Rainy day ideas in Kiama, starting at the Kiama Leisure Centre

Plan a wet day around what's open

Rain on the Kiama coast rarely means a lost day. The town has a council-run indoor pool, a library with free monthly films, two small history museums, galleries and a cluster of breweries, wineries and studios around Gerringong, 10 minutes south.

Many of these places keep short or weekend-only hours, so match the day of the week to the list below before you set out. Hours here come from each venue's own site or Destination Kiama, and they change, so check before you go.

Swim indoors at the Kiama Leisure Centre

The Kiama Leisure Centre is Kiama Council's indoor pool and fitness centre at 1 Havilah Place. It's the most reliable wet-weather option in town, and it's about a 5-minute drive (3.5 km) from the apartments, or a 41-minute walk.

Inside there's a heated 25 m lap pool (0.95 to 1.7 m deep, 27 to 28 degrees), a heated 12.7 m toddler pool (0.7 to 0.9 m deep, 30 degrees), a spa and a sauna. The centre also has a gym, group fitness classes, daily aqua aerobics, casual court hire and a creche. Trained lifeguards staff the pools. Council takes spa and sauna bookings through its online portal.

Check the Kiama Leisure Centre opening hours

The centre is closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Anzac Day. Council notes that lane availability has changed during Term 4 because of school group bookings, so check the lane and court availability page if you want to swim laps. Casual swim, spa, sauna and gym prices are on Council's pricing page. Call (02) 4232 1877 before you go.

Book the kids into Pool Toy

The inflatable Pool Toy runs every Sunday year-round from 12.30pm to 2.30pm, and on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in the school holidays (not public holidays). Children must be 5 or older and pass a swim test first: jump in feet first, tread water for 15 seconds, then swim 15 m in a competent stroke. It's a good fit for the things to do in Kiama with kids list when the beach is off.

Settle into Kiama Library and catch a free film

Kiama Library sits at 7 Railway Parade, a 28-minute walk or 3-minute drive from the apartments, close to the station. It's warm and dry, with WiFi, public computers, printing and scanning, study and work spaces, and air conditioning and heating. It's open 9.30am to 5pm on weekdays (7pm on Tuesdays) and 9.30am to 1pm on Saturday, and closed on Sunday.

On the third Friday of each month the library runs Friday Flicks, a free film in the Library Auditorium for ages 15 and over. Doors open at 2.45pm for a 3pm start, and screenings run to about 5pm. The last two screenings for 2026 are on 20 November and 18 December. Seats are limited, so book on TryBooking, by phone on (02) 4233 1133 or at the front desk. Bookings and the film details open at 9.30am on the 1st of each month, or the next day the library is open. The library says you're welcome to bring a seat cushion.

The library's Gerringong branch is part of the GLaM hub at 8 Blackwood Street, Gerringong, next to the Gerringong Heritage Museum.

Step inside Kiama's two small history museums

The Pilot's Cottage Museum on Blowhole Point is a restored 1881 cottage run by the Kiama Historical Society. Its maritime and regional collection covers shipping, the cedar industry and the basalt quarries that built the town. Destination Kiama lists it as open Saturday and Sunday, 11am to 3pm, so call 02 4232 2492 to check before you go.

It sits next to the Kiama Visitor Information Centre, which is open daily except Christmas Day. Staff there can help with maps, ideas and tickets, and there's a cafe and public toilets. When the swell is up, you can watch the Kiama Blowhole from behind the fences, then step back under cover. Keep that visit short in heavy weather and wear shoes with grip.

Ten minutes south, the Gerringong Heritage Museum fills the old School of Arts building at 10 Blackwood Street with a permanent exhibition, The Story of Gerringong. Special exhibitions run in the GLaM Gallery next door. It's open Friday and Saturday, 11am to 3pm, and entry is free, with donations welcome. Children 12 and under must be with an adult.

Browse galleries and the Collins Street terraces

The row of historic wooden terrace houses on Collins Street now holds small shops and cafes, and makes an easy hour of browsing with a coffee in the middle. Our Kiama cafes guide lists places to sit out a downpour.

For contemporary art, Sevenmarks Gallery at 7 Marks Street is under 10 minutes' walk from the apartments. It opens Friday 10am to 5pm and Saturday 10am to 3pm, or by appointment, with changing exhibitions.

Make something at a pottery class

Destination Kiama points rainy-day visitors to local workshops, from clay and ceramics to candles and jewellery. Its workshops page lists what's on.

Soul Clay Studios in Gerringong runs beginner taster sessions, including Saturday Soul Sessions and hands-on handbuilding, as well as weekly wheel-throwing classes. Its listed sessions are for ages 18 and over, with occasional school holiday sessions for children aged 8 to 17. Book ahead online.

Taste local wine and beer under cover

A long lunch is a fair answer to a grey day. Both of these are about 9 minutes' drive south from Kiama Ridge Waters, so book a driver or a taxi if everyone wants to taste.

Crooked River Estate at 11 Willowvale Road, Gerringong, has a cellar door open Tuesday to Sunday from 10.30am and a restaurant for lunch. Its site lists a guided tasting that includes estate-grown releases. Restaurant hours change with daylight saving, so check the website or call (02) 4234 0975.

Stoic Brewing pours its own beers and ciders at its Gerringong taproom on Rowlins Road, and Destination Kiama notes food trucks on most weekends. For more cellar doors, see our wineries near Kiama guide.

Tour historic aircraft at HARS

The HARS Aviation Museum is at Shellharbour Airport, 54 Airport Road, Albion Park Rail, about 20 minutes' drive north. It's open every day from 9.30am to 3.30pm except Christmas and airshow days, and visits are by guided tour, with the last tour at 2pm. Groups of 10 or more need to book, and booking online is wise in the school holidays.

The collection includes a CAC Sabre, a Consolidated Catalina and a replica of the Fokker Southern Cross. Check entry fees on the HARS website before you go. It pairs well with an afternoon in Shellharbour.

Walk Minnamurra Rainforest in light rain

Light rain suits a rainforest. Minnamurra Rainforest in Budderoo National Park is about 25 minutes' drive (18 km) from the apartments, and the 1.6 km Lyrebird Loop runs on an elevated walkway and paved tracks with suspension bridges, under a shaded canopy. NSW National Parks suggests 30 minutes to an hour. It's open 9am to 5pm daily (last access 4pm), and vehicle entry is $12 per day.

The park can close in poor weather, so check the Budderoo National Park alerts before you leave. Our Minnamurra Rainforest guide has more on the walks. You can reach the Minnamurra Falls walk from the Lyrebird Loop, so allow an extra hour for both. Destination Kiama also suggests a waterfall road trip on wet days, taking in Carrington Falls, Belmore Falls and Fitzroy Falls on the escarpment.

Stay in when the weather sets in

Sometimes the right call is a slow day indoors. Cook a long lunch in the full kitchen, with its oven and gas cooktop, and sit down together at the dining table for six. Each of the three-bedroom apartments at Kiama Ridge Waters has ducted heating and cooling, Wi-Fi and a TV with free-to-air and streaming apps. There's a laundry with a washer and dryer for wet gear, and a covered balcony for watching the rain.

See the apartments, or check dates on the booking page. If the sun comes out, Easts Beach is a 15-minute walk away. Our Kiama weather guide shows what to expect each season.