The Kiama Coast Walk - Minnamurra, Bombo & Kiama

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Route: Minnamurra, Minnamurra Lookout, Johnson Street, Jones Beach, Cathedral Rocks, Cliff Drive, The Boneyard, Bombo Headland, Bombo Quarry, Bombo Beach, Gipps St, Kiama Harbour, Kiama Lighthouse, Blowhole Point, Kiama

Date: 07/04/2024
From: Minnamurra

Parking: N/A
Start Point: Minnamurra
Finish Point: Kiama
Region: Shellharbour

Route length: 10.3km
Time taken: 03:07
Average speed: 4.4km/h
Ascent: 207m
Descent: 182m

Points of Interest: Minnamurra, Jones Beach, Cathedral Rocks, Bombo, Kiama

The Kiama Coast Walk is one of Australia's most scenic walks with ocean views, spectacular rock formations, and unspoilt beaches. It has three sections, comprising a series of shorter walks from the mouth of the Minnamurra River south through Kiama to Gerringong’s Werri Beach. The hills are gentle enough for most fitness levels, offering a mix of sealed paths, grassed tracks and beach walking.

We started from Minnamurra village, parking close to the small platform that makes up the train station. Minnamurra means 'plenty of fish' in the local Aboriginal dialect of the Dharawal people and, once we reached the beach, we could see why. The river estuary is beautiful and looks ideal for a mid-summer swim. However, today, after days of soaking rains, the brown waters of the estuary left little to be desired.

Minnamurra River

Stack Island

The Coast Walk path climbs a headland to Minnamurra Point which has a sweeping view of the estuary, looking across Boyds Beach and the dramatic volcanic sea stack known as Stack Island. This is a very different territory from the sandstone-dominated geology of Sydney and the Blue Mountains. The path continues south to a whale-watching platform (winter is the peak season for spotting migrating Humpback whales) and then threads through a section of suburbia to find Jones Beach.

Minnamurra River

The river estuary

Minnamurra River

The Kiama coast

Jones Beach

Jones Beach

The long stretch of sand is popular with surfers, particularly at Kiama Downs where the local lifesaving club is located. We followed the length of the beach to its southern end where you will find Cathedral Rocks, which is a must-see along the route.

Cathedral Rocks

Accessed along a rock shelf, Cathedral Rocks are a series of basalt sea stacks arranged below the cliffs. One, in particular, resembles a large building, hence the name. Professional photographers flock to the area for obvious reasons. There is also a small sea cave to investigate, hidden just around the corner of the first cliff. Sadly today, the waves were too strong for us to get to Cathedral Rocks.

Cathedral Rocks

Cathedral Rocks

We followed North Kiama Drive south as it rises over a low hill to Cliff Drive before Cliff Drive descends to The Boneyard. If you can't get to Cathedral Rocks from the beach, you'll be able to look back at them from the road.

Cathedral Rocks

The sheltered pebble beach gets its name from a heavy reef break called Boneyards, located just off the shore, rather than anything more sinister. The path follows the beach and the shoreline briefly before venturing into the bush on the Bombo Headland, home to some unique geological formations.

Boneyard Beach

Boneyard Beach

Cathedral Rocks

Boneyard Beach

As I mentioned earlier, the coastline here is volcanic basalt, which forms vertical columns much like those found at the Giants Causeway in Northern Ireland. The Bombo Headland, however, used to be a working quarry and, while largely artificial, has left hundreds of tall, vertical basalt columns remaining. It is now a heritage-listed geological site. 

Bombo Quarry

The headland provides a good view over the quarry and following the path further allows you to detour into the quarry if you desire. Here you can get up close to the hexagonal columns and it provides endless opportunities for those sporting a camera.

Bombo Headland

Waves pound the shoreline

The vertical quarry walls

Bombo Quarry

One of the local residents

We left the quarry and made our way south to Bombo Beach, another long strip of golden sand served by its very own train station. We followed the beach to the southern end where we crossed Spring Creek, heading beneath the railway to Hothersal Street. This led us to Gripps Street which ultimately makes its way into Kiama.

Bombo Beach

Bombo Beach

Bombo Beach

Pheasant Point

Kiama is a beautiful seaside town, best known for its lighthouse and blowholes. Located on Blowhole Point, the Kiama Lighthouse is hard to miss. It was established in 1887, 10 years after the creation of the man-made Kiama Harbour.

Black Beach in Kiama

Kiama Harbour

Sitting just beneath the lighthouse is the Kiama Blowhole, a natural cavity in the rugged cliffs that blasts seawater 20 metres or more into the air. Today, it was a little benign due to the small waves but we did see one or two spurts while we were hanging around waiting for the time to head to the train station.

Kiama Blowhole

Blowhole Point

Kiama Lighthouse

It wasn't long before we were back in Minnmurra retrieving the car from our starting point in the village. I thoroughly enjoyed this walk and, considering it's the first third of a much longer hike, I'm keen to revisit it again in the future.