Catch a break: a local’s guide to the area’s best surf spots
With dozens of diverse reef and beach breaks (all within a short 20-minute drive from each other), it’s no surprise the Kiama area has bred champion surfers such as Sally Fitzgibbons and Ali Day. Here, one of Kiama’s next-gen surfing stars, 15-year-old Bayley Daniels, shares his favourite local breaks and swimming spots.
Every morning and every afternoon, if Kiama mum Sarah Conroy is looking for her son Bayley Daniels, she knows he will be in one place and one place only: the ocean. Despite having only been surfing for the past three years, Bayley, 15, is already one of NSW’s most promising young surfers. He is an Illawarra Academy of Sport scholarship holder and South Coast Surfing Academy member, and he’s now competing in international events such as the Gold Coast’s Billabong Occy Grom Comp.
“He surfs with a great bunch of mates from the area every day before and after school,” says Sarah. “If he is not surfing, he is out spearing [spear fishing] or snorkelling and then cooking his catch fresh from the ocean”.
The Daniels family is passionate about the laid-back coastal lifestyle that the area offers both residents and visitors alike. “Kiama has got a community feel,” says Sarah, who volunteers with the Kiama Downs Surf Patrol. “It’s a great place to live and it is an amazing holiday spot”.
From Gerroa’s Seven Mile Beach, which is perfect for beginners and promises a wave in almost any conditions, to the legendary Werri Beach (best suited to intermediate or experienced surfers when the tide is low), the Kiama area has reef and beach breaks to suit everyone. Here are four spots where you’re most likely to run into Bayley.
Jones Beach
Located about a five-minute drive north of central Kiama, Jones Beach in the suburb of Kiama Downs is a hit with surfers and swimmers alike. “I surf there basically every day”, says Bayley. “It’s a really consistent break and there is almost always a wave”. The beach is patrolled on weekends and public holidays from October to April and, at the southern end, features the breathtaking towering basalt columns known as Cathedral Rocks.
Boneyard
Don’t be put off by the name: Boneyard’s protected beach with turquoise blue green waters, pebbles and sand make it the perfect place for kids to enjoy a dip. Sarah says it’s one of her top spots to take visiting friends or family because “you haven’t got big sets rolling in”. Locals love to pack a picnic and stretch out on the nearby grass or to snorkel in the bay. “There is actually a hidden anchor down there”, says Sarah. And, if you do want to grab the board and head out, Boneyard has a renowned right-hand reef break.
Bombo
Bombo is the break of choice for more experienced surfers thanks to its big swells. “It is a really nice beach for some good waves. It’s a really fun place to surf”, says Bayley. Bombo is also a dog-friendly beach, so a great option if you’re holidaying with a four-legged family member. It’s patrolled seven days a week during the summer school holidays.
Minnamurra River
Running from Budderoo National Park to the sea, stretching approximately 23 kilometers in total, is a paradise for kayakers, canoeists and paddleboarders. “It is so beautiful and the water is so clear”, says Sarah. “If there is no swell around, we’ll get out our stand-up paddleboards and go for a paddle”.
Also, don’t forget to check out the reef and beach breaks in Gerringong at Werri Beach and Point and further south at Seven Mile Beach in Gerroa.
For a full surf report of the Kiama area’s nine best breaks, check out We Are Explorers’ guide here.
From June 1st, 2020 NSW residents are able to take a holiday anywhere in NSW with intra-state travel restrictions being lifted. Please visit the NSW Travel and Transport Advice page.
While we are warmly welcoming visitors, it is important everyone follow the latest health advice with physical distancing and good hygiene, as well as staying home if feeling unwell. For the latest information, visit the NSW Government COVID-19 website.
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