Kianinny Bay: A Spectacular Bay That You Need to Visit in NSW
Kianinny Bay is a stunning inlet tucked away in Tathra, near Merimbula on the South Coast of New South Wales. For some bizarre reason, the pristine blue waters of Kianinny Bay are barely visited by tourists. Certainly, if you're road trippin' along the Sapphire Coast, you should definitely visit this lovely spot.
By reading this guide, we'll hopefully convince you to go and visit this gorgeous bay! In this guide, we'll provide all of the essential information about visiting.
Table of Contents
About Kianinny Bay
Kianinny Bay is a small sheltered inlet in Tathra. The sparkling turquoise waters of the bay are truly remarkable and worth seeing. Indeed, you should add Kianinny Bay to your Sapphire Coast road trip itinerary!
Historically, the bay was the port for the Bega area prior to the Tathra Wharf being built in 1862. These days, the Kianinny Bay boat ramp remains in use and is still a popular place for launching boats.
But, the bay is much more than just its boat launching ramp. Other than being a beautiful coastal setting, there are tonnes of great amenities and facilities at the bay. It's also a popular place to commence coastal walks in the Bournda National Park. Later in this guide, we'll talk about all of the best things to do at Kianinny Bay.
For now, let's look at exactly where this pretty yet lesser-known bay is located.
Where Is Kianinny Bay?
Kianinny Bay is located in Tathra, near Bega on the South Coast of New South Wales. To help get your bearings, please click on the image below to access an interactive map of the location on Google Maps.
Address: Kianinny Street, Tathra, 2550, NSW
Best Things to Do at Kianinny Bay
Below, we'll look at the best things to do during a visit to the picturesque Kianinny Bay.
Stay in Bermagui
- Hotel: Bermagui Beach Hotel
- Holiday home: Harbourview House
- Motel: Bermagui Motor Inn
Chamberlain Lookout
At the end of Kianinny Street, you'll find the superb Chamberlain Lookout, offering scenic coastal views. Definitely, you'll want to scope out the views from the Chamberlain Lookout during a visit. Although, to enjoy the best views of the bay, we recommend following a stepped trail from the Chamberlain Lookout, down to the bay.
During the walk, you'll enjoy some even better views from several positions, offering unobstructed panoramas of the bay. Using the trail is also a convenient way to access the bay. There are around 50 steps to descend to get down into the bay.
Of course, feel free to enjoy the views from the Chamberlain Lookout, jump back in the car, and drive around to the bay's official car park.
Picnics and BBQs
Kianinny Bay is a tranquil spot for a picnic or a BBQ. At the bay, you'll find a sheltered BBQ area. There are some benches under this sheltered area and some unsheltered picnic tables closer to the bay. Certainly, enjoying some alfresco dining is a great thing to do during a visit.
Next to the picnic area, you'll find a children's playground. So, it's a great place for a family day out by the coast!
Swimming and Snorkelling
The bay is also a decent place for swimming and snorkelling. Make sure to keep an eye out for resident stingrays and a whole range of fish.
FYI – given the bay is a popular place for boat launching, it's best to choose quieter times for a swim or snorkel.
Fishing
Fishing at Kianinny Bay is another popular activity. In fact, by the picnic area, you'll find the Tathra Amateur Fishing Club. The club holds regular fishing competitions, so it's a popular place for local anglers to visit and socialise. At the bay, you'll find fish-cleaning facilities, while the bay is a popular launch spot for fishing adventures further afield.
Bournda National Park Walking Tracks
The bay is also a great place to access coastal trails in the underrated Bournda National Park. In fact, the bay is the starting point for the nine kilometre Kangarutha Walking Track. Unfortunately, Beck and I didn't have time to do this coastal walk. But, we've heard it's an excellent coastal trail that doesn't get too much foot traffic.
If you would like to do a shorter walk, we recommend just doing a section of the Kangarutha Walking Track to Boulder Bay, which is an epic remote bay. You can find a GPS-guided map and more information about this walk here.
Facilities and Amenities
Below, we'll list all of the facilities and amenities at Kianinny Bay.
- Car park
- Public toilets
- Sheltered BBQ area
- Picnic tables
- Boat ramp
- Fish-cleaning facilities
- Tathra Amateur Fishing Club
Accessibility at Kianinny Bay
None of the official tourism boards state that the bay is accessible to those who are mobility impaired. Unfortunately, the picnic area isn't accessible to those who use wheelchairs. Although, there is a ramp from the car park to the Tathra Amateur Fishing Club. So, it appears that the fishing club is accessible to those using wheelchairs.
What's Near Kianinny Bay?
Just north of Kianinny Bay, you've got the beautiful Mimosa Rocks National Park. The national park has great walking tracks, campsites and outstanding beaches such as Tathra Beach and Moon Bay. Personally, Beck and I visited the Mimosa Rocks National Park before heading to Kianinny Bay. We highly recommend checking out this national park while you're in the area.
Read more: Mimosa Rocks National Park – The Complete Visitor’s Guide
How to Get to Kianinny Bay
The easiest way to get to Kianinny Bay is to drive there as there is no direct public transport access to the bay. If you don't have a car, we recommend hiring one for the day or for your South Coast NSW road trip.
In terms of public transport, you can get a bus to Tathra and then walk to the bay. But, depending on where you're travelling from, this could be a long and tedious journey. Certainly, it's best to drive yourself, if possible.
Car Hire
If you don't have your own car, you should hire one using Discover Cars. Personally, we use Discover Cars and highly recommend them for finding your ideal car hire at an affordable price. Booking online is super easy and the free cancellation policy is great.
To find out more about renting a car with Discover Cars, read our Discover Cars review and Discover Cars Insurance review.
Where to Stay Near Kianinny Bay
Most people visit on a road trip from Sydney or Canberra. The closest sizeable towns to Kianinny Bay, with a variety of accommodation options, include the beautiful coastal towns of Merimbula and Bermagui. Certainly, you'll find a pleasant place to stay at either of these places.
Otherwise, if you're looking for somewhere to stay near Kianinny Bay, we highly recommend staying at the popular Kianinny Bush Cottages (AKA the Kianinny Cabins and the Kianinny Resort).
Stay at Kianinny Bush Cottages
- Beautifully set on 100 acres of native bushland
- All cottages feature a log fireplace, a kitchen and a dining area.
- Solar-heated pool and a private lake
In terms of camping near Kianinny Bay, there are lovely campgrounds at both Bournda National Park and Mimosa Rocks National Park.
What to Pack
Here are our travel gear essentials for your South Coast NSW road trip!
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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.
