Pull your caravan into Kiama and set up camp for a relaxing but adventurous weekend.
When destiny calls, it’s often the coastal haven of Kiama that answers. Specifically, if you’re on an east coast road trip journey and you’re looking for the best Kiama caravan parks.
Whether you’re cruising in a motorhome, on a nomadic road trip with a car roof pop-up tent or seeking a great glamping place to lay your head, we’ve got you covered.
Surf Beach Holiday Park Kiama
Talk about prime position. Surf Beach Holiday Park looks directly over Kiama’s Main Beach, offers plenty of activities and has spotless facilities including a fab camp kitchen.
Kids will enjoy splashing around the pool.
It’s a quiet location, about a 10-minute walk from the centre of town and is also pet-friendly (conditions apply). It’s one the best caravan parks in Kiama and features spacious two-bedroom cabins which are great for families, cool campsites for stargazing antics, and ample space for your caravan too.
Soak up ocean views from your balcony at Surf Beach Holiday Park Kiama.
Kendalls on the Beach
Kendalls on the Beach , yes please. The team at Big 4 Holidays Parks sure knows how to cater for everyone.
There are great Kiama accommodation options for all types of travellers here. We love the powered caravan sites with ensuite facilities and the aptly named Ocean View Loft with the double-storey layout, ideal for an upstairs parents’ retreat.
Have a splendid time with your family at Kendalls on the Beach. (Image: NEG photography)
Sunny’s Aquaventure Park is great for the kids and there are seasonal family-friendly activities throughout the year. Note: this park is easy to navigate for those seeking an accessible caravan park in Kiama.
Pull your vehicle over the majestic Kendalls on the Beach. (Image: NEG photography)
7 Mile Beach Holiday Park
This spectacular holiday park is just outside (approx. 15-minute drive) from Kiama. You’ll find it between the northern end of magical Seven Mile Beach and the calm waters of Crooked River – which is a top spot for swimming and kayaking.
Glamping, camping and caravan sites sit alongside the forest backdrop of Seven Mile Beach National Park. Immaculate amenities, pet-friendly premises, BBQs, a swimming pool and a tennis court are all yours.
Travel hint: Crooked River Winery is close by if you’re in the mood for a wine tasting or just swing by and pick up a few bottles of vino to keep at your campsite.
Werri Beach Holiday Park
Beautiful Werri Beach is buffered by two headlands at each end, one has enchanting rock pools to explore and swim in and the other has a natural lagoon. This area is famous for fishing and surfing and Werri Beach Holiday Park is the perfect base for people who love marine-based activities.
There are grass and concrete caravan and campsites here and the park has excellent facilities and amenities such as a tennis court, a camp kitchen, a playground, an inflatable jumping pillow (kids love this one) and a resort-style swimming pool.
Kiama Harbour Cabins
Perched on Blowhole Point these coveted cabins book out quickly in the holiday season. But, even when it’s ‘busy’ this place maintains a peaceful, easy feeling.
The superb position of Kiama Harbour Cabins overlooking the Pacific Ocean makes a great vantage point for whale watching. Be sure to enjoy the nearby Kiama Lighthouse walk and stroll into town for gourmet supplies – then cook up in your self-contained kitchen and tuck in on your seaside balcony.
It’s a truly blissful experience complete with colourful birdlife and native gardens. Bonus points for its close proximity to the Kiama rockpools for swimming. Add it to the bucket list.
Killalea Camp Ground
Set up camp at the best bush-style caravan park near Kiama. Nestled in the subtropical rainforest, Killalea Camp Ground is the ideal base if you want to (and trust us, you do) head to the hills and explore Minnamurra Falls.
Be at the centre of an idyllic nature and beach landscape at Killalea Camp Ground.
It’s also super close (just a short walk) to famed Kiama surf breaks such as the Farm and Mystics. You literally have the best of both the bush and beach worlds here.
This idyllic Aussie campground in Killalea Regional Park (between Kiama and Shellharbour) offers plenty of shady sites to pull up the caravan or pitch a tent and spend a few nights. It’s an affordable option for those keeping an eye on the hip pocket too.
Set up your tent on the beach at Killalea Camp Ground.
Roxanne Andrews is a freelance travel writer and editor based in Yamba, Australia. Topics of expertise include; sports tourism, luxury travel, arts & culture, cuisine & dining, wellness, the adventure sector and all things marine. A professional scribe who occasionally goes gonzo to capture the moment.
Underpinned by grassroots hospitality and award-winning organic produce, the Central Coast’s gastronomy scene is thriving, with the region quickly becoming one of the best destinations in NSW for epicures.
Revered for its rugged natural splendour and laid-back seaside charm, NSW’s Central Coast has soared in popularity in recent years, becoming a top choice for an affordable slice of weekend escapism for Sydneysiders. Just a short 45-minute drive north of Sydney, it’s the kind of place that, no matter how many times you visit, leaves you with the sense that there’s always more to uncover. But while the ocean pools, bushwalks and beaches have (rightly) taken the spotlight, it’s the Central Coast food offerings which have been quietly simmering in the background.
From fresh-as-it-gets seafood and juicy organic citrus you can pluck yourself, through to regenerative farming and reputable farm-to-fork dining, this coastal gem has become an idyllic foodie mecca. Here are some of the best ways to immerse yourself in grassroots hospitality and gastronomic glory on the NSW Central Coast.
From picking your own, to farm-to-table, discover the best Central Coast food experiences. (Image: Remy Brand)
Central Coast oyster experiences
From humble grub to opulent delicacy, oysters have ascended into a league of their own. Epicureans are fascinated by them – willing to pay upwards of $35 per dozen (double at some of Sydney’s reputable fine dining restaurants) – and ‘shuck bars’ seem to be popping up at every milestone celebration.
But it’s rare to find places that really draw back the curtain on how they’re farmed and why everyone is mad for these molluscs. The Central Coast , however, is home to several of these venues. With its pristine waters, mild climate and nutrient-rich estuaries, it’s the perfect breeding ground for oysters.
Learn about oyster farming and, importantly, how to shuck them at Sydney Oyster Farm Tours . Nestled on the Hawkesbury River at Mooney Mooney, Sheridan Beaumont and her team offer a hands-on foodie experience where you can feast on dozens of oysters (white tablecloth and all) while wading through the calm waters. You can even bring your own bottle of bubbles to wash them down.
Learn tricks of the trade at Sydney Oyster Farm Tours. (Image: Remy Brand)
Elevate your oyster knowledge even further by heading north over the Hawkesbury River Bridge to the Hawkesbury River Oyster Shed . Tour their scenic oyster leases and saltwater paddocks by boat to uncover the distinct characteristics of the Sydney rock oyster and creamy Pacific oyster. They’ve also partnered with Broken Bay Pearl Farm to offer a one-of-a-kind oyster and pearl farming guided tour, showcasing the Central Coast’s very own pearl oyster, the Broken Bay ‘Akoya’. But if you’re simply in the mood to devour a dozen delectable oysters while soaking in the tranquil river views, pull up a chair at the shed. It’s friendly in every sense of the word: pets, families and BYO welcome.
Taste freshly shucked oysters at Broken Bay Pearl Farm. (Image: James Horan)
Central Coast farms to pick your own fruit
While the Central Coast is known for its breathtaking 40 beaches and 80-kilometre coastline, its lush hinterland is equally impressive – abundant with orchards and agriculturally rich farmland. And when it comes to the simple joy of picking your own fruit, the Central Coast is a ripe playground.
Family-owned Meliora Farm at Peats Ridge is an orchard that blends conventional, biodynamic and organic philosophies. Third-generation farmer Tim Kemp and his wife Elise are dedicated to honouring the family legacy by growing a rich variety of oranges, lemons, limes, mandarins and avocados. In late May, roam the sustainable and nutrient-dense property during ‘Pick Your Own’ weekends.
Eastcoast Beverages is another bountiful citrus orchard boasting over 60 hectares of fruit. From June you can learn about the cultivation of high-quality ingredients – like lemons, limes, grapefruit and oranges – by touring both the farm and factory before setting out and picking your own straight from the source. You can also sample an array of citrus-inspired sweet and savoury treats at their on-site cafe, Bambino’s .
If it’s just juicy oranges you’re after, Cedar Farm in Dooralong is a must-visit. Located about 30 minutes north of Peats Ridge, it features 15 flourishing orchards and over 3000 orange trees – with take-home bags during the season (from July) at low prices. Not bad for a fruity weekend haul.
Pick your own citrus fruits on the Central Coast. (Image: James Vodicka)
Organic dining
What makes the Central Coast hinterland so special is the unwavering respect the communities have for their cherished backyard. Locally owned and operated farms are all striving for more sustainable practices and methods to both enhance biodiversity and reduce environmental impact, each with a heartwarming food philosophy.
The Food Farm in Wyong Creek believes good food is worth both the work and the wait. Devoted to regenerative farming, first-generation ‘farmily’ Tim Eyes and Hannah Greenshields are recognised for their grass-fed, grass-finished beef and pasture-raised, gold medal-winning chickens. With an open gate policy, The Food Farm encourages visitors to swing by and try some of their slow-grown produce at their small ‘honesty’ farm shop. With no staff, you can pick up a few quality cuts of meat and pasteurised eggs, leaving the owing amount in cash or via eftpos.
Keeping the spirit of generational organic farming alive is Fanelli Organics . Nestled in the Central Coast’s scenic and sleepy Mangrove Mountain, founders Eden and Louise Fanelli own over 45 hectares of plentiful farmland and orchards that produce a huge range of organic fruit and vegetables, like purple Dutch carrots, blood oranges, broccoli and Tuscan kale. A true home-grown operation, Fanelli Organics shares its fresh produce with local restaurants and community markets, including the beloved markets at Like Minds Cafe at Avoca Beach every Wednesday afternoon.
See where your food comes from at Fanelli Organics.
Paddock-to-plate dining
High-quality ingredients go hand in hand with premium dining, and the Central Coast is home to several paddock-to-plate restaurants that showcase its diverse and rich agriculture. Paired with warm, grassroots hospitality, there are culinary triumphs, new menus and revered chefs constantly popping up, putting the local dining scene firmly on the map.
Award-winning Mount White restaurant Saddles is a quintessential Australian dining destination, dedicated to country-style cooking and seasonal produce. Nestled in thick bushland with wraparound verandahs, floral gardens and an idyllic dam, the gourmet homestead and bakehouse is unlike any restaurant on the Central Coast. Here, head chef Reece Collins and his team serve up an impressive breakfast and lunch menu that oozes rustic charm. Pull up a comfy armchair on the expansive deck, listen to birdsong, and tuck into flavoursome dishes like the farmhouse Benedict with honey-cured ham, lemon myrtle hollandaise and Warrigal gremolata, or the hearty beef brisket pie with confit garlic potato purée and rainbow chard.
Taste country-style cooking at Saddles. (Image: Destination NSW)
Delivering a slice of sophistication and luxury to the shores and bushland of Bouddi Peninsula is Bells at Killcare . One of the few boutique resorts on the Central Coast, it’s known for its premium service and five-star suites, as well as its bountiful kitchen gardens that boast an orchard, olive trees, avocado trees, free-range hens and a honey bee hive.
Cameron Cansdell has returned to Bells at Killcare as head chef, bringing his expertise to the casual yet refined menus that feature a raw bar with Oscietra caviar, freshly shucked Sydney rock oysters and Moreton Bay bugs, all served alongside optional matched wines. Sample some of Australia’s best regional wines and standout dishes, like roasted Wollemi duck with grilled leeks, rocket, grilled grapes and 10-year-aged balsamic, or the shareworthy salt-crusted snapper with herb salad and salsa, before roaming the picturesque gardens, wine in hand.
Sample incredible wine, cocktails and dishes at Bells At Killcare. (Image: Nikki To)
