Kiama

Kiama is the beachside city in the Illawarra region, south of Wollongong. With the area established with farming, it has been a tourist destination for day trips and weekends from Sydney for over a century.

Just over 90 minutes south of Sydney by car, or just over 2 hours by train, it's famous for its spectacular coastline and surrounding rural scenery. With a population of more than 20,000, the local government area covers 256 sq km; the main urban centres are Kiama, Gerringong, Jamberoo, Gerroa, and Kiama Downs / Minnamurra.

Kiama has a rich heritage based on dairy farming and quarrying. Today's economy remains strongly supported by rural activities as well as a burgeoning tourism industry. The area has a vibrant arts sector and a strong sense of community.

By car
Kiama is around 30 minutes past Wollongong and just over 90 minutes from Sydney. Follow the A1/M1 all the way.

By train
To get to downtown Kiama, catch a train to from Sydney or Wollongong. Trains run every hour or so, but it's worth checking the timetable before your trip. Kiama is part of the Intercity network, and no reservations are possible or necessary. It's an easy walk from the train station to the beach, the blowhole, and the shopping centre. For some of the northerly points of interests, using may be easier – all trains that stop at Kiama stop at Bombo.

Use your Opal card or contact-less credit card for the trip. The usual caps and rewards apply, with the off-peak trip from Sydney to Kiama costing just a little more than $10 off-peak.

A stopover on the way is to get off at the station before Kiama—Bombo Beach—the only railway station on a beach in the whole of Australia. You can walk from Bombo to Kiama over the headland in about half an hour. The train tunnels straight through the headland to do the trip in a couple of minutes.

By bicycle
A bicycle route stretches from Bulli in all the way down the coast to Kiama, with only a short stretch on the main road. The route from Dunmore station down to Kiama is all off-road or quiet road. There are a few steep hills going over the headlands as you come into Kiama, with the final one probably the steepest. The cycleway follows the rail line for large parts of the final section. The rail route includes tunnels through the headland, leaving the cyclist to ride over it.

Get around
Kiama and Bombo are both small enough that most of the points of interests are easily navigable on foot from the railway station; that isn't to say that sometimes walking in the town centre can be unpleasant, especially when crossing the road.

See
Kiama is on some of the most picturesque and beautiful coastline of the Illawarra.



Do

 * Fishing. People fish from the wharfs—a picturesque area adjacent to the main blowhole—and from the rocks. Fishing charters available.
 * Swimming. Patrolled beaches are just to the north and south of Kiama town. Central Kiama doesn't really have a beach, more a harbour. There is a tidal rockpool next to the blowhole and harbour for swimming.
 * Hiking.
 * Camping.
 * Kiama Leisure Centre. Swimming pool and fitness centre.
 * Boating. Publicly accessible boat ramps.

Connect
Kiama Municipal Library has free Internet access.

Go next
Wollongong and Sydney are both a day trip from Kiama. Further south towards Nowra and Bomaderry, Jervis Bay and the Shoalhaven region in general.

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