Bombo Headland Quarry, BomboCredit: Destination NSW
Capture the perfect photo of the basalt columns at Bombo Headland, Kiama.
#lovensw #newsouthwales
The New South Wales South Coast region of Kiama offers an abundance of holiday fun, from secluded beaches to breathtaking mountain lookouts — and all about two hours’ drive from Sydney. Stretching inland from Jamberoo across to Kiama town and down to Gerringong and Gerroa, it’s a small pocket of South Coast paradise to explore. Its pristine national parks draw walkers and nature lovers, while its café-dining scene buzzes with each new addition. The chefs of the South Coast make good use of the bounty of the area’s rich farmlands. There are also some big and sometimes surprising attractions. As well as the Kiama Blowhole, here’s 10 more reasons to visit the region:
Swim by the sea in an ocean rock pool
A well-kept secret is the Gerringong Boat Harbour Rock Pool, a beautiful ocean pool perfect for families. Just a short walk from the boat ramp, the small harbour was used in the 19th century for shipping red cedar from the South Coast to Sydney. Kids will love spotting fish in the clear waters beneath them.
On the other side of the headland at Werri Beach, Ourie Rock Pool is popular with lap swimmers who like the challenge of the natural waves. Nearby there’s a mini wading pool that feels like an oceanside jacuzzi.
Try to pick a favourite from the buzzing cafés
Food lovers will delight in Kiama’s café-restaurant scene. Drop into Penny Whistlers for a meal with a view overlooking Kiama Harbour, or Diggies, which is located right on Blowhole Point. Former Ottolenghi chef Emily Herbert has started to build a mini empire of her own in Kiama; her Otis Deli has taken off with Middle Eastern-inspired salads since opening in 2020, as has meze bar Miss Arda. Also in Kiama, The Hungry Monkey specialises in hand-crafted burgers made with local Angus beef, while the Saturday-night tasting menu at Silica makes for a special night out. The all-day menu at The Brooding Italian café, near Kendalls Beach, offers healthy and hearty options, with great salads and tempting pancake stacks.
Just 10 minutes’ drive north of Kiama, and handy to Jones Beach, the new Fish Tribe specialises in fresh and sustainable seafood and is run by the owners of the popular Stacks Burger House next door. Head to The Hill Bar and Kitchen, a 10-minute drive south of Kiama, to enjoy a sundowner overlooking Werri Beach. Another five minutes down the road, you’ll dine on some of the best fish and seafood dishes around at The Blue Swimmer on the Gerroa foreshore.
Spot a lyrebird in the region’s rainforests
Jamberoo’s Budderoo National Park is known for its gorgeous waterfalls and lookouts. Walk the 1.6km Rainforest Loop, which starts and end at the Minnamurra Rainforest Centre and offers some memorable birdwatching opportunities. Or stroll the Falls walk (2.6km return), an elevated, paved track with views over the rainforest canopy and canyon, where you can feel the spray of the Minnamurra Falls from the viewing platforms.
Browse the boutiques in their cute historic cottages
Meander through Kiama’s Historic Terrace Houses, a block of National Trust-classified homes built in 1886 on Collins Street, which today house a unique selection of crafts, collectables, clothing stores and more. Head to Embellish Kiama for a curated selection of fashion and accessories and Vogue Decor or Indigo Rose Home Living for homewares.
Ourie Pool, Gerringong Credit: Destination NSW
Scenic aerial over Ourie Pool off Werri Beach, Gerringong.
#lovensw #newsouthwales
Ourie Pool, Gerringong Credit: Destination NSW
Scenic aerial over Ourie Pool off Werri Beach, Gerringong.
Minnamurra Rainforest Centre, Budderoo National Park Credit: Destination NSW
Enjoy a scenic walk by the Minnamurra Rainforest Centre in Budderoo National Park.
#lovensw #newsouthwales
Minnamurra Rainforest Centre, Budderoo National Park Credit: Destination NSW
Enjoy a scenic walk by the Minnamurra Rainforest Centre in Budderoo National Park.
Fill the shopping basket at Kiama Farmers Market
Kiama is renowned for its artisan dairy products. Micro dairy The Pines makes cheese and gelato. Pick up a scoop from Art Bar Kiama or the Kiama Farmers’ Market, held every Wednesday afternoon next to picturesque Surf Beach. Other local produce to fill your shopping basket with are cheese and yoghurt, from Pecora Dairy, and empanadas and paella from Kiama family-business Ola Chola. You can also stock up on Buena Vista Farm eggs and raw honey, as well as a range of traditionally fermented sauerkraut and kimchi.
Wow your Insta followers from Saddleback Mountain
Saddleback Mountain Lookout is an Instagrammers’ dream, boasting spectacular views from 662 metres above sea level out to the sea and across the Kiama region’s stunning countryside. Don’t miss the newer southern lookout, which is just as spectacular as the original north-facing platform.
Feel like you’re walking on the Moon at Bombo Headland
Walk through the basalt columns at Bombo Headland, a legacy of blue metal quarrying in the 1880s and 1900s. The waves crashing against these dramatic rock formations are a photographer’s dream and the views of the bay are stunning. The beach here is a great surfing break and is dog friendly. Keep an eye out for passing dolphins.
Stay in a heritage country home
Sleep in a four-poster bed just like they did back in 1858 at Terragong, a stunning Georgian-style residence set on nearly five hectares and nestled in the heart of Jamberoo Valley, just 10 minutes’ drive from Kiama. Guests can enjoy breakfast in the farmhouse kitchen, drink tea in the library, relax on the wrap-around verandah and take a stroll in the mature gardens.
Pat the goats on a farm tour
In Gerringong, there’s a picturesque farm with stunning views of the coast where you can visit the cheese room, market garden and coffee grove — and say hello to the chickens, ducks, pigs and goats. The owners of Buena Vista Farm, Fiona Weir Walmsley and her husband Adam, like to share all they’ve learned since taking on the property in 2011 through workshops on how to roast coffee, make yoghurt from starter and ferment vegetables.
Take off in a helicopter
For a bird’s-eye view of Kiama, join a Waterfall Discovery scenic flight with Touchdown Helicopters. As you approach the escarpment ridgeline of the Great Dividing Range, the mountain top plateau of Budderoo National Park comes into spectacular view. The 30-minute flight also passes over Gerringong Falls, a 180m vertical drop onto the rocky riverbed below, and the picturesque Jamberoo Valley.
Kiama Farmer's Markets, Kiama Credit: Destination NSW
The Kiama Farmer's
#lovensw #newsouthwales
Kiama Farmer's Markets, Kiama Credit: Destination NSW
The Kiama Farmer's
Buena Vista Farm, Gerringong Credit: Destination NSW
Learn about sustainable agriculture at Buena Vista Farm, Gerringong.
#lovensw #newsouthwales
Buena Vista Farm, Gerringong Credit: Destination NSW
Learn about sustainable agriculture at Buena Vista Farm, Gerringong.
More Inspirational Stories
Corowa Whisky & Chocolate, CorowaCredit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a visit to Corowa Whisky & Chocolate, Corowa.
#feelnsw #newsouthwales
Feast on the riches of one of Australia’s most important food bowls on a road trip through the Murray, named after the mighty river that flows through this southwest area of New South Wales. Float down the river on a historic paddlesteamer wine cruise, stop by farm gates to sample incredible fresh produce, and dine at chic restaurants and bars in this unique culinary playground.
Take the back roads for gourmet treats
Head off the beaten path along The Backroads Trail, a 250km driving route that passes through the small pastoral towns of Barham, Moama, Mathoura and Deniliquin on the upper reaches of the Murray River. Sink your teeth into fresh olives, avocados, free-range pork, honey and citrus fruit from farm gates along its loops and trails, and taste the region’s wines at vineyards such as Restdown Wines. While you’re at this winery, venture out along the Restdown Wetland Walk to encounter Aboriginal cooking hearths and an old sheep camp.
Cruise along to The Old School Winery & Meadery in Womboota to pick up wine, pottery and honey mead. Or seek out Ivy Joyce in Barham to indulge in a warm space, offering local produce from farms for a truly paddock to plate experience in the heart of Murray River country. For more snacks and meaty fare such as British-style pork pies and sausages, head to Pacdon Park’s factory shop in Moama.
You can work up an appetite as you build your own itinerary on the theme of food, paddocks and produce, and find suggested routes and maps to Murray River farm gates, at the Echuca Moama Visitor Centre.
Wine and dine along the river
Embark on a wine tour by water in Moama, where the first steamboats made their way up the Murray in 1853. Take a Murray River Paddlesteamers Wharf to Winery Cruise from the town to Morrisons Riverview Winery for a leisurely lunch. Or drive along the river, stopping in at Three Black Sheep for risotto and woodfired pizzas, and tasting crisp dry whites and full-flavoured reds at St Anne’s Vineyards, where you can nibble on a cheese platter overlooking a scenic lake.
Head east along the riverside roads to rest and recharge in the town of Tocumwal, known for its riverside beaches, golf courses, glider flying and iconic Big Murray Cod statue. Start the following day with a solid foundation of breakfast pizza (topped with bacon, eggs and a hash brown) at The Old Bank and indulge in a scoop of ice-cream or sorbet from Tocumwal Ice Creamery – flavours include rocky road, green apple or macadamia. If you’re in town on a Saturday, pick up honey, fruit, vegetables, olive oil, dressings and other condiments made by local producers at the Tocumwal Foreshore Markets.
Continue your odyssey along the river to Corowa, the birthplace of Australian Federation. Immerse in the town’s rich turn-of-the-20th-century colonial heritage as you make your way to the former 1920s flour mill housing Corowa Distilling Co. Here you can book a whisky tasting and behind-the-scenes tour and buy locally made chocolates and sweets from sister shop Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory. Work off an indulgent afternoon with a walk along the river before settling into the stylish Circa 1936 hotel, which is housed in an Art Deco former bank on the main street of Corowa.
Celebrate regional ingredients in Albury
From Corowa, follow the Riverina Highway eastward to the city of Albury, a food, wine and culture hub. Taste how seasonality and locality are expressed at The Proprietor, a former butcher shop turned cafe offering brunch treats such as fruit toast with Beechworth honey and whipped ricotta, and banana waffles with Gundowring vanilla ice-cream. Or try the all-day breakfast offering at Mr Benedict, from cheesy bacon waffle with popcorn chicken to one of its signature eggs benedicts, including one with cider-braised ham hock.
At The River Deck restaurant, local ingredients are celebrated alongside stunning river views, and dishes may include chicken Caesar salad with Milawa eggs or beef brisket braised in coffee by Albury roaster The Brothers Cup. At tiny and elegant Bistro Selle, complement warm Gooramadda olives with a buttery Australian chardonnay and fresh market fish. Yardbird offers a bold-flavoured menu featuring dishes like scorched Albacore tuna, along with meats grilled in a Spanish woodfired oven.
In between meals, stroll along the Yindyamarra Sculpture Walk and take in the contemporary artworks by Aboriginal artists that line the Wagirra Trail. Meander through the Murray Art Museum Albury’s contemporary photographic collection, Aboriginal art and works by renowned Australian artist Sir Russell Drysdale. Afterwards, order lunch or dinner at the museum’s excellent Canvas Eatery – try the saltbush lamb rump or one of their Neapolitan-style pizzas.
The Old School Winery & Meadery, Womboota Credit: Destination NSW
Couple taste tasting mead at The Old School Winery & Meadery, Womboota
#feelnsw #newsouthwales
The Old School Winery & Meadery, Womboota Credit: Destination NSW
Couple taste tasting mead at The Old School Winery & Meadery, Womboota
Morrison's Riverview Winery and Restaurant, Moama Credit: Destination NSW
Food and wine available from Morrison's Riverview Winery and Restaurant, Moama.
#feelnsw #newsouthwales
Morrison's Riverview Winery and Restaurant, Moama Credit: Destination NSW
Food and wine available from Morrison's Riverview Winery and Restaurant, Moama.
Corowa Whisky & Chocolate, Corowa Credit: Destination NSW
Corowa Whisky & Chocolate located in a 1920âs old flour mill in Corowa.
#feelnsw #newsouthwales
Corowa Whisky & Chocolate, Corowa Credit: Destination NSW
Corowa Whisky & Chocolate located in a 1920âs old flour mill in Corowa.
Canvas Eatery, Albury Credit: Destination NSW
Food and wine available at Canvas Eatery in Albury.
#feelnsw #newsouthwales
Canvas Eatery, Albury Credit: Destination NSW
Food and wine available at Canvas Eatery in Albury.