Summer on the South Coast: the best places to swim in the Kiama area
Summer has arrived, and we can’t wait to be spending our days with sandy feet and salty hair.
The Kiama area is blessed with stunning shorelines and rocky inlets dotted up and down our coast, so no matter where your holiday takes you there’s bound to be a spot to swim just around the corner.
Image: Surf Beach, Kiama
Smack bang in the middle of the Kiama township you’ll find Surf Beach where sandy shores give way to rolling waves. Whether you’re here to catch a tan or a wave, Kiama’s main beach is the place to be. Easy walking distance from the town centre, cafes and the train station, Surf Beach sits parallel to a grassy park and play equipment which is perfect for little adventurers. Feeling peckish? The
kiosk at Silica Kiama serves sandwiches, coffee and fish & chips (before converting into a fine-dining restaurant for dinner) – what more could you want?
Image: Easts Beach, Kiama
Just a few headlands south, Easts Beach feels like it’s a world away. Tucked between two towering headlands, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’d stumbled across a piece of the Mediterranean with its turquoise water and gentle waves. Wandering through the grassy path and down the stairs feels like an adventure all of its own, and once you’re here you’ll never want to leave. Good news is, you
don’t have to! BIG4 Easts Beach offer waterfront campsites and cabins – why not fall asleep to the sound of waves lapping against the shore, and wake up with suns rays on the sand?
Image: Seven Mile Beach, Gerroa
With sand stretching as far as the eye can see, we mean it when we say there’s room for everyone here. With the gentlest waves in the area, Seven Mile Beach is the pick for young families, surf schools, kite surfers and long boarders alike. Wanting to escape the midday sun? Seven Mile Beach National Park runs along the western the length of beach and is perfect to explore by foot or by bike. Alternatively, pop across the road to The Blue Swimmer Gerroa for a coffee, or something a little more upmarket.
Image: Werri Beach, Gerringong
Point break, check. Sandy beach, check. Ocean pool, check. Just down the hill from Gerringong’s main drag, Werri Beach is the pick of breaks with local surfers. With waves rolling off the point or a multitude of sandbars along the beach, wherever the swell is coming from you’re bound to find a wave worth riding. Sick of the sand? The Werri (Ourie) Ocean Pool sits on the rock shelf at the southern end of the beach, and is a perfect place to cool off without the waves. All this activity is bound to work up an appetite, so wander across the road to the Gerringong Bowlo for a Mexican feed, cold beverage or a game of barefoot bowls.
Image: Jones Beach, Kiama Downs
Brought your furry friend with you to Kiama? Well bring them here, too! With ample space on the sand and in the water, the whole family will love Jones Beach. Only a stone’s throw from nearby cafes, you’ll have no need to leave. If you do feel called to explore, head south – Cathedral Rocks is tucked round the southern point of the shoreline and picnic-perfect Boneyard is only small stroll past that.
Image: Minnamurra River, Minnamurra
Vibes here are as high as the tide. Whether you want to be on the water or in it, there are no shortage of activities – grab your stand-up paddleboard and float with the current, exploring the coastal mangroves as you go or strap on your snorkel and see what’s happening below the surface. You’ll find experienced surfers in the waves beyond the river mouth at Mystics Beach and littlies learning to swim paddling along the shoreline. Sit back, settle in and enjoy the sunshine.
Be sure to take note of local signage, and swim only between the flags on patrolled beaches.
We love to see people make the most of their time in our little piece of South Coast paradise, so don’t forget to tag us in your photos and videos @KiamaNSW with #Kiama #Minnamurra #Bombo #Jamberoo #Gerringong #Gerroa.
Image credits: Mark Fitz (header), @surfbetty9, Ian Hollis, John Dean
Helen Demertzis