Keep everyone in the family happy with our guide to the best things to do with kids in Kiama.

The best things to do with your kids in Kiama revolve around making great memories. Parents who want to get their kids off screens will find plenty to do in the seaside village from wild coastal adventures to laid-back beach days and walks through the emerald-green rainforest. There are also adventure parks that parents are bound to enjoy as much as the kids.  Here’s the ultimate list of things to do as a family that will show off the seaside town, which won Gold in NSW’s Top Tourism Town Awards in 2024 and 2025.

1. Take a surf lesson

The hot ticket for families craving a seaside holiday is to sign up for a surf lesson. Create some magic moments with a private group lesson with Gerroa Surf School or Gerringong Surf School. The accredited instructors at both surf schools on the NSW South Coast will teach you how to paddle for a wave and pop to your feet. Surfing in Kiama is ideal for beginners thanks to its consistent, mellow waves and sandy-bottom beaches. Surfing is the perfect activity for beach-loving families who want to share the stoke.

2.  Slide into a good time at Jamberoo

For theme park thrills, go to Jamberoo Action Park, NSW’s largest family-owned and operated water theme park. Located in the hinterland, between the mountains and the sea, the watery wonderland has slides and rivers to wow kids and adults of every age. Don’t miss the Taipan, a high-intensity waterslide that plunges you into darkness at high speed. Brace for steep thrills in The Stinger but wear a wedgie-proof wetsuit. Note: there are some rides that come with a 45kg requirement.

3. Browse Kiama’s best markets

Take the tension off the throttle and visit local markets such as: Kiama Farmers’ Market, held every Wednesday at Coronation Park from 3pm-6pm during daylight savings and 2pm-5pm thereafter; Gerringong Rotary Markets, on the third Saturday of every month from 8.30am to 1.30pm; Kiama Seaside Markets on the third Sunday of every month, from 9am to 3pm; and Jamberoo Village Markets held on the last Sunday of the month. BYO eco bags.

4. Have a blast at the Kiama Blowhole

A recipe for family holiday heaven is to take your kids somewhere that will grab their attention. Kiama Blowhole is that place. The name Kiama has long been translated as “where the sea makes a noise". Wait for the ‘whoosh’ as the blowhole blasts wide-eyed onlookers with salty sea spray. The attraction, formed from basalt lava some 260 million years ago, has grown in popularity over the years. Time your visit with a southeast swell when the spout can shoot up to 25 metres in the air. Little Blowhole is also worth a visit.

5. Get some bread cred in Kiama

Continue to stretch your legs and head north along the Kiama Coastal walk from the Blowhole to Minnamurra River. Those with little legs will have worked up an appetite to refuel on berry muffins at Minnamurra Cafe.  You could also start your day with a freshly lacquered croissant from Parfait Patisserie. Or join the fervour for a gourmet pie or sanga from Flour Water Salt. Embrace the NSW South Coast’s slow food movement by picking up a deliciously chewy artisan loaf from Slow Dough (only open Friday to Sunday). The Hungry Monkey is the locals’ choice for burgers.

6. Enjoy fish and chips beside the sea

Cave in to that voice that whispers ‘you must have fish and chips beside the seaside’ and find your fix at Diggie’s. The bright, breezy eatery is one of the most family-friendly places to eat in Kiama. Order crumbed fish tacos for the little tackers. Penny Whistler’s is another popular local haunt for fish and chips with ocean views. And you can enjoy an altogether more leisurely seafood lunch at Saltwater Kiama where the signature dish of battered blue grenadier and chips is the go.

7. Enjoy a history lesson

Celebrate Kiama’s heritage with a visit to the Kiama Pilots Cottage Museum, built in 1880-1881. The Kiama Historical Society has done a stellar job of curating the collection on show at the Blowhole Point museum, which is near to Kiama Lighthouse. The museum starts by honouring the connection the Wodi Wodi people have to the land and sea in the Kiama area, with evidence of their presence dating back at least 12,000 years.  It also charts the region’s seafaring history, shares stories about shipwrecks and profiles local legends involved in everything from agriculture to tourism.

8. Get creative with a hands-on workshop

There are a lot of creative ways you can keep your kids entertained in Kiama, from Creative Beading to DIY Chocolate Rocky Road workshops. Check the Visit Kiama website to see the schedule of workshops for budding writers, potters, painters and candlemakers. The Bead Shack in Gerringong also has a regular roster of kiddie-friendly classes from bead-stringing to macramé. There are also beginner classes on offer at South Coast Ceramics in Gerringong.

9. Meet the makers

Get an insight into the creative scene in Kiama at The Collective Beat, which provides artists, makers, creators, designers, innovators and entrepreneurs the opportunity to sell direct to the public. The collective acts like a giant canvas, providing each artist with the opportunity to add their own colour. You will find everything from handmade toys and clothes to homewares and original artworks. Think of it as a treasure trove of items that celebrate Kiama’s vibrant community spirit.

10. Get lost in a good book

The Bookshop Kiama stocks a carefully curated selection of books that aims to please readers of all ages. It’s the kind of place you might wander into for five minutes and accidentally lose an afternoon. The kids’ section here is a cracker: stocked with beautifully illustrated picture books, junior fiction favourites and young adult fiction. Whether you are after a rainy-day read or a book to get a reluctant reader off the ropes, the charming shop has your next great read sorted.

11. Kiama Coast Walk

For the small effort of wandering along the Kiama Coast Walk, there are big rewards. The walk can be carved up into three sections: north, midway and south. The section that extends between the Continental Rock Pool and the Little Blowhole is one of the most kid-friendly walks in Kiama. And it’s great for families with prams or kids on scooters.

12. Journey to Cathedral Rocks

The distinctive saw-toothed spires of Cathedral Rocks can be seen from a range of different vantage points along the Kiama Coast Walk. The northern section between Minnamurra River and Blowhole Point is where you will find Cathedral Rocks. Nature has been the architect here and the resulting volcanic rock formation is one of the most well-photographed on the NSW South Coast. Encourage your children to sit and watch the birds wheel overhead and pause to take it all in.

13. Find your hinterland happy place

The Illawarra Fly Treetop Walk is also popular with families up for an adventurous hike and is one of the best things to do with kids near Kiama. Introduce the family to the practice of shinrin-yoku (forest bathing) as you wander along the walkway above a riot of sage green, jade and viridescent rainforest that shifts with the light. Those wanting to holiday closer to home can jump in the car and spend some time on the NSW South Coast.

14. See Kiama’s cultural side

The cultural calendar in Kiama has you covered year-round with reasons to return. Watch Kiama come alive for the return of this year’s Winter Street Festival, which includes street performances, interactive workshops and kids’ activities. The KISS Arts Fest will also appeal to the young and young at heart as the Kiama foreshore transforms with a jam-packed program that ranges from a hilarious raft race to a lantern parade in October. The Changing Tides Festival in December also has a gig aimed at 10–18-year-olds and includes acts such as Mallrat and Tones and I.

15. Spot whales from the headland

Kiama is not just a summer destination. Experience the very best of Kiama with kids over the winter months by heading to the whale watching platform at Minnamurra Headland. Have your binoculars at the ready to watch for migrating whales during the height of the season, from late May to July. The Kiama Blowhole and Gerringong Whale Watching Platform also provide great vantage points.

16. Go on a grand road trip

Kiama has joined forces with Destination Sydney Surrounds South for the Go Grand campaign. The idea behind the campaign is to promote the Grand Pacific Drive road trip as it bounces along the coast from Wollongong to Shellharbour, Kiama, the Shoalhaven and Southern Headlands. You can build your own itinerary or click on the carefully curated Family Getaway route, which loops in top spots such as Bangalay Luxury Villas and Cupitt’s Estate.

17. Go for a bushwalk

Tick one bush walk off at a time while visiting the Sydney Surrounds South region of Kiama, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven, Wollongong and Wingecarribee (Southern Highlands).  The region includes spots such as Boneyard, Minnamurra Rainforest, Easts Beach and Blackhead Reserve. As well as inspiring your children to look out for various birds and identify native flora, little explorers will get to experience the joy of bushwalking in Australia.

18. Visit the Southern Highlands

Looking for a special experience other than sitting on a headland and watching the whales go past? Head inland from Kiama and into the Southern Highlands to ooh and aah at Carrington and Belmore waterfalls. Pick up some local cider and visit the region’s cool-climate wines, which will help you get a taste of the terroir. It’s one of the most charming regional getaways to plot an escape to.