Skip the school holiday period and Kiama slows down with empty coastal trails, ocean pools and farm stays scattered in the hills.
Follow the Grand Pacific Drive around a curve of the NSW coastline and Kiama comes into view. The fields and farms funnel down from the crest of a hill on Dharawal Country to reveal the turquoise sea stretched out to the horizon, light winking off the water.
Less than two hours south of Sydney, the coastal village of Kiama, on the Traditional Lands of the Wodi Wodi people, is an easy escape from the city for a midweek jaunt.
Outside the school holidays and busy summer weekends, the seaside village slows to a gentle pace along the Kiama Coast Walk, where most people striding past are friendly locals.
Walk along the coast
Cool off at the Blowhole Point Rock Pool. (Credit: Destination NSW)
The Kiama Coast Walk snakes along the coastline for some 20 kilometres between the Minnamurra River and Gerringong’s Werri Beach in three sections of around five to eight kilometres, linking beaches, headlands, farmland and town in a single journey.
Near Jones Beach, the volcanic sea stacks of Cathedral Rocks huddle together between sea and sky to form giant churches and steeples carved from columnar basalt.
The coastline curves around Kendalls Beach, Kiama. (Credit: Destination NSW/Mark Fitzpatrick)
Aside from listening to the boom of the blowholes during a big swell, visitors can enjoy the theatre of spotting humpbacks cruising past the whale-watching platforms at Minnamurra and Gerringong between May and November.
Back in town, the ocean pool at Blowhole Point seems to decide the town’s daily rhythm, with early regulars swimming laps beneath Kiama Lighthouse. For tired legs, Wellness & Recovery Haus on Manning Street has float pods and infrared saunas.
Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.
AI Prompt
The seaside town’s best dining spots
Drink in stunning views from Diggies Kiama. (Credit: Nikki To)
In Kiama, the ocean is always clawing at the coast. Diggies, on Blowhole Point, serves breakfast, brunch and lunch with a side of crashing waves. Silica, on Surf Beach, grows much of its own produce and shucks oysters to order.
Head to Silica for seafood.
Meanwhile, Miss Arda does Middle Eastern-inspired share plates and low-lit Little Betty’s pours small-production Australian wines. In Gerringong, The Hill Bar & Kitchen looks straight down over Werri Beach and The Co-Op has turned a heritage building’s courtyard into the place for long lunches.
Exploring inland: from walks to waterfalls
Enjoy nature views at Minnamurra Rainforest Centre, Budderoo National Park. (Credit: Destination NSW)
Inland, the roads through Jamberoo wind past dairy farms and fields to the Minnamurra Rainforest Centre, where the Lyrebird Loop Walk crosses Minnamurra River on suspension bridges.
Higher up, Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventures puts walkers in the canopy and Carrington Falls tumbles dramatically off the plateau.
Weekly travel news, experiences insider tips, offers, and more.
Adorable accommodation in Kiama
Stay at Cicada Luxury Camping. (Credit: Destination NSW)
As the light fades, follow the road winding back through farmland and into the hills, which are dotted with great places to stay for the night. The cottages at Jamberoo Valley Farm have hot tubs facing the valley.
Adults-only Cicada Luxury Camping in Jerrara pairs safari tents with outdoor baths and firepits. And Greyleigh, a former dairy estate that sleeps 18, is well suited to large gatherings.
Rise with the sun at Greyleigh, Kiama. (Credit: Destination NSW)
Ripples and reflections at Greyleigh. (Credit: Destination NSW)
On my last morning in Kiama, I walk out to Blowhole Point. The car park is almost empty. A deep thud rises from beneath the rock ledge, pockmarked with rock pools, then a column of white water hangs in the air before collapsing into the sea.
The Aboriginal name, Kiarama, is often translated as ‘place where the sea makes a noise’. And while that booming, immersive nature show is what brings people here, it’s the quiet in between that brings them back.
Want to see more stories from Australian Traveller in your Google search results?
Tick the box next to "Australian Traveller". That's it.
Carla Grossetti has written across print and digital for Australian Traveller and International Traveller for more than a decade and has spent more than two decades finding excuses to eat well and travel far. A prestigious News Corp cadetship launched her career at The Cairns Post, before a stint at The Canberra Times and The Sydney Morning Herald gave way to extended wanders through Canada, the US, Mexico, Central America, Asia and Europe. Carla was chief sub editor at delicious and has contributed to Good Food, Travel & Luxury, Explore Travel, Escape. While living in London, Carla was on staff at Condé Nast Traveller and The Sunday Times Travel desk and was part of the pioneering digital team at The Guardian UK.
The outback is calling, and the adventure is made all the easier with this hot new AAT Kings’ tour.
It’s the desert palette of rust-red earth and vast cobalt sky that calls you at first, for where better to get away from it all than the outback? Of course, once you start driving, taking note of all the weathered pubs, dusty tracks and tiny towns held together with humour, resilience and more corrugated iron than ever deemed possible, something else grabs a hold of you: the idea that far from the celebrated icons and landmarks associated with Australia, you’re finally immersed in an authentic slice of local life that few have ever experienced.
Ancient landscapes, proud pastoral histories, ghost towns, culinary powerhouses and a rich Indigenous heritage; there are plenty of facets to life on the land. The best way to experience all of the above with both ease and like-minded friends? AAT Kings’ new Outback New South Wales Adventurer, a 9-day small group tour. This Sydney-return itinerary is designed to connect travellers not only with iconic outback destinations, but with the characters, culture and experiences that bring each place to life.
Highlights? The Adventurer has more than a few, but here are eight to start.
1. Broken Hill
See the striking art at Living Desert and Sculptures. (Credit: Destination NSW)
Welcome to Broken Hill, where mining history, outback eccentricity and a surprisingly rich arts scene unite in a rusty desert landscape. In Australia’s first heritage-listed city, exploration is quickly rewarded. Begin with a guided walking tour taking in the city’s grand Victorian and Art Deco architecture. Later, enjoy visits to both the Broken Hill City Art Gallery and the Living Desert and Sculptures – the perfect place to enjoy the changing colours of an outback sunset. Of course, no visit to Broken Hill is complete without a stop at the historic Palace Hotel Broken Hill, famous for its role in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Happily, it makes for the perfect spot for dinner.
2. White Cliffs
Strap on your hardhat and head underground. (Credit: Destination NSW)
Strap on your hardhat and start spending your imaginary fortunes; White Cliffs, Australia’s oldest commercial opal field, is begging you to come in search of rare pineapple opals. Admittedly, you’re much more likely to find white opals, but the true gems of White Cliffs – where much is built underground to escape the desert heat – are everywhere.
Here, you’ll descend 13.5 metres underground into a working mine to learn about the region’s heritage, and observe how miners continue the search for these prized gemstones. Perhaps you’ll even find a couple yourself?
3. Mungo National Park
Spend time in the striking, lunar-like landscape of Mungo National Park. (Credit: Destination NSW)
With its lunar-like landscape made up of ancient, dried lake basins and sculpted sand and clay formations, a drive into UNESCO World Heritage-listed Mungo National Park is somehow two things all at once: uniquely Australian with vast outback skies, and somehow otherworldly, as though you’ve been dropped off by spaceship. At its heart lies the iconic Walls of China, a 30-kilometre sand-and-clay lunette shaped by thousands of years of erosion.
Understanding more than 40,000 years of Barkindji, Mutthi Mutthi and Ngiyampaa history begins with a visit to the Visitor Centre, and concludes with a sunset tour led by local Aboriginal guides. A key experience? Learning about the discovery of Mungo Man and Mungo Lady. At 40,000+ years old, these are among the oldest human remains found anywhere in the world.
4. Kinchega National Park
Meet the locals of Kinchega National Park. (Credit: Destination NSW)
Some come to Kinchega National Park for its iconic Darling River landscapes full of birdlife and haunting river red gums; others visit for its rich First Nations and pastoral history. Your visit will encompass all of the above, with a guided tour (part of AAT Kings’ MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience) designed to give a deeper understanding of Barkindji cultural heritage, history and traditions.
Walk with local guide David as he shares ancestral knowledge and creation stories, and explains how native plants – through bush food and bush medicine – have sustained Indigenous communities for thousands of years. Then sit back and enjoy those views alongside native tea and sweet treats.
5. Griffith
Treat your tastebuds to ‘the food bowl of Australia’. (Credit: Destination NSW)
How can you say no to a visit to a destination widely regarded as ‘the food bowl of Australia’? Shaped by fertile farmland and home to approximately 75 per cent of New South Wales’ wine grapes, this is a day to roll up your sleeves and enjoy the best gastronomy the state has to offer. Think vineyards, cellar doors, cafes and restaurants largely shaped by its multicultural heart (Griffith is not only home to over 60 nationalities, but has the highest proportion of Italian ancestry anywhere in Australia).
6. Mudgee
Visit some of Mudgee’s best wineries. (Credit: Destination NSW)
Nestled by the Cudgegong River, Mudgee packs a big punch for a heritage country town, having carved a reputation for itself as one of the country’s leading (and award-winning) wine regions, a key epicurean destination, and a regional arts centre growing in both visibility and vibrancy.
Take a moment to enjoy the town’s 19th-century charm before heading to Lowe Family Wine Co. for a guided tasting of organic and biodynamic wine, followed by a relaxed lunch featuring a feast of homegrown and local produce. Will you walk away with bottles of Mudgee’s iconic reds under your arms? It’s a distinct possibility.
7. Silverton
See the living ghost town of Silverton.(Credit: Destination NSW)
A once-booming silver mining hub, the dystopian setting for Mad Max 2, and now a tranquil settlement that’s home to around 50 people; Silverton is considered a living ghost town and remains a sight to behold.
Take time to explore its heritage streets (and perhaps take a look at the quirky Mad Max 2 Museum) and the Silverton Hotel, an iconic outback pub, before a visit to Silverton Gaol & Historical Museum. It’s home to a wealth of colonial artefacts, early mining equipment and stories from the outback’s pioneering past which will serve to anchor you firmly in place.
8. Shear Outback
Get a glimpse behind the wool curtain. (Credit: Destination NSW)
If you ever find yourself singing, “click go the shears boys, click, click, click…”, you’ve come to the right place. Shear Outback, an award-winning tourist and education attraction located in Hay, brings to life the traditions and stories of one of the outback’s most enduring industries: sheep shearing.
Here, in the heart of the Riverina, you’ll enjoy live shearing demonstrations, meet the shearers, shedhands, sheepdogs and yes, sheep, who come together to show guests exactly what it takes to provide Australians with all that glorious wool.
