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The Long Curve
Steep cliffs, jagged rocks, and wild waters off the South Pacific Ocean, all make for the beautiful – albeit dangerous – coastline that the Australian town of Kiama, NSW is known for. (2020-10-28 1637 iPhone6)
Kiama, a little Australian town just 120 km (75 mi) south of Sydney, is bounded by a dramatic coastline along the Tasman Sea on one side, and rich, green pastures dotted with remnants of rainforest on the other. With heritage-listed buildings, stunning natural scenery, surf beaches, and plenty of boutiques and coffee shops, it is a popular spot for Sydney day-trippers and weekenders.
For thousands of years, the Wodi Wodi people – part of the Dharawal language group – used these lands. The town’s name comes from the Dharawal word kiarama-a, which has been translated as “where the sea makes a noise”. This refers to the now-famous Kiama Blowhole, where – depending on sea conditions – a fissure in the late Permian latite allows vigorous, noisy and potentially dangerous sprays of water up to 25 metres (82 ft) into the air.
On my first-ever visit to the blowhole, I expended a full roll of film trying to catch the plume at its height. My reaction-times failed me.
The seas here need to be taken seriously: in 1992, seven people – members of two families – were drowned after being swept off the rocks. In spite of an increase in warning signs and safety rails, there have been a number of other deaths over the years since, most commonly of rock fishermen who get swept away.
l live at the extreme other end of what is called the NSW South Coast (see: Coastal Walks). I sometimes stop over in Kiama on my long drive to or from Sydney. These particular photos are from two separate trips in 2020: one at the beginning of winter in June, and the other during a pleasantly mild October spring.
On the first occasion, a companion and I enjoyed the short but pleasant Minnamurra Falls Walk (see: AllTrails). On the second, I contended myself with coastal meanderings. Although I had my Canon cameras with me on the first trip, most of the pictures are taken on my old iPhone6.
Enjoy some coastal time with me.
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Waves on the Waterfront
Its a short walk from our accommodation in the small CBD to Black Beach Cove. Across the waters, we have a view of the thin isthmus leading to Blowhole Point. (2020-06-26 1005 iPhone6)
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Waves on Black Beach Cove
The rocks on the cove are naturally occurring black basalt. (2020-06-26 1007 iPhone6)
Black Beach Continental Ocean Pool
This 50-metre ocean pool is built into the naturally occurring rock shelf around Black Beach Cove. (2020-06-26 1008 iPhone6)
Kiama Post and Telegraph Office – Built 1878-1880)
Kiama has a number of NSW heritage-listed buildings – including the rather lovely post office. (2020-06-26 1021 iPhone6)
The Minnamurra River
Twenty minutes inland, we enter the Minnamurra Rainforest Centre (see: Budderoo National Park) for a walk through subtropical rainforest. (2020-06-26 1217 Canon 5DII)
Bird’s Nest Fern – Asplenium Australasicum
We are in a predominantly humid subtropical climate zone – and the surrounding vegetation reflects that. (2020-06-26 1223 Canon 6D)
Old Tree with a Large Hollow Trunk
This pocket of land is a rare and priceless remnant of the original rainforest. (2020-06-26 1224 Canon 5DII)
Branches against the Sky
Elkhorn ferns (Platycerium bifurcatum) and other epiphytic ferns attach themselves to the sprawling, heavy branches of their host trees. (2020-06-26 1229 Canon 6D)
Rocky Creek Bed
Back down at ground level, things are shady, and the rocks in the river are coloured with lichens and moss. (2020-06-26 1230 Canon 5DII)
Giant Pepper Vine – Piper Hederaceum
(2020-06-26 1237 Canon 6D)
Minnamurra Falls
“It’s not very big!” my companion muttered. And it is true: this accessible upper portion of the falls has a 25-metre (82-foot) drop. (2020-06-26 1302 Canon 5DII)
Splash!
While the falls are small, I think they are very pretty. (2020-06-26 1307 Canon 6D)
A Curtain of Water
And, for me, it is more about the fresh air and bird sounds, the scent of the surrounding nature, and the pleasant walk. (2020-06-26 1307 Canon 6D)
An Australian Magpie – Gymnorhina Tibicen
Back on the waterfront, a magpie watches us eat a late lunch – hoping for a stray chip or piece of fish. (2020-06-26 1450 Canon 6D)
Waves and Last Light on Storm Bay
The late afternoon winter sun gives a light glow to the Norfolk Island pines on Blowhole Point. (2020-06-26 1557 Canon 5DII)
Surf Beach
A few brave souls are still in the water – dwarfed by the expanse. (2020-06-26 1608 Canon 5DII)
Looking Down from Pheasant Point
The next morning, the light is completely different, as I set off walking in search of views and breakfast. (2020-06-27 0840 iPhone6)
Splash on the Basalt
I love how the edges of the Ocean Pool blend in with the naturally occurring black basalt layers. (2020-06-27 0905 iPhone6)
A Dynamic and Dramatic Shore
(2020-06-27 0907 iPhone6)
Norfolk Island Pines
Four months later, I landed in Sydney late one afternoon off a flight from Uluru (see: Weekly Wanders Uluru). A stop back in Kiama was the perfect distance from the airport to make the drive home manageable. (2020-10-28 0755 iPhone6)
Making Waves
This stainless steel statue, created by visual artist Bert Flugelman (1923 – 2013) in 1997, was installed here on Storm Bay in 2016. (2020-10-28 0809 iPhone6)
Kiama Farmers Market
In the afternoon, I headed out for another walk, and found the local markets in full swing above Surf Beach. (2020-10-28 0809 iPhone6)
The Sandy Shore of Surf Beach
(2020-10-28 1632 iPhone6)
On the Path
My walk back to the CBD takes me past Storm Bay, where I have a good view of the historical Kiama Lighthouse. (2020-10-28 1636 iPhone6)
Curving Path
Looking along the path as I walk back to my rooms, the light lowers over the market. (2020-10-28 1651 iPhone6)
It is a beautiful spot – and I will return for another stay one day …
Happy Rambles!
Pictures: 26-27June2020 and 28October2020
