Things to do in Kiama with kids, by the sea and in the rainforest

Plan a Kiama day around the kids

Kiama packs a lot into a small town. The Blowhole, two ocean pools, a playground and the cafes on Terralong Street sit within a short walk of each other, and the bigger days out (rainforest, water park, treetop walk) are 20 to 40 minutes inland by car.

Kiama Ridge Waters is on the quiet southern side of town at 2 Surfleet Place. From the apartments it is a 15-minute walk to Easts Beach, 16 minutes to Kendalls Beach, about 27 minutes to the town centre and about 35 minutes to the Blowhole. With small legs in the group, most families drive into town and walk once they're there.

This guide covers:

• the blowholes and the ocean pools
• beaches and playgrounds
• Minnamurra Rainforest, Jamberoo Action Park and Illawarra Fly
• rainy-day ideas
• what suits toddlers, school-age kids and teens
• a two-day plan

Watch the Kiama Blowhole and the Little Blowhole

The Kiama Blowhole on Blowhole Point is the one every child wants to see. Visit NSW says the opening is 2.5 m wide and can throw water up to 30 m high. It's free and open around the clock, but it only performs when the swell pushes into the sea cave, so a wavy day beats a calm, sunny one. Keep children behind the railings, as the rock shelf is wet and the sea comes up without warning.

The Little Blowhole off Tingira Crescent is quieter and closer to us, about a 20-minute walk (1.6 km) from the apartments. It works hardest in a north-easterly swell. Our Kiama Blowhole guide explains which one to pick on the day, and the Kiama Lighthouse stands right beside the main Blowhole.

Swim at the calm beaches and ocean pools

For young children, Kiama's ocean pools are the safest place to get wet. Destination Kiama describes the Blowhole Point pool as having a shallow wading area for young children off to the side, and the Continental Pool at Black Beach has child changing facilities. Kendalls Beach is the gentle beach option. Destination Kiama says its shallow water and gentle waves suit young children and less confident swimmers.

Swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches, and check BeachSafe for patrol times and conditions before you go. Ocean pools take waves at high tide and in big swell, so skip them on rough days. More detail is in our guides to Kiama rock pools, Kiama beaches and Easts Beach.

Let them loose at Hindmarsh Park

Hindmarsh Park on Terralong Street is Kiama's main town playground, and it was rebuilt in 2024 in a $4.5 million council upgrade. Kiama Council lists climbing towers with rope bridges and a slide, an inclusive trampoline, a musical marimba, pod, basket and baby swings, an accessible carousel, toddler springers, a crawling tunnel and a sand and water play area. There are picnic shelters, a barbecue and a drinking fountain too.

It sits in the middle of town, so you can grab coffee and lunch nearby while the kids burn off energy. It is about a 33-minute walk (2.7 km) or a 4-minute drive from the apartments. For a meal afterwards, see where to eat in Kiama or Kiama fish and chips.

Walk the Minnamurra Rainforest boardwalk

Minnamurra Rainforest in Budderoo National Park is about a 25-minute drive (18 km) from Kiama Ridge Waters. Visit NSW describes a 1.6 km loop through the rainforest that takes about an hour, with elevated swing bridges, and an optional extra 2.6 km path to the upper falls for older kids with energy to spare.

NSW National Parks lists these details:

• Gates: 9am to 5pm daily
• Rainforest Centre contact hours: 9am to 4pm daily, closed Christmas Day
• Entry: $12 per vehicle per day in the Minnamurra Rainforest area
• Facilities: light refreshments at the centre (the cafe is closed), toilets, drinking water, picnic tables and barbecues

The park can close for bad weather or fire danger. Check the Budderoo local alerts before you drive out. Our Minnamurra Rainforest guide has more.

Spend a day at Jamberoo Action Park

Jamberoo Action Park, at 1215 Jamberoo Road, is about a 19-minute drive (15.7 km) from the apartments. Visit NSW lists water slides, a downhill bobsled, a chairlift, a wave pool, splash and play areas and big picnic grounds. The park's own site lists a Kids Rides area alongside the big slides.

Through October the park opens Friday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm on open days. All-day e-tickets are $74 for kids and seniors and $84 for adults, or $84 and $94 at the gate, with free parking. Open days and prices change through the season, so check the Jamberoo Action Park calendar before you go. See our Jamberoo Action Park guide for more.

Climb into the treetops at Illawarra Fly

Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventures is up on Knights Hill, about a 32-minute drive (27 km) from Kiama Ridge Waters. Its official site describes a 1.5 km walk that includes 500 m of steel walkway 20 to 30 m above the ground, and Knights Tower, which climbs 46 m above the forest floor. Younger children usually love the Enchanted Forest, a trail of fairy villages and photo spots.

There is also a zipline tour for older kids and teens. Check the Illawarra Fly website for opening hours, prices and zipline age and height rules before you book.

Take the easy, pram-friendly walks

The Kiama Coast Walk runs past almost everything on this page. For families, the town stretch is the easiest: Blowhole Point, Storm Bay and Surf Beach, then around to Kendalls Beach. There are steps at both ends of Easts Beach and at the south end of Kendalls Beach. Destination Kiama points out the free water filling stations along the route, so bring bottles rather than buying water.

From the apartments, a short loop works well with kids: walk to Easts Beach, head north along the Coast Walk to the Little Blowhole and Kendalls Beach, then walk home. For a view without the walking, drive about 9 minutes to Saddleback Mountain. In winter, keep an eye out to sea for whales. See the Kiama Coast Walk guide and walks in Kiama for routes.

Shop the Wednesday Farmers' Market

The Kiama Farmers' Market runs on Wednesday afternoons at Coronation Park, Surf Beach, on Manning Street. Visit NSW says it has more than 40 stalls of local produce, with organised kids' games and live music, and kids can play on the beach or in the park while you shop. Trading starts each week when the bell rings. Times aren't listed on Visit NSW, so check before you go.

Coronation Park is about a 23-minute walk (1.9 km) from the apartments. See Kiama markets for the other markets in the area.

Fill a rainy day indoors

Kiama has more wet-weather options than people expect. Destination Kiama's rainy day escapades page lists more, and our rainy day things to do in Kiama guide covers adults too.

• Kiama Leisure Centre: a heated 8-lane, 25 m pool, a toddler pool and pool toy sessions. Destination Kiama says the giant inflatable runs all year. Lane availability changes with school bookings, so check first. About a 5-minute drive.
• Kiama Library: art workshops and kids' activities. Ask at the library for the current program.
• Pilot's Cottage Museum: a restored 1881 cottage on Blowhole Point Road with displays on shipping, cedar and the basalt quarries. Open Saturday and Sunday, 11am to 3pm.
• The Bead Shack, Gerringong: creative kids' workshops, birthday parties and take-home kits. It has moved to Shop 3/129 Belinda Street, Gerringong.
• Storm-watching: a big swell makes the Blowhole put on a show. Watch from behind the railings.

On a really wet day, settle in back at the apartment with the ducted heating on, board games at the dining table for six and movies on the TV's streaming apps (use your own logins).

Add a family day trip

A few more ideas within a short drive:

• FootGolf at Jamberoo Golf Club: kick a soccer ball around the course into a 53 cm hole in as few kicks as you can.
• Buena Vista Farm, Gerringong: hands-on classes such as sourdough and cheesemaking, by booking.
• Surf lessons at Seven Mile Beach: Surf Camp Australia runs lessons for beginners at Gerroa. See Seven Mile Beach.
• Fishing off the harbour: see fishing in Kiama.
• Gerringong and Werri Beach: about 10 minutes south. See Gerringong.

Destination Kiama also sells a Kiama Passport for Kids at the Visitor Information Centre, and offers a free Clever Kids Checklist on its Family Fun page. For school holiday events, check What's On and our Kiama events guide.

Match the day to their age

Toddlers: the Blowhole Point pool's wading area, the Ourie pool's children's pool at Werri, Kendalls Beach, Hindmarsh Park's sand and water play, the Leisure Centre toddler pool and the Enchanted Forest at Illawarra Fly.

Primary school kids: both blowholes, the Minnamurra swing bridges, the Coast Walk from Easts Beach to Kendalls, the Farmers' Market, FootGolf and the Kids Rides at Jamberoo.

Teens: the big slides at Jamberoo, the Illawarra Fly zipline, a surf lesson at Seven Mile Beach, laps at the Continental Pool and the longer Coast Walk sections.

Follow a two-day plan

Day one, by the sea: walk from the apartments to Easts Beach for a morning swim, then north along the Coast Walk to the Little Blowhole and Kendalls Beach. Drive into town for lunch and an afternoon at Hindmarsh Park, then finish at the Blowhole and the Blowhole Point pool.

Day two, inland: get to Minnamurra Rainforest when the gates open at 9am, then spend the afternoon at Jamberoo Action Park on an open day, or drive up to Illawarra Fly. On a Wednesday, swap the afternoon for the Farmers' Market at Surf Beach.

Stay with the kids at Kiama Ridge Waters

Give everyone their own space at Kiama Ridge Waters. Every apartment has three bedrooms (a king, a queen and two singles, or a king, a queen and a double in 3-Bed with Alfresco Dining) and two bathrooms, with room for six. The laundry has a washer and dryer for sandy swimmers, and there is a full kitchen, a dining table for six and garage parking for two cars. Check-in is from 3pm and check-out by 10am.

If grandparents or friends are coming too, book apartments together on the same site. Most of our apartments take pets on request, so you can bring the family dog for a $200 cleaning fee. See family accommodation in Kiama, compare the three-bedroom apartments, or check availability.