which has affected my balance. Consequently I had to take the many rough/steep bits slower than days of old.

 

Near the start of THE VALLEY circuit. Many steep and rough bits on this trek.

Typical VALLEY OF THE WINDS landscape.

The bus arrived back to YULARA around mid-day. I got it to drop me at town square where I enjoyed an overpriced but yummy plate of chips and similar glass of beer at GHECKO'S CAFE, checked out the native art displayed by indigenous artists on the lawns, browsed the shops and then caught the free RESORT SHUTTLE around to the campground for more laundry work. 

PM  -  Late afternoon I wandered out to the bus stop and  waited for the HO/HO BUS to take me on its ULURU SUNSET trip.

ULURU near sunset

ULURU post sunset.

No shortage of coaches and people at the sunset bus area. Non-bus viewing area across road. Best outlook from top of dune behind camera.

This trip returns to YULARA in plenty of time for dinner.

DAY 6 - WEDNESDAY

AAT-KINGS ONE DAY EXCURSION TO KINGS CANYON

I wasn't too sure about this. A mega-early start, over 700km and 8 hours in a bus with a real hard 3.5hour trek half way thru. But I was really determined to see KINGS CANYON and to trek it, so after alternative plans fell through, I went for it. 

It turned out my favourite day.

The AAT coach picked me up at 4.35 AM at the campground bus stop. Guide ANNA and driver JASON were real pros - after giving a basic itinerary of the up trip they shut up and allowed us more sleep. I'm not a good sleeper in transport but after the previous several days of trekking I cut quite a few zzzzs.

Nor long after daybreak we reached KINGS CREEK STATION which is abt. 35km south of the canyon - these folk put on an inclusive buffet brekka which I thought pretty good after my non-cooked efforts in the campground "kitchen".

I checked the rest of the stop zone out because apparently you can camp. I think they have cabins too. (future trips? - nah, but at one stage I had planned to stay in the area).

Lots of touristy stuff for sale.

Arriving at the Canyon (this is abt. 5km off the main road) we split into 2 groups - one doing the tough RIM WALK (6km/3.5hr/rating 4), the second the easier CREEK WALK (shorter/rating 2). I was surprised when 3/4 of us opted for the killer.

This is the nightmare section. RIM WALK starts with 500 very steep, very rough stairs. Guide ANNA stopped at 200 to allow doubters to change minds and descend in time to meet JASON'S group. About 10 returned.

I found fitness no problem, but with stiffness and loss of balance I took the stairs slower than back in the day. ANNA waited at the top - one of many stops where she explained the geology, flora, fauna or history or allowed time for pix. At no time did I think I was holding the group up. Sometimes I arrived mid-pack.

The walk gets easier at the top - average trekkers should have no problems. I still had to go a bit slow on the rougher sections.

JASON'S initial creek bed group from 200 steps.

ANNA gives us the drum. I found her an excellent communicator and a font of knowledge. She urged us to drink plenty of water on this 35degree day. I had a 2 liter bladder with mouthpiece-tube in my backpack from my 2015 10 hour trek in the GRAND CANYON on a similar day - I stick the mouthpiece over my shoulder and sip as needed - it proved excellent. The bus had plenty of water and electrolyte to replenish stocks.

Lower canyon from high on the north rim.

At about 60% of the trek the canyon narrows and after descending a bit you cross to the other side on a short metal bridge. These wooden stairs take you to the top of the southern rim - easy-peasy after the many more rough stone steps at the start.

If you head left at the bottom of the stairs, a few minutes, an irregular trail gets you to the GARDEN OF EDEN WATERHOLE. 

The GE WATERHOLE is permanent but no swimming - no matter; KINGS CANYON RESORT where we later have lunch has a pool.

I have seen pix of a waterfall into this pool - must have been soon after heavy rain. No swimming but lotsa shade.

The narrow eastern end of the gorge - the GE WATERHOLE is down there somewhere.

The descent on the southern rim was more gradual (thank God!) and 3.5 hours from the start we reached the coach. JASON had returned from the creek walk in time to drive participants to the helicopter site were some chose an extra-cost overflight.

Then it was onboard for the short run (6km out to the highway; turn right, go another 10km) to the lunch stop at KINGS CANYON RESORT.

KCR seems a better option for canyon visitors than our breakfast stop, KINGS CREEK STATION - it's bigger, has a much better dining room/bar and campground incl pool etc. We had an hour for lunch (we pay). I had a toasted sandwich and beer - the price while high was more reasonable than at AYERS ROCK RESORT.

The drive home seemed less than 4 hours - ANNA and JASON kept us entertained with facts about the history and characters of the area in between silent periods to allow us more shut-eye. We had 2 stops:

1 - MOUNT CONNOR 

This ULURU look-alike is106 km west of YULARA. It's actually a mesa with lower areas protected from erosion by a hard cap of sandstone and is on the grounds of  CURTAIN SPRINGS station (our next stop). You can do paid tours from there or YULARA.

There is a dedicated viewing area beside the highway. Across the road is a sandhill viewpoint where to the north you can see part of LAKE AMADEUS, a salt lake which caused lots of grief to early explorers. 

2 - CURTAIN SPRINGS WAYSIDE INN 

Another 15km closer to YULARA, this roadhouse is the original homestead of the huge cattle station of CURTAIN SPRINGS -station and roadhouse developed by the SEVERIN FAMILY.  We stopped for abt a half hour - I had a beer which I thought reasonably priced given the isolation.

There are eats, drinks and touristy stuff to buy, pay showers and you can stay in pay cabins and the free campground (which is all red dirt - but hey, you can't complain about the price). Closeness to ULURU means plenty of RV people camp for free and drive in for a few days.

Back when I thought I could get a reasonably priced rental car I originally planned to spend a few nights here. COVID ruined everything.

It took the bus less than an hour to get me back to YULARA campground - late afternoon but in plenty of time for dinner.

THE BIG QUESTION:

Is KINGS CANYON better than ULARA/KATA TJUTA? Despite this claim from many I reckon it's about the same and  certainly worth the long trip. But wouldn't travel to the red center to see it alone. Note travelers from ALICE can come by way of the WEST MCDONALD RANGES which have many touristy spots. You save many kms coming that way but will need a 4wd.

From Yulara, if you haven't your own transport, the AAT-KINGS daytrip is the way to do it.

Note without a bus you will need a car at the Canyon - there is no accommodation at the canyon, and KINGS CANYON RESORT is too far to walk.

AAT also run an exxy non-daytour bus YULARA to KCR, but I couldn't work out how to get to the canyon from there. I'm a world class hitcher btw - but scarce traffic and post COVID caution ruled that out.

THURSDAY - DAY 7

I woke exhausted. I figured I had trekked over 50kms (many on steep/rough trails) the previous 6 days and the cramped tent didn't help overnight recovery. Scoffers cut me a break - I'm a 77 yo cancer survivor, not as durable as back in the day. So I determined to make this a day of rest. 

Well not quite - I did more laundry, checked the campsite's own viewpoint (not quite as good as the central IMALUNG VIEWPOINT but closer to my tent at 450m vs 850), then wandered across to the TOWN SQUARE via IMALUNG itself, for another plate of chips and a beer.

FRIDAY - DAY 8. 

DRAMA - arrived at airport to find flight cancelled - missed 6am Jetstar email because I haven't a smart phone. "We never have flight cancellations" the town square tour office had assured me the day before. I guess there's always a first time.

Jetstar desk girl booked me onto tomorrow's flight - took 2 hours to find me accommodation - this in a town the bus driver back in reckoned had 4000 spare bed because the hotter days of Spring were already affecting bookings. Go figure.

My digs were in DESERT GARDENS, one of the flash AYERS ROCK RESORT hotels on the circle. Positives include a big room, clean, well equipped, effective climate control which kept room temp at 24C day and night, comfy twin king beds, nice pool (kids assured me water cold) a good associated free art gallery and film theater, 5 mins walk to Town Square and a largely indigenous staff which seemed to do everything well. I witnessed a staff act of kindness not seen in 60+years of hotel stays.

DESERT GARDENS room big enough.

Negatives include a mouse in the room (probably my fault: left the sliding door to the back courtyard open too long), slightly temperamental hot water, carpets near replacement, gardens which didn't sock me in the eye and nose-bleed prices (the room tariff was 2 or 3 times similar places in Sydney, Surfers or Cairns; the food prices blew my $30 Jetstar food allowance in one hit at dinner - the shredded-beef burger in the bistro cost $30 alone. Leaving zero for the $14 beer to wash it down). And zero for breakfast next morning. I found out the nice looking buffet breakfast cost $40 - well above my pension grade. The IGA which has cheaper stuff didn't open until 10.30 but luckily the SHELL with its less exxy food was only an 800m walk (the Resort Shuttle which passes by the SHELL doesn't start starts until 10.30).

I figure either Jetstar's food voucher policy was formulated when it started back in '03 when $30 would buy both dinner and breakfast at the COOLANGATTA GREENMOUNT.....or.....big boss ALAN JOYCE doesn't eat breakfast.

SATURDAY - DAY 9

YULARA airport was a circus with 2 hr queue to check in and a slow, mega-pedantic security check. Consequently we took off 10mins late, landed even later due to near airport air traffic. Sydney airport a similar circus - bags slow to start coming out and my bag last out.

Trip home a bit tricky - trackwork meant buses replaced trains the first 35 km to Waterfall but Central Station inundated with footy fans going to a night game so info was poor, and train from Waterfall stopped every station and didn't exceed 60kmh. Consequently I didn't get home until 11.45pm after dragging my bag 2km from the station (and I live in a very hilly town) - LADY TEZZA was away from home and I'm such a tight-wad I refused to order a taxi. I mean 2km is nothing compared to what I'd done the previous week or so.

 

 

 

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If somehow you come across this report ((like, it hasn't even been indexed yet) it should be finished in a few days.

 

KIAMA

Rock and ocean (plus a beach nearby) - no shortage of places around KIAMA to jump into the water on a hot day.



ATTENTION - THIS PAGE HAS TURNED OUT MUCH LONGER THAN EXPECTED.
FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN DIRECTED HERE BY SEARCH ENGINES, THE FOLLOWING MAY SAVE A BIT OF TIME:
KIAMA COASTAL WALKING PATH - 60% DOWN PAGE
KIAMA POINT-HARBOUR-LIGHTHOUSE AND BLOWHOLE AREA -35%
LITTTLE BLOWHOLE 67%
SURF BEACH - 5%
KENDALLS BEACH - 7%
BOMBO BEACH - 10%
EASTS BEACH - 14%
BLACK BEACH - 16%
JONES BEACH - 30%
MINNAMURRA BEACH - 32%
WERRI BEACH - 78%
GEROA BEACH/7 MILE BEACH - 79%
MAIN ST - 22%
MINERS' COTTAGES - 25%
THE FLAT - 18%
KIAMA CONTINENTAL POOL - 20%
KIAMA ROCK POOL - 40%
KIAMA SHOWGROUND - 48%
KIAMA MARKETS - 80%
KIMA LEISURE CENTRE - 92%
GERRINGONG - 75%
GEROA - 80%
JAMBEROO - 83%
KIAMA HINTERLAND - 82%
CYCLING - 90%
ACCOMMODATION - 91%
WHALE WATCHING - 95%
ACCESSING KIAMA - 97%


There are many good day trip destinations out of Sydney. KIAMA is one. It has great beaches, a  beaut little harbour, a popular coastal walk, no shortage of eats/drinks joints, a full range of accommodation, scenic viewpoints, a nice hinterland yada. And we haven't mentioned its most famous attraction - THE BLOWHOLE (actually, there are 2). It seems a favourite with Asian and Middle East visitors - maybe because they get less hassle here.
Day-trip wise it has the advantage of being  just under 2 hour's drive from central Sydney (just when many drivers are figuring it's time to take a break), and a scenic 2.5 hour train trip.
This is a hilly town, meaning seaside places aren't the only ones with great views.

You are looking at 120km by road from central Sydney. Not sure how accurate that scale is - but understandable knowing the dude who did it. 

BEACHES 
KIAMA has 4 good beaches within walking distance of the main street and another 2 a short drive further north.

4 CLOSE BEACHES

1-SURF BCH   2-KENDALLS BCH   3-EASTS BCH   4-BOMBO BCH

SURF BEACH

This is the main beach. The shopping center is only a 5 minute walk north - the rail station 3. 
The building mid shot is the surf lifesaving club. This is backed by a nice park area (CORONATION PARK) which is a big destination for visiting picknickers and others particularly weekends. So too is the grassed area in foreground. Behind it is a council run holiday village with some very neat cabins with killer ocean/beach views. Note too the tents and caravans far right background. This is the showground #2 playing field which the council opens to visitors Christmas and Easter.
This beach faces SE, so picks up southerly/south-east swells (which tend to be the biggest swells on this coast) so it is not a bad surfing beach. At the same time the big showground-blowhole headland extending out of shot to the right protects it from north-east winds which are the most common here. So it is not bad north-east wind beach protection-wise.

Some of those Christmas holiday makers at showground #2. Showground #1 nearby is also used at busy times.

KIAMA SURF BEACH has lifeguards 7/365.

KENDALL'S BEACH

To the south of SURF BEACH (yellow arrow) is KENDALLS. It is protected on the south  (camera) side by long KALEULA HEADLAND so it is usually pretty benign surf wise. But I have seen a few big storm surfs here over the years.
Pastel purple arrow points at the council run holiday cabins behind SURF BEACH mentioned up page. Indigo arrow for similar cabins behind KENDALLS BEACH. There are also spaces for about 25 tents and caravans here. Orange points at more tents and caravans allowed by council at XMAS and EASTER on a big sports field between the beaches.

This group of happy campers on the sports field have a great shaded spot to enjoy a beer. Their tents are left out of image. Structure behind is the council-run campers' facilities. There is a really nice pool to its right.

Same beach from the north end. This is about as much sand as I've seen here - pretty typical actually because the beach is so protected. But occasionally (maybe averaging once a year) after a big storm there is only half the sand on most of the beach, with wave-wet silica and debris sometimes right onto the grass behind. The foreground area between those nearby rocks and camera becomes a lagoon with plenty of exposed smaller rocks. The beach can rebuild itself surprisingly quickly given a week of calmer weather.
The far end of the beach is a real sun trap in winds from the southerly quadrant - the place to head for on those colder days when the sun is strong. Even in winter.
This beach has lifeguards XMAS and EASTER.

FISHING AT KENDALLS
Beach fishing is popular with visitors. But over many years I have never seen one catch a decent fish. I used to swim the length of the beach frequently - saw few fish (once saw a big ray and once swam into a huge Portuguese Man of War stinger). The rocks near beach far end above are also popular and if you want to catch some of those bony, foul tasting muddy rock cods this is the place. However some local kids who are very good snorkellers spear some excellent fish near a bombora (treacherous shallow reef) off the end of the point - at least 300m from the beach. The end of the point is also popular with rock fishermen, and they are not wasting their time.

SURFING AT KENDALLS 
The protected nature of this beach means surfable waves of any size are not all that common. Great for families. However BODYBOARDERS work over a fun-kamikazi break at the north end when the southerly swell gets to a reasonable size and when it gets huge there is a rubbishy board/bodyboard break half way along the far rocks - the kind of wave surfers ride because it is rarely there, not because it is good.

BOMBO BEACH

Maybe 10 minutes north of the main street, this 1400m long strip of silica is where you want to go to avoid crowds and to get good surf (this beach picks up good swell and the far end is nicely sheltered from the prevailing north-easterlies).
The council provides a life guard at the north (far) end in the XMAS holidays. Not sure abt EASTER. There is also a parking area and change sheds at the north end.

BOMBO from a slightly different angle - you can see why the north end is so protected from prevailing NE winds with the lengthy BOMBO HEADLAND. There is shuttered bluestone (mostly basalt) quarry there - that area is best known for seekers of rock-encased fossils. 
A big wave surfing spot, the BONEYARD, is abt 3 mins walk north, and one of KIAMA town's less easily accessible beaches, KIAMA DOWNS BCH/JONES BEACH, another 10 minutes.
BOMBO RAIL STATION (abt mid-beach), the penultimate stop before KIAMA, must be one of the closest to the sand in Oz. 

BOMBO STATION - from platform to ocean here 100m. Less to high tide mark.

EASTS BEACH

This beach is about 10 minutes walk south of KENDALLS and 35 minutes walk south of the main street. You can drive it in 6. It's very protected with long headlands each side - as a result big surf is rare, making it an ideal family beach. No coincidence therefore that the area behind has one of NSW's bigger caravan/cabin/camping places, BIG 4 EASTS BEACH HOLIDAY PARK.
Although a private operation, I notice the council has set up a lifeguard operation at XMAS and EASTER the past few years.

I'm a bit short of EAST BEACH pix, so I pinched this one off the BIG 4 website.
The length of each headland shows why this beach is so well protected from swell and wind.

A 5TH CLOSE TO TOWN BEACH - BLACK BEACH

Technically inner KIAMA has a 5th beach, BLACK BEACH above, between the CONTINENTAL POOL and the HARBOUR. This is a BOULDER BEACH (although the boulders are more smallish rounded stones). Attracts fossikirs of all ages. There is a narrow park which is a popular spot between the path and the MAIN ST.

BLACK BEACH BAY stretches between the CONTINENTAL POOL (YELLOW ARROW) and the HARBOUR which is out of image near right. BLACK ARROW indicates PHEASANT POINT which has some magic views both this way and north over BOMBO BEACH. PASTEL PURPLE points at the old primary school which has been redeveloped into a pretty nice high end  hotel/resort. WHITE indicates the path-side stalls of the SEASIDE/GROWERS MARKET.
The MAIN STREET is close behind the nearer half of this bay.
It is possible to walk the rock platform near YELLOW ARROW around to BOMBO BEACH in the lower half of the tide if they swell is not huge.
YELLOW X shows the position of a surf break which only works in huge swells - another rubbishy wave only ridden because it is rarely there.
FISHING WISE - the only place I regularly see fishermen is around the YELLOW ARROW area. Ditto SNORKELLERS.


THE BLACK BEACH AND BLOWHOLE POINT AREAS

1- CONTINENTAL POOL   2-THE FLAT   3 BLACK BEACH BAY   4-BLACK BEACH   5-MAIN STREET.
My inadequate cropping tool couldn't exclude BLOWHOLE POINT so THE HARBOUR, LIGHTHOUSE and STORM BAY also feature well. For scale, it's 500m between the place-markers for 1 and STORM BAY.
NORTH of course is straight up.

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THE FLAT.
This is an ex-playing field which stretches between the OLD PRIMARY SCHOOL (now THE SEBEL KIAMA HARBOURSIDE - an upscale hotel/resort) and the CONTINENTAL POOL. These days it attracts joggers, picknickers and casual sports like a scratch game of footy/cricket. It is also the site of several MARKETS a month (see down page), a fun fair around XMAS and several car show and shines each year.

YELLOW ARROW - the Sebel:  INDIGO - the Flat:  PASTEL PURPLE - Continental Pool 
I modified this shot from one I pinched off DESTINATION KIAMA.

Not all that shiny for the show and shine. But cool. Car nerds will have noticed this is a V12.

That's more like it, shine wise.


The XMAS fun fair begins to arrive

No shortage of market stalls from both KIAMA SEASIDE MARKET and GROWERS' AND MAKERS' MARKET - each once per month but on different days.

CONTINENTAL POOL

Situated at the north end of THE FLAT. Looks pretty antiseptic, but this is a proper rock pool - has waves breaking into it on big seas days. 50m long, it is real popular with local lap swimmers and visitors alike.

That parking area to left is not directly accessible - has a steep 10m rise between. 
There are new change sheds along the lower path at left maybe 60m from the pool. Showers closer.

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MAIN STREET
KIAMA has abt 7000 permanent residents** + at least that many day-trippers each week. So the main street features what you would expect from a town of 7000 PLUS a lot of tourist-oriented joints. There is no shortage of food outlets (everything from fast food to fancy restaurants), boutiques and accommodation booking places. There is the obligatory pub and a leagues club.

**not sure "permanent" is the best term seeing that some streets have about 25% of the houses occupied by rich dudes from the Big Smoke, mainly on weekends.

The main street is TERRALONG STREET which starts in the east at the POST OFFICE ROUNDABOUT (A), runs 3 blocks to the MAIN ROUNDABOUT at COLLINS ST (B) where traffic from the north comes into town, and then runs another 700m further west where it dives under the KIAMA BYPASS and departs KIAMA for JAMBAROO. You can access the BYPASS for SYDNEY, but not to go south towards NOWRA.

Blocks 2 (B2)  and 3 (B3) are the busiest although there are other clusters of businesses (5 and  C[Miners Cottages]) plus a medium size WOOLWORTHS SUPERMARKET [and soon an ALDI] plus some mall-type stores (6) about 250m west of the main COLLINS ST roundabout.

Other map features: Akuna St carparks (7),  Rail Station (8). The popular park area across TERRALONG ST from B3 businesses is HINDMARSH PARK. BLACK BEACH and BAY show nicely around the NORTH indicator. THE FLAT can be seen to their north - although the CONTINENTAL POOL at its north end (just right of the Y of SYDNEY) is not real clear. 
KIAMA HARBOUR far right certainly is, STORM BAY far bottom right less so. 

MISTAKES - the "to Nowra" ARROW should be on parallel MANNING ST below the #5 place marker....
...the "to Jambaroo" arrow top left gives the impression the road curves. Not so, it is a straight shot past the BYPASS except for a roundabout just out of frame which leads to the QUARRY LEISURE CENTER (see down page). Once out of town, this road becomes JAMBAROO RD and is indeed very twisty. And hilly. Oh yeah, JAMBAROO is spelled wrong - it is JAMBEROO.
....and I forgot to put in a distance scale - it is 500m in a straight line between the place markers for "from Sydney" and "to Nowra"

MAIN ST isn't all that clear from the image above this - so here we have it from A (POST OFFICE ROUNDABOUT) to B (MAIN ROUNDABOUT WHEN COMING FROM SYDNEY.
BLOCK 3 which takes up half that stretch is where most MAIN ST stuff can be found

Blocks 2 and 3 tend to get pretty busy on weekends. Even weekdays sees quite a few visitors.

KIAMA gets a lot of day cruisers bike-wise, cycle-wise and car-wise. They tend to lap the main street and park. There are also several hot rod/street machine show and shines on the FLATS and the SHOWGROUND each year. A car nerd since the 1950s, I loved this '63 IMPALA.

PARKING - vacant curbside spots are limited on weekends. There is a free lot behind south side shops of block 3, accessed off AKUNA ST - this tends to fill too but there is a little known lot across the road which usually has plenty spaces.
Bus access is weird - there are no public bus stops in blocks 1, 2 or 3. You need to go up near WOOLWORTHS. But bus transport in and to KIAMA is not a big deal.
THE RAILWAY STATION is very convenient - only 200m south of the start of block 2 (and another 30m to BLACK BEACH). 

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MINERS' COTTAGES

Leading off the main street, the main entrance road into town, COLLINS ST, has a row of old miners' cottages (KIAMA was a major supplier of bluestone back in the day - still has a quarry a bit north at BOMBO). The miners' cottages have all been refurbished into touristy shops and eats joints. A very popular area with visitors.
If you are doing the COAST WALK and have come over the top of PHEASANTS POINT from BOMBO BCH, best turn left immediately behind camera to reach THE FLAT/BLACK BEACH. But you can also walk down past these shops, turn left into MAIN ST and access BLACK BEACH and the continuation of the COASTAL WALKING TRACK anywhere along it.

One of the more popular eats joints - HUNGRY MONKEY. I've seen people waiting for a seat in busy times.

One of several places selling touristy stuff in this strip.

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OTHER KIAMA BEACHES, TOO FAR TO WALK FROM MAIN ST.

 JONES BEACH AND MINNAMURRA BEACH

BOMBO BCH already mentioned is bottom of image - JONES BCH is immediately north across the rather big headland. You are looking at maybe an hour walk from KIAMA MAIN ST to central JONES BEACH - another 25 minutes to the south end of MINNAMURRA BCH. So these beaches are a bit of a stretch walking - better to access by car. Local buses go near, but are not real frequent. The train can get you within 500m of MINNAMURRA BCH, but you will have to swim/paddle/row the last few hundred meters to the ocean beach. There is no train station near JONES BEACH.

JONES BEACH KIAMA DOWNS
KIAMA DOWNS is a suburb of KIAMA but this beach is a bit far to walk from town. By car it is 5km/3mi.
I've never had much to do with this beach, so can't tell you about surfing, fishing or swimming. But it faces east and would pick up swell (the near corner would be most sheltered from the prevailing north-easterlies) and has an active surf-lifesaving club and a board-riders' club.

Not short at just under 1km. YELLOW ARROW points at CATHEDRAL ROCKS (see down page) not far short of popular big wave surfing spot THE BONEYARD. BOMBO BEACH is the other side of that far headland.

I was a bit short on pix of JONES BCH so I pinched this one off FIRST NATIONAL's website.
This is more a locals' beach - gets few tourists so is a good one for lack of crowds.


MINNAMURRA BEACH
This is a short distance further north - JONES BEACH can be seen from the top of the big headland the camera is on.

The inlet at left is where the MINNAMURRA RIVER empties to the sea. MINNAMURRA INLET is a popular swimming and fishing spot. 
MINNAMURRA BEACH at right is difficult to access - you need to swim/boat the river. Thus it is virtually deserted. The far end is a popular surfing spot called MYSTICS which picks up big southerly swell and is sheltered from the prevailing north-easterlies.
A small island called STACK ISLAND is offshore from the river mouth just out of  frame right.
Popular KIAMA GOLF CLUB is just out of image to the left.

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KIAMA HARBOUR - BLOWHOLE POINT AREA

Labels may be clearer if you can click-expand image.

Looking across at the HARBOUR/BLOWHOLE POINT AREA from the hill behind the CONTINENTAL POOL (YELLOW ARROW)  This is a 50m rock pool popular with lap swimmers and tourists. Visitors take in the sun on the grass near INDIGO ARROW which is the north end of THE FLAT.
WHITE ARROW indicates the popular BLOWHOLE POINT ROCK POOL (see down page). CHARCOAL is at the approx position of THE BLOWHOLE which s slightly the other side of the headland. The nearby LIGHTHOUSE is lurking behind those trees to its right. The council run KIAMA HARBOUR CABINS line the sea-facing area below. ORANGE shows harbourside CARGO FISH AND CHIPS - the HARBOUR itself is to its left.

A slightly different aspect. CARGO FISH AND CHIPS (YELLOW)   HARBOUR BOATS (WHITE)   ROCK POOL CAR PARK (CHARCOAL) and LIGHTHOUSE behind the Norfolk Pines (INDIGO)

CARGO FISH AND CHIPS

This place has a great position at the north-west corner of the harbour. In busy times there are at least a dozen outside tables near the birds. Those birds surprise me - there are usually more - all going "CHEEPS! CHEEPS!! CHEEPS!!!" Seagulls speak English?? 
Gets better - the local PELICANS often engage in the begging stakes. And some are BIG dudes.
You can get better value greasies up MAIN ST, but those joints don't have this outlook + the avian entertainment.

MOVING EAST ALONG THE HARBOUR

Lotsa private boats and commercial craft. 
The COASTAL WALK goes right along the harbourside. 

KIAMA HARBOUR from the east. CARGO FISH AND CHIPS is prominent in the middle-background.
 Abt 25% of those boats are CHARTER FISHING BOATS - these pick up customers particularly on weekends for a few hours of offshore drinking, telling lies and ..... occasionally fishing. Sounds like a fun time to me.

Local kids do the jump into the harbour thing on a hot day, near one of those CHARTER FISHING BOATS.

There are a few trawlers out of KIAMA, this is no commercial fishing fleet port. The few provide fresh fish to the FISH MARKET at the north-east corner of the harbour area.

The harbour has a good boat ramp which attracts private boaties from far and wide. These people are making use of the WASHING BAY a bit uphill from the ramp. Plenty of car and trailer parking adjacent this area.

FISHING AT KIAMA HARBOUR 
I see a lot of people dipping a line here. But I have never seen anyone haul a fish in. So I can't really say if this is a gun place to wet a line.

KIAMA ROCK POOL

Immediately east of KIAMA HARBOUR is this small but rather nice rock pool - very popular with locals and visitors. Has a fairly big parking area and change sheds.

Looking north across to BOMBO (north) HEADLAND - BASS POINT near SHELLHARBOUR beyond. 
In big seas, waves break into the ROCK POOL, making things a bit exciting. In the same conditions the wave you can see mid-left becomes surfable - but once again it is fairly rubbishy, only ridden because it is rarely there.

Nice area - you can see the CHANGE SHEDS and CAR PARKING - KIAMA HARBOUR CABINS just out of shot bottom left

You are not far from KIAMA LIGHTHOUSE here. The (BIG) BLOWHOLE is just out of frame to its left. 

The COASTAL WALKING TRACK goes by here.

KIAMA HARBOUR CABINS overlook the pool area, ocean,  and along the road at right THE HARBOUR. I'm gonna stay here one day.

KIAMA LIGHTHOUSE

This is right at the top of the headland. There is a fair bit of lot and street parking around but in busy times the council opens up the adjacent reserve for extra spots. 
The lighthouse is not open to visitors.


THE (BIG) BLOWHOLE

The BLOWHOLE is pretty adjacent the LIGHTHOUSE and really attracts the visitors. 

Ideal conditions are a big southerly swell and higher tide levels. Pretty benign on this day, but I have seen it pumping water higher than the LIGHTHOUSE. All people in these shots would get real wet.
Over the years, the bore has increased, meaning bigger swells required. 

Back in my surfing days we would amuse ourselves when no waves were around by jumping into the entrance cut - abt a 12m drop. Seemed like a fun idea at the time, but recently a 16yo girl badly injured her back doing same.

I had no pix of the BLOWHOLE in angry seas so I pinched this great one from DESTINATION KIAMA. You wouldn't want to be jumping into the entrance cut in these conditions.

Wow!

BLOWHOLE POINT extends a lot further out to sea than the BLOWHOLE itself. You can spend a 30+ minutes wandering around - longer if you are fishing (I counted 10 fishermen on the original - you may be able to see them if you can click-expand image). Whether wandering or fishing please be careful - and read my section on ROCK SAFETY below.

ROCK SAFETY
Dozens of rock-explorers and rock fishermen are swept to their DEATHS in Australia each year. Sadly KIAMA is not exempt. Some years back a dozen Asians were swept off those rocks above. Most couldn't swim. And there have been many other instances in different parts of the municipality. 
Some tips:
- if rock fishing always wear the compulsory life jacket
- beware of ROGUE WAVES which come along every now and then and can be TWICE the size of the average swell. This is what got the Asians.
- if swept into the water don't try to climb back onto the rocks - most deaths occur when people are smashed against the rocks, knocked cold and drown. Instead swim out away from the rocks. tread water (a minimal effort activity even the poorest swimmer can do for hours - if you can't swim at all you shouldn't have been on the rocks) and raise a hand in the air (the universal HELP signal). A surfer or competent nearby rough water swimmer will soon pick you up. KIAMA SLSC dudes and dudettes have been training for years to do this sort of thing and are itching for a chance to help. The club has a JET POWERED RESCUE BOAT, several OUTBOARD POWERED RUBBER DUCKIES and even more RESCUE BOARDS. Latest additions - several JET SKIS towing a RESCUE SLED. A RESCUE HELICOPTER is stationed at nearby ALBION PARK AIRFIELD and there are often NAVY 'COPTERS passing.
Even simpler, someone on the rocks may throw you one of the many FLOATATION DEVICES the council installed in tricky rock areas around the municipality after the Asian tragedy.
Don't freak about SHARKS when in the water - you have more chance of being struck by lightning than nibbled by a noah. I surfed for 40 years, often in the sharkiest places, and never had trouble.
HYPOTHERMIA shouldn't be a problem - even in KIAMA'S coldest winter water this will take several hours to kick in - you should be out and dry long before. 

SLSC dudette searches for a potential CPR partner. 
It is not a real good idea to ask if she needs a CPR practice-partner unless you are a sun-bronzed surfer-grommet (which I haven't been since the early 1960s) - these ladies are taught some very effective chop-sockie moves to disengage panicking swimmers who grab them during a rescue. Don't ask how I know this.

SLSC dudes practice rough water rescue skills

Council supplied rock rescue device. I can see one top of the headland 3 pix up page.

HARBOUR - BLOWHOLE POINT FEATURES MENTIONED ABOVE

H - HARBOUR   C - KIAMA HARBOUR CABINS   RP - ROCK POOL   L - LIGHTHOUSE
B - BLOWHOLE


LIGHTHOUSE TO STORM BAY

The BLOWHOLE HEADLAND
 - has quite a few activity zones.

1-council run KIAMA HARBOUR CABINS   2 -council tennis courts   3-MILK AND HONEY/DIGGIES cafe+TOURIST OFFICE    4-PILOTS COTTAGE MUSEUM    5-southern lawn area for picknicking etc. The COASTAL WALKING TRACK goes right along here to STORM BAY/
My inadequate cropping tool shows BLACK BEACH BAY far left and the BLOWHOLE far bottom right. The HARBOUR AREA also comes out well.

MILK AND HONEY CAFE (now DIGGIES)

When I last visited, MILK AND HONEY was still operating. But later DIGGIES from WOLLONGONG took over. They have the same great position with many outside tables and outlooks in several directions, but the fit-out of course is new. Go to the website.
This place is less than 100m downhill to the west of the LIGHTHOUSE and is a very pleasant place to spend time.

Given the position, cafe understandably popular.

KIAMA VISITORS' TOURIST INFORMATION OFFICE

This shares the same building as DIGGIES (nearer the road). Has a bunch of touristy stuff for sale plus can book you into accommodation, functions etc not only in the KIAMA area but just about anywhere in NSW. Lotsa maps, brochures and the ladies are a font of verbal information.

PILOTS COTTAGE MUSEUM

Immediately west of DIGGIES, this place is the usual time bandit in that you allocate it maybe 20 minutes and stagger our several hours later overwhelmed with info and the displays of regional history, particularly in relation to timber-getting, fishing and the basalt quarrying industry.\

The PILOT'S COTTAGE back in the day when the pilot did live there (lotsa bluestone ships loaded at the harbour, needed a pilot - a railway line from one of the quarries ran down the middle of the main street to those loading gantries).

PRESENT DAY

Sure has changed - lots more buildings and trees on BLOWHOLE POINT and closer. Note large DIGGIES/TOURIST OFFICE building directly behind PILOTS COTTAGE and the nicely positioned KIAMA HARBOUR CABINS mid-left. Harbour boats are way smaller now than the granite colliers - don't need a pilot.

STORM BAY

STORM BAY is back towards town and abt. 300m west of the LIGHTHOUSE which is lurking behind those far trees. It indeed can get real stormy - if you look at the aerial shot of THE BLOWHOLE 12 images up page, it is a turmoil of white water. But more often it looks like above.
I have seen a fair few SCUBA DIVERS here - I think a local scuba school uses this as home base.
 Snorkelling is also popular, and kids....

....like to play jump in the water off the rock platform middle-right in the pic above this.

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THE SHOWGROUND
This is immediately south of STORM BAY.

Actually there are TWO showgrounds - #1 nearest STORM BAY, and #2 adjacent the north end of SURF BEACH. The COASTAL WALKING TRACK goes around the sea-side of both - it's actually quite a drop from #1 to the ocean. Some good rocks there but mainly the domain of fishermen. Some rock jumpers closer to SURF BEACH.
It's 360m in a straight line between the place markers for STORM BAY and SURF BEACH.


AFTER CROSSING SURF BEACH and KENDALLS BEACH to its south, you then come to....


....LITTLE BLOWHOLE BAY (or DOLPHIN COVE as one overlooking airbnb place calls it).

This bay is between KENDALLS BEACH and EASTS BEACH. The camera is on KALUA HEAD which is KENDALLS' southern headland - and is looking south across the bay at THE LITTLE BLOWHOLE (see below) and MARSDEN HEAD which is the big northern headland of EASTS BCH.
The COAST WALKING TRACK comes via the camera's headland - then moves out to BOANYO AVE. to go south (those rocks are impassable - there is a big gorge (close right) leading into FRYERS CAVE which goes in so far I have never had the courage to swim up there even in the calmest seas. Some say it goes thru to just short of KENDALLS). 
The gorge is a favourite spot for ....

....thrill seeking cliff jumpers. There have been a few good rescues of these maniacs (the 15m drop's a little north of my comfort zone - even when I was young and stupid). Rock fishermen tend to get into trouble here too.

This bay gets a lot of rock fishermen - they seem to do okay particularly when Blackfish (Rock Drummer) are running (usually after a storm when waves are big, chopping up the plentiful weed near the rocks).
The bay is also good for snorkelling and scuba diving. Beside the usual fish/lobsters/crabs there are also ABALONE although they are a bit deep for snorkellers (strict bag limits for snorkellers  -scuba divers are not allowed to get them. Licensed abalone divers use air lines from compressors in boats - stay down for ages and take hundreds - but they always leave enough to regenerate). 
Abalone are delicious on the BBQ. 
I used to put in a lobster pot each night - often got zero, sometimes over a dozen. When they were around (less often than not) I knew several good cracks where I could grab them when snorkelling.

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LITTLE BLOWHOLE
This proves to be more consistent than the big blowhole and works best in a north-east swell which the big one rarely responds to - so it is always worth checking out.

Waves move up a gutter in the rock platform (CHARCOAL ARROW) and explode up thru a vent in the rock (YELLOW) from the cave underneath. Best conditions are in the higher part of the tide when there is a good north-easterly swell working (although bigger swells from the south work too). Pretty benign here - I have seen it blowing higher than the houses behind.

THAT'S MORE LIKE IT

The swell came up after I wrote the above - this is more like a decent blow. 

Audio has value - goes SWOOSH!! - kind of a cross between a jet and rocket engine. 

Note the VERY WHITE area between camera and LITTLE BLOWHOLE is usually a nice big rock pool with lots of small crabs, octopi,  and other rock pool dwellers. They are probably hanging on for grim death above, saying STREWTH!

One time a couple of school teachers decided to amuse their excursion class by placing over the vent one of those big metal ice cream containers the shops take delivery of bulk stuff from the factory. The blow sent it 25m in the air - kids diving every which way to dodge its landing. 

Jeez - those fun school teachers!

Another time I lost a lobster pot after an overnight storm - thought it might be in the blowhole cave so waited 'til the swell diminished and swam in for a look. Zero visibility - the cave was filled with finely chopped up sea weed - was like swimming in a huge tea pot. Never found the pot.

When waves break in the cave, vibrations often spread around the surrounding neighbourhood. One resident had to uninstall a brass door knocker because it knocked in response to the vibrations.

The COASTAL WALING TRACK goes right by the LITTLE BLOWHOLE then heads east (left above) around MARSDEN HEAD to EASTS BEACH.

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VIEWPOINTS

With so many headlands and hills KIAMA isn't lacking in good viewpoints. I personally think the view north across to BLOWHOLE POINT, the SHOWGROUND, SURF BEACH etc. from KALEULA HEADLAND immediately south of KENDALLS BEACH takes some beating. As does that from BLOWHOLE POINT both north and south. Not to mention the top of PHEASANT'S POINT north over BOMBO BCH or from the top of  MINNAMURRA ST just west of the MINERS' COTTAGES to the east over the HARBOUR and BLOWHOLE POINT.

Fact is, KIAMA has so many headlands and high areas with good views that it's hard to pick a winner

View over BOMBO BEACH from the top of PACIFIC ST.

But for most people the area's undisputed top viewpoint is.....

....SADDLEBACK MOUNTAIN LOOKOUT

SADDLEBACK is a genuine mountain (at least in Australian terms where mountains ain't high) - at 600m (abt. 2000ft) it's a outlier of the ILLAWARRA RANGES, the heavily dissected plateau backing this area.
The road up here varies from moderate to steep - gets REAL steep the last 500m which we see above. I have come up here often on a bicycle, but the only time I have ridden all the way was early in my triathlon period when I was younger and real fit. But I had to zig-zag this last 500m.

Not flat.


ACCESS - best take SADDLEBBCK MOUNTAIN RD which leaves the main road south thru town (the OLD PRINCES HIGHWAY) at the high school. After 1500m it intersects with OLD SADDLEBACK RD - turn left and go another 4.7km to the lookout. 
About 25% of this is steep, 5% very steep, 25% flat or even downhill, the rest moderate - I walked up here daily when training for my GRAND CANYON trek - carrying lotsa water and pushing a bicycle. Fanged back down on my pushy - tip: it ain't a good idea to reach the high school at warp speed when students are leaving for the day

SADDLEBACK MTN is an outlier from  NOORINAN MTN (right) which is part of the ILLAWARRA PLATEAU.

The top has walkways to several viewpoint areas.

This one looks south towards 7 MILE BEACH which stretches from GEROA (12km south of KIAMA) to SHOALHAVERN HEADS. That's MOUNT COOLANGATTA mid-background right. On a clear day you can see JERVIS BAY.

Just before the top, a path to the right leads to this north-east looking viewpoint. It was a bit hazy on the day of the pic - things might be clearer if you can click-expand image. YELLOW shows the position of BASS POINT near SHELLHARBOUR - INDIGO the cliffs of the ROYAL NATIONAL PARK just south of SYDNEY.
Note the lovely hilly countryside close to the camera. Classic dairy farming country although some farms are now hobby farms for retirees and rich dudes from THE BIG SMOKE.

One of the closer farm homesteads.

A western facing viewpoint looks towards NOORINAN MTN which is slightly higher than the lookout at 662m. A track starts near camera and leads across the lower saddle and then up on top of the distant area. From there you can join the trekking tracks of BARREN GROUNDS PLATEAU which go for miles. I did this 15 years ago - was up there all day.


LOWER VIEWPOINTS

There are several good outlooks on the way down the mountain. This one is only 1500m short of the HIGH SCHOOL, just where the road steepens in its descent into town. YELLOW points at BLOWHOLE POINT/KIAMA LIGHTHOUSE.

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KIAMA COASTAL WALKING PATH
This has become very popular with local and particularly visitors since the council negotiated with southern landowners and improved the south end of the track about 10 years ago. Prior to that it did exist - I walked the southern section with a friend abt 20 years ago (and have used the northern and central sections for more than 40 years): had to ignore crossing private farm property, climbing seaside cliffs and charging thru a railway tunnel back then.
There are 3 parts to the track: THE NORTHERN MINNAMURRA TO KIAMA section; THE MID SECTION THRU TOWN; and THE SOUTHERN LOVES BAY TO WERRI BEACH section. Each takes about 2-3 hours - the whole 3 can be done in one day, but ordinary trekkers will find one section at  time a good deal.

THE NORTHERN MINNAMURRA TO KIAMA SECTION.

If you have your bicycle, the paved part starts a little uphill from the spot in the pix below, off CARSON PLACE. You can ride all the way into KIAMA on good paved surfaces except at JONES BCH and BOMBO BCH where you should take the roads immediately behind.
If walking, you can start a few hundred meters downhill to the north at....

....JAMES OATS RESERVE at the southern end of MINNAMURRA INLET where the river enters the sea just out of frame left. The track goes over the headland in background, where at the top....

....you get a great view of JONES BEACH (KIAMA DOWNS). The best bet is to head along the beach (first INDIGO ARROW) and then take the road at the far end which goes up and along the headland (left INDIGO ARROW) where in the vicinity of the YELLOW ARROW (which also is the approx location of CATHEDRAL ROCKS (see next pic) it changes to a concrete path which goes past the big wave surfing spot (THE BONEYARD) to bring you out above BOMBO BEACH 2 pix down.
The MINAMURRRA HEADLAND WHALE VIEWING PLATFORM is just to right of camera.

CATHEDRAL ROCKS

Located about 400m south of the southern end of JONES BEACH (background - previous shot was taken high on headland far background right) is one of the most painted/photographed sections of the KIAMA coastline. Place has never whelmed me - but I guess the outcrop's outline does look kinda like a cathedral. Go online for shots in more sympathetic light.

THE BONEYARD

Best known for big wave surfing, THE BONEYARD is also a pleasant spot for a sheltered swim when conditions elsewhere are a little gnarly. This is because of the semi-enclosed nature of the "lagoon" there. 
The big wave take off area is actually just out of image lower-left - although there is not enough swell on the day of this particular GOOGLE EARTH IMAGE for it to work.
The area is accessed by a path leading down from the COASTAL WALKING PATH alongside the rail line lower right. The path and line are a good 20m higher than the water.

This is more like it - big swell at THE BONEYARD. I modified this shot from one I found at BEACHSAFE.ORG.AU - there is another pic on that link maybe better.
Beach in background is BOMBO. Structure in abandoned bluestone quarry is the KIAMA SEWAGE WORKS. The coastal walking path shows well in this shot.

KIAMA COASTAL WALKING TRACK - MINAMURRA TO BOMBO SECTION

1 - MINAMURRA RAIL STATION
2/3 - TRAIL START (see below).
4 - MINAMURRA HEADLAND WHALE WATCHING PLATFORM
5 - JONES BEACH
6 - CATHEDRAL ROCKS
8 - THE BONEYARD
Straight line distance from 1 to 8 = 3000m
Symbols may be clearer if you can click-expand image.

GETTING TO THE START IF YOU HAVEN'T A CAR

1 - MINAMURRA RAIL STATION \
2 - JAMES OATS RESERVE - abt 700m from station.
3 - CARSON PLACE - abt 850m from station.
There is a bus stop on the yellow route only 160m from JAMES OATS RESERVE. #71 runs hourly on weekdays, less often weekends. 
Straight line distance from 1 to 3 = 600m

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No shortage of route signs - this one at the north end of BOMBO BCH.


BOMBO BEACH. Once again walk along the sand. At the far end you can usually walk around the seaside rocks below the top half of the tide unless the swell is big. If so, take the road UP OVER the headland (YELLOW) which will dump you into KIAMA at the MINERS COTTAGES and close to BLACK BEACH.

FINISH OF NORTHERN SECTION - SOUTH BOMBO BCH TO BLACK BCH. KIAMA

1 - STH BOMBO 
2 - LOW TIDE LOW SWELL ROCKS ROUTE
3 - GIPPS/COLLINS STS. OVER PHEASANT POINT
4 - MINERS COTTAGES
5 - MAIN ST
6 - BLACK BEACH
It's 700m in a straight line from 1 to 6.

GETTING BACK TO THE START.
Train travellers from Sydney may not be bothered - they simply get off at at MINNAMURRA STATION and walk thru to KIAMA - there to continue the walk, explore the town or whatever.
Almost as easy for car people - leave vehicle near station, walk thru to KIAMA and then train back to MINNAMURRA. The alternative is the not-so-often bus - GOOGLE MAPS will tell you which bus to look out for.

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THE MID SECTION THRU TOWN. 
Take the path in back of BLACK BEACH, and if you didn't eat at MAIN ST or MINERS COTTAGES stop for a feed of greasies at CARGO FISH AND CHIPS. Place is more expensive than uptown but has great outlook - also beer/wine which is rare uptown. 

Then walk along the harbourside to the ROCK POOL, go uphill to the BLOWHOLE. Then go down the headland to STORM BAY, around the SHOWGROUND PERIMETER to SURF BEACH and then over to and along KENDALL'S BEACH. 

MID SECTION - STAGE 1 - BLACK BEACH TO KENDALLS BEACH

1 - BLACK BEACH
2 - KIAMA HARBOUR
3 - ROCK POOL
4 - KIAMA LIGHTHOUSE
5 - THE BIG BLOWHOLE
6 - STORM BAY 
7 - KIAMA SHOWGROUND #1
8 - SURF BEACH
9 - KENDALLS BEACH
Linear scale - 1400m in a straight line from 3 to 9

From there (KENDALLA BCH) make your way to THE LITTLE BLOWHOLE (maybe a quick diversion to the nearby v popular LITTLE EARTH CAFE for a coffee/snack/ the wine bar/art gallery up there is also popular - often has live music). 

Kiama Little Blowhole - needs lower tide level and decent swell to work best.

 Then head around the headland to and across EASTS BEACH, and finally make your way around its southern headland to the beginning of the 3rd section of the track at LOVES BAY. You may find the final few hundred meters easier to do on the roads adjacent the reserve.

MID SECTION STAGE 2 - KENDALLS BEACH TO LOVES BAY

From the top:
9 - KENDALLS BEACH
1 - BOANYO AVE
2 - LITTLE EARTH CAFE
4 - EASTS BEACH
5 - LOVES BAY
NORTH is straight up. LINEAR SCALE - 1900m in a straight line from 9 to 5. Click image to make numbers clearer.

GETTING BACK TO THE START
You could simply retrace your steps - but this is not the shortest route. That is to retrace your steps to the north end of EASTS BEACH and then take surface streets back to the MAIN ST area. GOOGLE MAPS is once again your friend.
People not wanting to walk will find the #126 leaves from a stop in KALANG RD only 200m from the LOVES BAY end of the central section. But that bus is not real frequent.

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THE SOUTHERN LOVES BAY TO WERRI SECTION

The council improved track starts at a parking area at the end of ELANORA RD KIAMA HEIGHTS. 

It's pretty clear where the track goes. I confess I haven't walked this section since it has been improved. But I remember lovely dairy country, some great seaside cliffs and rock platforms and various gradients up to pretty steep.


CAVEAT - the walk ends at WERRI BEACH and to access the beach and get to parking areas, bus stops (services are not very frequent) or to continue your walk to GERRINGONG STATION you need to cross the entrance to WERRI LAGOON. Normally this is no problem - 95% of the time the entrance is shut. 4% shallow because of minimal flow, but in rare times after heavy rain it is impassable. You have no real option but to retrace your steps north to LOVES BAY.
Open/shut status can be checked on 1300 654 262                             

Lagoon entrance certainly closed in JUNE 2020....

....as was the case when the GOOGLE EARTH satellite snapped this in FEB 2016

1 - walking path from LOVES BAY
2 - amenities block
3 - small parking lot (more curbside).

As can be seen above, there are rest rooms adjacent the small beach parking area at the end of the walk.
If you are hungry,  a fish and chip shop is about 900m along the beach road.
There are bus stops adjacent the FISH AND CHIPS SHOP (not sure which side goes north, which side goes south) - the #126 north goes back to KIAMA STATION. But google the timetable - they are not frequent.

KIAMA COASTAL WALKING TRACK ROUTE - SOUTHERN SECTION

This is the most rural of the 3 sections - you won't be trekking any suburban streets along here.
Total walking distance is 6km contrasting with a straight line distance between 1 and 2 at 3.7km

#1 is the start of the SOUTHERN WALK at LOVES BAY - #2 the finish at the amenities block NORTH WERRI BEACH.

GETTING BACK TO THE START
RE-WALING the 6 km route is one option. But that is pretty time consuming. 
A better choice for 2 or more with a car is to drop one half of the trekkers at LOVES BAY, drive and park at the WERRI BEACH end, start trekking north - and swap keys when meeting the other half.
Alternatively  you could walk one way and catch the train the other. BUT....
....GERRINGONG RAIL STATION is a hell of a distance from the end of the COASTAL TRACK - abt 3.6km. However most is a pleasant walk. Best trek along lengthy WERRI BEACH, turn inland and go up the hill to GERRINGONG MAIN ST, walk down it and turn right at BELINDA ST, off which you will find the station after 900m. A southward going 126 bus from the beach road adjacent the chips shop drops at a stop in BELINDA ST 500m from the station - this south-going 126 goes thru to GEROA BEACH further south which is the north end of 7 MILE BEACH and is a destination worth exploring in itself.
Alternatively you could catch a NORTHWARDS heading 126 and go right thru to KIAMA - either the main street/railway station area or (if you have left a vehicle at LOVES BAY) to a stop in KALANG RD abt 500m from your car. Ask the driver for the nearest stop to the start of the track.

GETTING TO GERRINGONG STATION

2 - end of walk, amentities block, parking
1 -chip shops, adjacent bus stops
3- Gerringong Whale Watching Platform
4 - Gerringong main street
5 - rail station
The straight line distance between 2 and 5 is 2.5km

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GERRINGONG - this township has the usual retirees, holiday makers and younger people who mainly work in nearby PORT KEMBLA heavy industries, in WOLLONGONG businesses or are TRADIE FAMILIES (bricklayers, carpenters, sparkies and other trades-people who work in the busy building/extensions trade of the region). Others of course.

GERRINGONG MAIN ST is a kinda mini KIAMA MAIN ST - quite touristy with several good places to graze. 

Main St. is fairly high above sea level so some places have great views from outside tables. 

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WERRI BEACH
Even though WERRI and adjacent GERRINGONG are within KIAMA MUNICIPALITY, I don't regard the beach as a KIAMA BEACH because at 10km from KIAMA MAIN ST it ain't exactly close.

Nevertheless this 1900m .long strip of silica is worth a look if in the area.
Council has spent big on a long narrow park like area between the beach and the backing PACIFIC AVE. I last visited on one of those magic, windless, sunny winter days - the whole town seemed to be out walking the paths, sitting on the grass or supervising kids on the many areas of play equipment.
Note there is a WHALE WATCHING PLATFORM higher up this headland behind camera.

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GEROA BEACH. 
This is the northern end of long 7 MILE BEACH. The village of GEROA too is part of KIAMA MUNICIPALITY, but at 17km you can't say GEROA BCH. is a KIAMA town beach.

This is shot from KINGSFORD SMITH LOOKOUT just before the main road descends to the area behind the beach.
Note that KIAMA MUNICIPALITY ends abt 3km down that beach - south of that is SHOALHAVEN SHIRE.
The mountain far right is MT COOLANGATTA just north of the SHOALHAVEN RIVER and east of NOWRA.

GEROA is a neat little town. Most of it is spread along the headland to left of camera - many places have great views down the beach. The CROOKED RIVER (more a large creek) runs into the sea adjacent the headland. The beach has SURFING SCHOOLS, good WIND SURFING and has a big caravan park just the other side of the river bridge. A popular big wave surfing spot is against the headland left of camera, but I don't know what access is like these days. 
If you want to explore the beach the #126 bus terminates at the beach holiday park - simply take one of the tracks thru the dunes to a pretty nice strip of silica.

1 - KINGSFORD SMITH LOOKOUT
2 - HOLIDAY PARKS
3 - CROOKED RIVER.
Straight line distance between 1 and the further 2 is 1km
Symbols may be clearer if you can click-expand image.

The rest of 7 MILE BEACH is largely backed by a national park until the town of SHOALHAVEN HEADS at the southern end. There are occasional picnic areas etc along it.

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MARKETS
KIAMA MAKERS AND GROWERS MARKETS - run the 4th Saturday of the month at BLACK BEACH RESERVE/THE FLATS.
So too does KIAMA SEASIDE MARKETS on the 3rd Sunday of the month.

Crowds vary - my visit was at a pretty quiet time but on busy weekends the stalls can cover half THE FLAT and line most of BLACK BEACH's path. This shows better on a shot below I stole from the official website.

KIAMA FARMERS' MARKETS runs in CORONATION PARK behind SURF BEACH each Wednesday.

Apples behind the sand. Sweet.

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THE HINTERLAND
KIAMA is backed by a mainly hilly hinterland - sure, the MINNAMURRA RIVER has some adjacent flat floodplains, but away from there you are looking at very undulating countryside. This is until you are abt 15km from the coast - then you hit the rather steep ILLAWARRA ESCARPMENT which leads up to the heavily dissected plateau given the name these days: the ILLAWARRA RANGES. 

The steep ILLAWARRA ESCARPMENT. View above of most the 15km of intervening hinterland is blocked by the high hill immediately west of town.

The LOWER HINTERLAND has quite a few points of interest:
JAMBEROO ROAD - this connects KIAMA with the village of JAMBEROO 10km west. It is largely twisty and hilly, tends to be a favourite with cyclists, bikers and car nerds. If coming from SYDNEY the  road by the same name 11km from ALBION PARK to the north is similar.

Drivers'/cyclists'/bikers' delight.

JAMBEROO VILLAGE - this is your typical country village, like BERRY (further south on the highway to NOWREA) was back in the day before SYDNEY trendoids discovered it.  For the visitor JAMBEROO has a lively pub, a golf club and several places to find grub. The local park is sweet for picnics - also has a POOL. 
JAMBEROO is 9km west of KIAMA.

The popular pub at JAMBEROO dates from 1837 - draws a good crowd on weekends.


MINNAMURRA RAINFOREST - this reserve is one of the southern-most examples of SUB-TROPICAL RAINFOREST. A deep gorge into the ILLAWARRA ESCARPMENT protects from the cold SOUTHERLIES and the orientation catches lots of rain. 

It's got the lot: a 4.2\km return path passing by tree ferns, giant emergents and all the other expected rainforest vegetation, ending at ....

....THE LOWER FALLS where you can swim if it catches your fancy.

There is a side track which leads to the UPPER FALLS - not many people go up there. It's kinda rough.
The ARRIVALS AREA has all the expected facilities.
Usual access is by car and motorcycle although this is a nice ride for keen cyclists. A local bus (#125) does come from KIAMA but only twice per day.
I must confess I haven't been up here for maybe 20 years, before which it was an annual thing - part of my schoolteacher excursion shtick (yeah I was a teacher for many years - one of many vocations). Writing this, I feel the urge to re-visit. To the rainforest - not teaching.
This area is 16km north west of KIAMA, off  JAMBEROO MTN. ROAD.


JAMBEROO ACTION PARK - this is the KIAMA area's water park. On the ALBION PARK to JAMBEROO road, it's 14km from KIAMA;  4km north of JAMBEROO.

Once again I haven't been there since my teaching days - how can this place be justified as a legitimate excursion destination? But according to TV commercials the place adds a new feature each year. Was pretty good way back - gotta be better now.

LOWER HINTERLAND ATTRACTIONS

K - KIAMA   AP - ALBION PARK   JV - JAMBEROO VILLAGE   JAP - JAMBEROO ACTION PARK   MR - MINAMURRA RAINFOREST
YELLOW is JAMBEROO RD between KIAMA and  ALBION PK
PALE BLUE is JAMBEROO MTN RD - is in the lowland hills until JP (JAMBEROO PASS)


HIGH HINTERLAND ATTRACTIONS - TOP OF THE ESCARPMENT
Getting a bit marginal here - many would argue that once you climb the escarpment on the narrow twisty and scenic JAMBEROO PASS you have left the KIAMA area. 
But the fact is there are some interesting attractions up there - naturals for KIAMA visitors with motor vehicles to visit. And not out of bounds for keen cyclists - I have been up there on a number of occasions.

ILLAWARRA/JAMBEROO LOOKOUT
The very short access road to the right is off the main road a few hundred meters past the finish of JAMBEROO PASS (it's about 20km from KIAMA).

This lookout is worth the trip - with a panoramic view from LAKE ILLAWARRA in the north to SOUTH KIAMA. Above is simply a section - YELLOW is STACK ISLAND at the south end of MINNAMURRA BCH - INDIGO points at BOMBO HEADLAND at the north end of BOMBO BCH.

BARREN GROUNDS - this largish area of BUDEROO NATIONAL PARK is on the inland side of the road to the lookout - a turn in to the BARREN GROUNDS PICNIC AREA is just off the road to the left a bit closer KIAMA - to the NATIONAL PARK PARKING AREA a few km further along the main road. This is the place for trekking - there are tracks leading many ways - some go to the eastern edge of UPPER KANGAROO VALLEY.

ILLAWARRA FLY TREETOP WALK

CARRINGTON FALLS
You are really stretching things KIAMA wise, because this place is closer to ROBERTSON (11km), a sleepy Southern Highlands town, than to JAMBEROO (22km), let alone KIAMA (30km). But if you have a vehicle or are a keen biker or cyclist and have a spare day when you want to explore the larger surrounds, this place is well worth the call in.
Note it is 5km north of the turn off to the ILLAWARRA FLY.

Not a bad drop where the KANGAROO RIVER falls from the ILLAWARRA PLATEAU into UPPER KANGAROO VALLEY. There are picnic facilities and viewing platforms at top and a several walking tracks which radiate from near the picnic area. There is also a camping area off the access rd. a short distance from the falls.

UPPER HINTERLAND ATTRACTIONS

The pertinent high hinterland places are along the PALE BLUE RD left half of the image but because my basic cropping tool is so crap I had to include a lot of lowland too - the right hand side of image. 
BGPA - BARREN GROUNDS PICNIC AREA
IJL - ILLAWARRA/JAMBEROO LOOKOUT
IF - ILLAWARRA FLY
CF - CARRINGTON FALLS
Others - R-ROBERTSON   MP-MACQUARIE PASS   AP-ALBION PARK  
JV-JAMBEROO VILLAGE   JP-JAMBEROO PASS   K-KIAMA
For a linear scale - the straight line distance beween ROBERTSON and KIAMA is 25Kkm.


THE BIG LOOP - if you continue another 6km north once back on the main rd (JAMBEROO MTN RD) you will come to the intersection of the ILLAWARRA HIGHWAY. Left leads to ROBERTSON (4km), Right back to the coastal plain via twisty, busy MACQUAIRIE PASS (ALBION PARK is 22km from the intersection). From ALBION PK you can go back to KIAMA via JAMBEROO, or go another few km east to the MAIN SOUTHERN EXPRESSWAY and turn right. Seems a big deal, but with a vehicle this is a good half day or more excursionb(depending on how many places you call in to). I have also done it on a motorcycle and bicycle - in the latter case CLIMBING MACQUARIE PASS is way easier than JAMBEROO PASS. So go ANTI-CLOCKWISE. 
NOTE - way back at the original intersection with the ILLAWARRA HW is the ROBERTSON PIE SHOP, well worth a call-in if you are feeling nibbly.

THE BIG LOOP

K-KIAMA   J-JAMBEROO   R-ROBERTSON   AP-ALBION PARK
JP - JAMBEROO PASS    MP - MACQUARIE PASS
YELLOW - Jamberoo Rd
PALE BLUE - Jamberoo Mountain Rd
GREEN - Illawarra Highway
WHITE - Southern Expressway (A2- Princes HW)
For scale - the straight line distance bewtween R and K is 25km
Total road distance around either loop is much the same at 73-74km.
This map is near identical to the one above it - you may ask why I didn't combine the two. Simple answer - I did this one first plus thought that putting both highland and lowland places on would overload it.

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CYCLING

At first glance a hilly town backed by a  hilly hinterland would not be good for cycling. But if you are keen, it is an excellent place to train - those hills really build fitness. The JAMBEROO ROAD tends to be packed with cyclists from SYDNEY and WOOLONGONG on weekends. Cyclists wanting extended flats for wind sprints will find them on the MINNAMURRA flood-plain along SWAMP ROAD off  JAMBEROO RD about 4km west of town.
For visitors not keen on mixing with cars and trucks, there are also several CYCLING TRACKS - I haven't used them much, preferring the road but details can be found here.

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ACCOMMODATION
KIAMA has a full range of accommodation with the exception of A BACKPACKER'S** joint. One near the station recently closed for a new development. Apart from that you name it, KIAMA has it - from several really good camp and caravan parks (thing about KIAMA's is that you can see the ocean from them - most NSW coastal parks are separated from the ocean by a  high foredune) thru rooms in pubs, Airbnb rooms/apartments/houses, plenty of the same offered thru rental agents, mid to high end resorts - yada.

**If you have read other pages of this blog, you'll be aware I am a budget traveller, always looking to stay low dollars. To this end I reckon BACKPACKERS should consider the 4 HOLIDAY CABIN PLACES in KIAMA - here 4 people sharing an ocean view cabin with all the extras will pay less each non peak than a bed in a crummy 16 bed dorm in a no-view SYDNEY street.

The front row bungalows of KIAMA HARBOUR CABINS have excellent water views - but all 3 other holiday cabin places feature many with ocean views. Tend to be expensive weekends and holidays but you can cut a bargain off peak.

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THE QUARRY LEISURE CENTRE and SPORTS COMPLEX.
This area is very popular with locals and visitors. The LEISURE CENTRE has a great 25m heated indoor pool and the building also has a gym, an exercise area and a big hall for balls/displays/basketball and gymnastic type stuff.
Outside the former quarry area has been converted into playing fields, a 400m athletic track, a skateboard arena and a big netball court area.

Heated pool ideal for lap swimmers 7/365 - also has aquarobics, learn to swim and is a popular area for kids' parties.

Skateboard arena - also hosts BMX cyclists. Athletic track to right.

https://heysports.com.au/01978999/Kiama_Quarry_Sports_Complex

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WHALE WATCHING
Thousands of whales migrate north and south along the NSW coast each year. KIAMA with its headlands and high vantage areas is an ideal place to spot them. Over the years I have seen thousands of them (no hyperbole). Some are kms out to sea (spotted because of the almighty splash after breaching), others much closer. I have seen them within 10m of the seashore rocks.
WHALE WATCHING is a seasonal thing - May to July they are heading north: October to November, south. It seems to me they are in less of a hurry moving south and are more likely to enter bays and harbours for a look-see.
BTW - if you see one moving the "wrong way" for the time of year, no worries: it is simply a sprinter moving back to join up with its mates.

Imagine the splash when this baby lands.
Another favourite trick is to lie on its side and bash those (sometimes 2m+ long) side flukes (fins) on the water. On still nights you often here them going BASH BASH BASH even though they may not be  near shore.

Note there are WHALE WATCHING PLATFORMS on MINNAMURRA HEADLAND at the south end of JONES BEACH and on GERRINGONG HEADLAND high above the south end of WERRI BEACH - but you don't need a platform to spot them. 

MINNAMURRA HEADLAND WHALE WATCHING PLATFORM

Some of the fishing charter boats do WHALE WATCHING CRUISES out of KIAMA HARBOUR in season.

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ACCESSING KIAMA
About 98% of visitors come in by car or train. Actually - given the hoard of cyclists and bikers arriving via JAMBEROO ROAD on weekends, my percentage needs lowering.

BUS ACCESS is not a big deal - sure local buses come in from the WOLLONGONG SOUTHERN SUBURBS and PREMIER COACHES run long distance coaches from EDEN (near the Victorian border) to SYDNEY via the SOUTH COAST and KIAMA, but although popular with far south coast folk, few people use them for KIAMA. 
KIAMA has a local bus service (KIAMA COACHES) - the services are not particularly frequent, but they may help people organizing transport to/from various parts of the COASTAL WALK and places in the HINTERLAND. 

CAR ACCESS can be quite pleasant. If coming from SYDNEY consider diverting the short extra distance off the M1 at the HELENSBURGH exit to take in the SEA CLIFF BRIDGE on LAWRENCE HARGRAVE DRIVE. Just short of this are great viewpoints at BALD HILL and STANWELL TOPS - each not far off the main route to the bridge.

Spectacular SEA CLIFF BRIDGE on the coastal road between STANWELL PARK and THIRROUL. There is a parking area at the south end which allows people to park and walk.

A longer diversion is to take the exit at LOFTUS in Sydney's far south to go thru the ROYAL NATIONAL PARK for some nice bush country and very twisty dirvers' roads. This can be shortened considering by exiting at WATERFALL into the National Park about 12km further south. Both these diversions go past/near BALD HILL, STANWELL TOPS and the SEA CLIFF BRIDGE. 

If you stick to the most direct M1 route  great lookouts can be found at BULLI TOPS and not far off the main route at MT KEIRA.


TRAIN ACCESS can be likewise spectacular scenery wise. Between STANWELL PARK and THIRROUL are some great sea views (sit on the left side of the carriage), likewise near KIAMA. There is some nice bush scenery for an hour or so thru the ROYAL NATIONAL PARK.

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ATTENTION - IF YOU SEE MISTAKES OR HAVE EXTRA INFORMATION, PLEASE POST BELOW. BUT ASK ANY QUESTIONS ON THE FORUM PAGE WHICH I CHECK FAIRLY REGULARLY - WHEREAS I REVISIT THESE INDIVIDUAL PLACE PAGES ONLY OCCASIONALLY