Kiama Coast Walk, Illawarra, NSW

The southern section of the Kiama Coast Walk, starting at Loves Bay, is an undulating track through ex-farmland, with open and breezy vistas of cliffs, rock platforms and boulder-strewn beaches for its whole length.

Kiama Coast Walk, NSW

The pleasant coastal town of Kiama, at the southern end of the Illawarra region south of Sydney, is best known for its blow hole. Swell direction dictates whether or not the blowhole does its thang, but you are guaranteed an excellent coastal experience on the underrated Kiama Coast Walk. This undulating track hugs the coastline on the edge of farmland, and the relative lack of vegetation makes for an open windswept feeling, with views of cliffs and boulder strewn beaches along the whole route. You can access rock platforms in a few places for closer views of the cliffs. The tracks ends at Werri Beach in the also very pleasant village of Gerringong.

We started the walk at Loves Bay near Kiama Heights (parking at the end of Elanora Rd), and it’s a 12km return walk to Werri Beach and back. You might like to walk up the hill to Gerringong for lunch with views back down to Werri Beach. There’s information on this section and sections to the north (that I’ve not done) on the Visit NSW website.

Kiama Coast Walk: The Scenery

Pretty cold and cloudy (and sometimes rainy) day when I took these pictures, but perhaps all the nicer for it.

Kiama Coast Walk, NSW
Loves Bay, with a panorama glitch I tried to touch up on my phone.

Kiama Coast Walk, NSW Kiama Coast Walk, NSW

Kiama Coast Walk, NSW
The walk skirts farmland. It used to be lush rainforest before white settlement.
Kiama Coast Walk, NSW
You can drop down to this area with the aid of a rope.

Kiama Coast Walk, NSW Kiama Coast Walk, NSW

Kiama Coast Walk, NSW
This is a very short side trip off the main track.
Kiama Coast Walk, NSW
The waves sloshed all the way up this natural canal.

Kiama Coast Walk, NSW Kiama Coast Walk, NSW

Kiama Coast Walk, NSW
Some remnant forest on a headland.

Kiama Coast Walk, NSW Kiama Coast Walk, NSW

Kiama Coast Walk, NSW
Near the turnaround point.
Kiama Coast Walk, NSW
This house was all on its own with what I imagine are commanding views.
Kiama Coast Walk, NSW
Looking inland.
Kiama Coast Walk, NSW
My sister-in-law taking pictures at the turnaround point on Werri Beach.
Kiama Coast Walk, NSW
A lagoon near the turnaround point.
Kiama Coast Walk, NSW
Sophia and her sister heading back.
Kiama Coast Walk, NSW
The train line south to Nowra runs parallel to the track for most of its length.
Kiama Coast Walk, NSW
That channel I visited on the way out.
Kiama Coast Walk, NSW
There’s a sea cave in there somewhere.

Kiama Coast Walk, NSW Kiama Coast Walk, NSW

Kiama Coast Walk, NSW
The top of these cliffs was lit up by the rays of the dying sun, which were poking through the clouds.
Kiama Coast Walk, NSW
Big seas.

Author: Edward Hathway

I'm a clinical psychologist and keen hiker.

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