Kiama Coastal Walk: Everything You Need to Know (2024)

The Kiama Coastal Walk is one of the best yet underrated coastal walks in New South Wales. Featuring pristine beaches, sweeping ocean views, charming coastal towns, famous South Coast attractions and spectacular rock formations, the coastal walk is a must for walking enthusiasts.

Covering approx. 21.5km of the sublime Kiama coastline, the walk involves three distinct stages, spanning from Minnamurra to Gerringong via Kiama. So, you can break up the Kiama Coastal Walk into shorter day hikes, do a self-guided multi-day hike or go whole-hog and smash it all out in a day!

In this guide, we’re going to tell you everything you need to about the Kiama Coastal Walk.

About the Kiama Coastal Walk

Undoubtedly, the Kiama Coastal Walk is one of the best NSW coastal walks. Starting in Minnamurra and ending in Gerringong, there are genuinely a plethora of natural attractions to see along the way. Not only will you see the well-known attractions in Kiama, but you’ll also get to explore lesser-known beaches and bays along this sensational section of the South Coast.

Personally, Beck and I completed the Kiama Coastal Walk in one day and this is reflected in this guide. But, as mentioned, the walk can be broken down into three stages, which make for much shorter walks. Whether you plan on doing just a stage or the entire coastal walk, this guide will help you plan your adventure!

Read about the best beaches in Kiama

Kiama Coastal Walk: Route Details

Here are the trail specs for the Kiama Coastal Walk.

• Type: One-way
• Distance: 21.5km
• Time: 5.5–9 hours
• Accumulated elevation gain: 250 metres
• Difficulty: Hard
• Trailhead: Minnamurra Train Station or James Oates Reserve Car Park

In this guide, we’ll also provide trail specs for each of the three stages.

Kiama Coastal Walk Map

Below, you’ll find a map of the Kiama Coastal Walk. Feel free to access and download a GPS-guided map here on AllTrails. Overall, trail navigation isn’t too complicated. But, we highly recommend using a map as it’ll help you navigate some ambiguous sections connecting beaches and towns.

Kiama Coastal Walk Highlights: Our Experience

There are so many breathtaking coastal attractions to explore along the Kiama Coastal Walk. Below, we’ll recount our experience completing the walk, highlighting the main points of interest en route. We’ll do so by detailing the highlights of the three stages – the North, Mid and South sections.

Kiama Coastal Walk Stage 1: North Section

• Distance: 8.5km
• Time: 2–3 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate

Minnamurra to Kiama Walk

The north section of the Kiama Coastal Walk stretches from Minnamurra to Kiama. As a result, this stage of the walk is known as the Minnamurra to Kiama Walk as well as the Minnamurra River to Kiama Blowhole Walk.

Minnamurra River

Whether you’ve started the Kiama Coastal Walk from Minnamurra Train Station or you’ve parked at James Oates Reserve, the first major highlight of the walk is the immaculate Minnamurra River. From the boat ramp at James Oates Reserve, you’ll spy the mouth of the river as it meets the Pacific Ocean.

From James Oates Reserve, you’ll follow a trail that ascends towards Minnamurra Point.

Minnamurra Whale Watching Platform

From both Minnamurra Point and the Minnamurra Lookout, you’ll enjoy stellar views of the Minnamurra River and Rangoon Island. Further in the distance, you’ll see the Killalea Regional Park and its two gorgeous beaches – Minnamurra Beach (AKA the Mystics) and Killalea Beach (AKA the Farm).

Near Minnamurra Lookout, you’ll find the Minnamurra Whale Watching Platform. If you can time your visit during the whale migratory season between May and November, you’ll have a better chance of seeing a whale here and during the entire walk. Having visited in late November, unfortunately, Beck and I were a little too late on the whale watching action.

Jones Beach

From the Minnamurra Whale Watching Platform, you’ll make your way down to Jones Beach. Without a doubt, Jones Beach is one of the nicest beaches in Kiama. After walking around halfway along the beach, you’ll exit onto a footpath adjacent to the road, which eventually joins a trail leading towards Boneyard Beach and Bombo Headland.

Of course, if you want to explore Cathedral Rocks, you’ll need to walk to the southern end of Jones Beach.

Cathedral Rocks

Personally, Beck and I didn’t visit Cathedral Rocks at Jones Beach during the Kiama Coastal Walk. Having visited previously, we decided to save our energy for the long coastal walk ahead. Additionally, exploring Cathedral Rocks isn’t part of the official route of the coastal walk. Nevertheless, we highly recommend walking to Cathedral Rocks and the awesome cave near the base of it, if you haven’t visited before.

Otherwise, if you bypass the southern end of Jones Beach and follow the Kiama Coastal Walk, you’ll soon enjoy views of Cathedral Rocks from afar.

Soon enough, you’ll reach Boneyard Beach.

Boneyard Beach

Simply known as ‘the Boneyard’, Boneyard Beach is a hidden gem along the coastline near Kiama. No, it isn’t a spectacular sandy beach. Rather, it’s a sheltered pebbly beach, which is a popular spot for snorkelling and paddleboarding. Once you’ve scoped out this small beach, it’s time to head towards Bombo Headland.

Bombo Headland

Before arriving at Bombo Headland, you’ll reach the Bombo Headland Lookout. From the lookout, you’ll enjoy sweeping views of Bombo Headland, which is also known as the Bombo Headland Quarry Geological Site. After enjoying views from the lookout, you can make your way down to the headland to explore the former quarry.

Again, having visited previously, we decided to bypass the quarry site to continue along the official route of the Kiama Coastal Walk. But, if you haven’t visited before, we highly recommend going off-route to explore the magnificent basalt columns scattered along the coastline at Bombo Headland.

From Bombo Headland, you’ll make your way to the northern end of Bombo Beach.

Bombo Beach

Bombo Beach is yet another impressive golden sand beach along the Kiama Coastal Walk. At Bombo Beach, you have two options to proceed to Kiama, which is the endpoint of stage one of the walk.

You can either head west from Bombo Beach, following Hutchinson Street, crossing under the Princes Highway and reaching Kiama via Spring Creek Wetland.

Otherwise, you can continue south along the beach, walking along the rocky shoreline to reach Kiama. This option should only be attempted if tide and swell conditions are favourable and safe. Personally, Beck and I continued along the coast, where we enjoyed unnamed blowholes and epic rock formations.

Kiama Coastal Walk Stage 2: Mid-Section

• Distance: 6km
• Time: 1.5–2.5 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate

Kiama to Loves Bay Walk

Arriving in Kiama means starting the second stage of the Kiama Coastal Walk. Basically, the mid-section of the coastal walk starts in Kiama, where you’ll enjoy many well-known attractions at Blowhole Point. You’ll then explore several stunning beaches, before reaching Loves Bay.

Black Beach

From the rocky shoreline at the southern end of Bombo Beach, you’ll arrive at the northern end of Black Beach. At this end of the beach, you’ll find Black Beach Reserve and a mesmerising ocean rock pool called the Olympic Pool. After walking between Black Beach and Kiama Harbour Park, you’ll arrive at the first highlight at Blowhole Point – the Blowhole Point Rock Pool.

Blowhole Point Rock Pool

On a sunny day, the Blowhole Point Rock Pool dazzles and sparkles. Beck and I were certainly tempted to go for a swim at this stage of the walk. But, instead, we continued towards Kiama Lighthouse.

Kiama Lighthouse

Built in 1887, Kiama Lighthouse is certainly a highlight of Blowhole Point. The 16 metre high white lighthouse stands prominently near the famous Kiama Blowhole.

Kiama Blowhole

Of course, a visit to Blowhole Point isn’t complete without seeing the famous Kiama Blowhole. Hopefully, you time your visit with a decent southerly swell and southeast wind during high tide. The south-easterly wind conditions help the water shoot even higher out of the blowhole. Beck and I have visited the Kiama Blowhole previously, and admit, despite the crowds, it’s still an awesome natural attraction to gawk at.

Kiama Surf Beach

From the Kiama Blowhole, you’ll make your way past Kiama’s Visitor Information Centre, Pilot’s Cottage Museum and Diggies. You’ll then walk by the impressive Storm Bay, proceeding by Kiama Showground en route to Kiama Surf Beach (AKA Surf Beach).

This is the most popular beach in Kiama and for good reason. It’s a beautiful surf beach and a great place for a swim during the walk. Albeit, there are plenty of opportunities for a swim during the next part of the walk as you’ll pass a couple more gorgeous beaches.

Read more: Kiama Surf Beach Guide – Everything You Need to Know

Kendalls Beach

From Surf Beach, you’ll follow along a breathtaking headland towards Kendalls Beach. Undoubtedly, Kendalls Beach is one of the best beaches to explore during the Kiama Coastal Walk and is worth spending some time at. At either end of the beach, you’ll enjoy stellar views of the beach.

Similar to Easts Beach further along, Kendalls Beach is well-known for its beachfront holiday park. Kendalls On The Beach Holiday Park (AKA Kendalls Beach Holiday Park) is a popular beach holiday destination. So, expect plenty of families around during the warmer months. Of course, if you’re looking to turn the Kiama Coastal Walk into a multi-day walk, staying at Kendalls On The Beach Holiday Park for a night is a great option.

Read more: Kendalls Beach and Kendalls On The Beach – The Complete Guide

Little Blowhole

From Kendalls Beach, you’ll walk along a serene grassy trail, where you’ll soon arrive at Little Blowhole. Although Little Blowhole isn’t as well-known as Kiama Blowhole, it can be just as impressive during the right conditions. During the Kiama Coastal Walk, Beck and I experienced a greater blowhole effect at Little Blowhole because of the northeast swell. Bear in mind, that you’ll cop an absolute soaking from the spray of water when the blowhole is performing at its best!

Easts Beach

After enjoying Little Blowhole, we walked along what we thought was the best part of the Kiama Coastal Walk. At the northern end of Easts Beach, you’ll walk along a grassy headland with absolutely mind-blowing views of the beach. During Spring, you’ll walk by brightly coloured wildflowers, which add to the superb natural ambience.

As mentioned, Easts Beach is also home to a beachfront holiday park called the BIG4 Easts Beach Holiday Park. Again, if you’re looking to turn the Kiama Coastal Walk into a multi-day affair, you’ll definitely want to consider staying at BIG4 Easts Beach Holiday Park.

From Easts Beach, you’ll make your way to Loves Bay, where you’ll swap urbanised areas for untouched coastal pastures.

Read more: Easts Beach, Kiama – Visiting and Staying at BIG4 Easts Beach

Kiama Coastal Walk Stage 3: South Section

• Distance: 7km
• Time: 2–3.5 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate

Loves Bay to Gerringong

Loves Bay is the starting point for the third and final stage of the Kiama Coastal Walk. Known as the Loves Bay to Gerringong Walk, this part of the coastal walk is much more natural, rugged and raw as you hike along undulating grassy coastal headlands. The walk ends in Gerringong, where there are some optional attractions to explore.

Loves Bay

Loves Bay is a small yet picturesque bay in Kiama Heights. Admittedly, we didn’t stay at the bay for very long as the untouched and remote coastal landscape further along was calling. For nearly 5km, you won’t reach any major highlights, yet you’ll enjoy consistently stunning coastal views. Keep an eye out for the information boards en route which detail the history and geology of the area. Indeed, the unique cliff walls and formations are truly geological wonders.

Eventually, you’ll spot Werri Beach and Gerringong in the distance.

Werri Lagoon

Before stepping foot onto Werri Beach, you’ll pass Werri Lagoon. Situated at the northern end of the beach, Werri Lagoon is majestically placed among the rolling green hills surrounding Gerringong.

Werri Beach

Officially speaking, Werri Beach is the last major attraction along the Kiama Coastal Walk. At this stage of the walk, we don’t blame you if you opt for the easier footpath option adjacent to the beach as sand walking isn’t easy when you’re tired. But, given the beauty of Werri Beach, we recommend strolling along its golden sands if you’re up for it!

Once you arrive at the southern end of Werri Beach, don’t head into Gerringong just yet. Make sure to climb up the headland to enjoy outstanding views of Werri Beach, which are some of the best views along the Kiama Coastal Walk.

Read more: Werri Beach – Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting

Gerringong Whale Watching Platform

At the headland at the southern end of Werri Beach, you’ll also find the Gerringong Whale Watching Platform.

Gerringong Boat Harbour

After visiting the Gerringong Whale Watching Platform, we recommend visiting one more naturally beautiful place. Although not technically part of the Kiama Coastal Walk, you should definitely head to Gerringong Boat Harbour. This is where you’ll find Cooke Park, which is a lovely oceanside park with amenities such as BBQs and public toilets. You’ll also find the Gerringong Boat Harbour Rock Pool, which is truly a hidden gem!

From Gerrinong Boat Harbour, you’ll make your way into the nice coastal town of Gerringong. After exploring the town, Beck and I headed to Gerringong Train Station to make the return journey back to Minnamurra.

Things to Know Before You Go

To help you plan your Kiama Coastal Walk adventure, below, we’ll run through some practical tips such as how to get there, where to park and public transport options.

How to Get to the Kiama Coastal Walk

We recommend using a combination of driving and public transport. The quickest and easiest way to get to Minnamurra to start the Kiama Coastal Walk is by driving yourself. If you don’t have a car, we recommend hiring one for the day or your trip to Kiama. You’ll find plenty of parking at James Oates Reserve.

Once you finish the walk in Gerringong, you’ll need to walk to Gerringong Train Station. From Werri Beach, it’s around a 1.5km walk to reach Gerringong Train Station, where you’ll catch a train to Kiama Train Station and then catch another train to Minnamurra Train Station. From Minnamurra Train Station, you’ll walk around 600 metres to arrive back at James Oates Reserve.

To find out more about renting a car with Discover Cars, read our Discover Cars review and Discover Cars Insurance review.

Kiama Coastal Walk Public Transport

Of course, if you don’t have access to a car, it’s possible to exclusively use public transport to do the Kiama Coastal Walk. From Sydney, you can catch a train to Minnamurra and complete the walk. From Gerringong Train Station, you can then catch a train back to Kiama Train Station, where you can then catch a train back to Sydney. We recommend using the Transport NSW website or the TripView App to help plan your journey.

Kiama Accommodation

Many people will stay in Kiama or surrounding areas such as Gerringong or Gerroa to do the coastal walk. Certainly, there are loads of fantastic accommodation options in the Kiama area.

What to Pack For the Kiama Coastal Walk

The coastal walk mostly takes place among urbanised areas (except for the third stage), so there are plenty of amenities and facilities en route. Still, you’ll want to pack plenty of water and snacks. Thankfully, it’s possible to refill your water bottles at Blowhole Point in Kiama.

During the walk, you’ll be considerably exposed to the elements so make sure you’re sun smart – wear a hat, long sleeves and sunscreen. You may also want to pack swimmers and a towel as there are plenty of inviting beaches and ocean rock pools along the way.

Hiking Gear Essentials

Otherwise, these are some hiking gear essentials that we recommend for the walk.

To find out more about all of the gear that we use and recommend, read our guides about our favourite hiking gear, travel gear and camera gear. Otherwise, read our comprehensive travel packing checklist.

Kiama Coastal Walk FAQs

Below, you’ll find the most frequently asked questions about the Kiama Coastal Walk.

How Long Is the Kiama Coastal Walk?

The Kiama Coastal Walk distance is roughly 21.5km. Bear in mind, that if you’re using public transport, there is an additional 2–2.5km of walking to get to and from train stations.

Where Does the Kiama Coastal Walk Start?

Officially, the walk starts in Minnamurra. But, it’s also possible to start the walk at Werri Beach in Gerringong and do the walk in reverse.

How Long Is the Kiama to Gerringong Coastal Walk?

A lot of people will only complete the second and third stages of the walk, which is known as the Kiama to Gerringong Walk (or the Gerringong to Kiama Walk). The walking distance from Kiama to Gerringong is around 11km. But, if you plan on exploring more of Gerringong and Blowhole Point in Kiama, the Kiama to Gerringong Coastal Walk (or the Gerringong to Kiama Coastal Walk) distance is around 12–13km.

Is the Kiama Coastal Walk Dog Friendly?

Because this walk doesn’t fall within any NSW National Parks, you’ll be pleased to hear that this coastal walk is doggo-friendly. Bear in mind, that dogs should be kept on a leash, and there are some sections of some beaches, where dogs aren’t allowed. So, you’ll just have to plan your walk accordingly, using alternate paths where possible.

Can You Cycle the Kiama Coastal Walk?

Not exactly. Sure, there are cycling paths linking Minnamurra to Gerringong via Kiama, which do use some sections of the coastal track. But, many sections of the coastal walk, such as beaches, obviously aren’t suitable for cycling. So, yes you can cycle from Minnamurra to Gerringong, but not entirely on the coastal track. Click here for more information about cycling routes between Minnamurra and Gerringong.

Bonus Tips For Hiking the Kiama Coastal Walk

• You may have to wade across Werri Lagoon: after heavy rain, Werri Lagoon may swell and open onto Werri Beach. So, you may have to wade across the lagoon, or, it’s possible that it won’t even be safe to proceed. Make sure to check the weather before you go!
• Head to Diggies and Stoic Brewing: there are plenty of great cafes, restaurants and eateries en route. Beck and I stopped at Diggies for a coffee, before having a schooner at Stoic Brewing, which is conveniently located near Gerringong Train Station. What better way to spend your time waiting for the train? Just saying!
• Other walks in South Coast NSW: there are plenty of other fantastic coastal walks along the South Coast of NSW. For instance, there are several great walking tracks at nearby Seven Mile Beach in Gerroa. So, make sure to explore the South Coast beyond Kiama!

Did we miss any important details in this article? Please let us know in the comments below.

We acknowledge and respect the First Nations people as the Traditional Custodians of the land/water that we visited and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.