Kiama Blowhole and the Little Blowhole, a visitor guide

Check the Kiama Blowhole facts before you go

The Blowhole sits at the tip of Blowhole Point, a short walk from the centre of Kiama. Here is what the official sources say, in one place.

Destination Kiama asks visitors to "take 3 for the sea": carry your rubbish out or use the bins, and fill a reusable bottle at the free water stations.

Go when the swell runs from the south-east

The Blowhole only performs when waves push hard into the sea cave beneath it. Destination Kiama says it works hardest in a south-east wind with a south-east swell. The NSW Government notes the big plumes come when the swell is running from the south-east. On a flat day you may only see a puff of mist, so a windy, wavy day beats a still, sunny one.

Before you head out, look at a marine or swell forecast, such as the Bureau of Meteorology coastal waters forecast for the Illawarra. Check two things: the swell direction (south-east suits the main Blowhole, north-east suits the Little Blowhole) and the swell size. Both blowholes are weather dependent, so even a good forecast is no guarantee.

For smaller crowds, go early in the morning or later in the afternoon, and on weekdays outside school holidays. Early starts pair well with sunrise over Blowhole Point.

See the Blowhole after dark

Because the Blowhole is open around the clock, you can watch it at night. The area is floodlit after dark. Lighting times can change, so check before you go. A big south-east swell after dinner can put on a show with far fewer people around. For more ideas, see Kiama at night.

Learn how the Blowhole works

The headland is made of basalt from lava flows about 260 million years ago, according to Destination Kiama. Over time the sea carved a cave into the rock. When a wave rolls into the cave, it squeezes the water and air inside and forces them up through the 2.5-metre opening in the rock face, which is the spray and boom you see and hear from the platforms.

Visit NSW calls it the biggest blowhole in the world. Treat that as the tourism claim it is: what you see on the day depends far more on the swell than on any record.

Know the Blowhole's history

Local Aboriginal people knew the Blowhole long before Europeans arrived. Destination Kiama gives its name as Khanterinte. Kiama Coast Holiday Parks spells it Khanterintee and says the Wadi Wadi name means "mysterious noise".

The explorer George Bass recorded the Blowhole in December 1797, after anchoring his whaleboat in the sheltered bay that is now Kiama Harbour. In January 1889, tightrope walker Charles Jackson strung a rope across the chasm, according to Kiama Coast Holiday Parks.

It has drawn visitors for well over 100 years. Estimates of how many come each year vary: the NSW Government puts it at about 1.3 million, while Destination Kiama's listing says about 900,000.

Try the Little Blowhole on north-east swells

The Little Blowhole is off Tingira Crescent, about 2 km south of the Kiama town centre. It is the one to choose when the seas come from the north-east, and Destination Kiama says it is more dramatic when the swell is small. Read our Little Blowhole guide for parking, safety and the walk on to Easts Beach.

Get to Blowhole Point on foot, by car or by train

From Kiama Ridge Waters: it is about a 35-minute walk (2.9 km) or a 5-minute drive. If you are walking, stop at the Little Blowhole on the way, since it is closer to the apartments than town.

By car from Sydney: Kiama is about 1 hour 45 minutes from the Sydney CBD. See Sydney to Kiama for the drive.

By train: Kiama station is on the South Coast Line, and the Blowhole is about a 14-minute walk (1.2 km) from the station. Plan your trip on Transport NSW.

Parking: Blowhole Point has a car park and coach parking. At busy times, come early or walk in. Parking rules can change, so read the signs when you arrive and see our Kiama parking guide.

Use the platforms, toilets and visitor centre

The Blowhole has several accessible viewing platforms, and Destination Kiama says it actively welcomes people with access needs. Head to the most eastern point to see the full height of the rock formation.

The public toilets are always open. There are barbecues and a picnic area, plus a cafe and gift shop.

The Kiama Visitor Information Centre is also on Blowhole Point Road, with Diggies Cafe next door. Kiama Council lists the centre as open daily except Christmas Day, 10am to 4pm. Hours can change, so check before you go. Staff offer free maps, local tips and bookings. Call 1300 654 262 or 02 4232 3322, or email tourism@kiama.com.au. For a meal afterwards, see places to eat near the Blowhole.

Stay behind the barriers

Destination Kiama describes both blowholes as weather dependent and unpredictable. Waves can surge over the rock platform without warning, especially in a big swell, so stay on the platforms and behind the railings.

• Keep small children close and hold hands near the edge.
• Expect spray. On a big day you can get soaked, so protect phones and cameras.
• Rocks near the hole are wet and slippery. Don't climb past the barriers for a photo.
• At the Little Blowhole, people also watch from the rocky foreshore. Keep well back from the edge there too.

Spend an hour on Blowhole Point

The Blowhole is one stop on a headland packed with things to see. Plan to stay a while.

• Kiama Lighthouse: built in 1887 and right beside the Blowhole. Read our Kiama Lighthouse on Blowhole Point guide.
• Pilot's Cottage Museum: a local history museum run by the Kiama Historical Society. Destination Kiama lists it as open Saturday and Sunday, 11am to 3pm. Check before you go.
• Blowhole Point Ocean Pool: carved into the rock on the north side of the point, the smaller of Kiama's two ocean pools, with a shallow wading area for young children. See Kiama's rock pools.
• Kiama Harbour: look down on the boats, or try fishing at Kiama Harbour. Our Kiama Harbour guide has more.
• Kiama Coast Walk: the 20 km walk is split into three sections, and the Blowhole marks the start of the middle one. Head north for Cathedral Rocks and Bombo Headland, or south for the Little Blowhole. Walk the Kiama Coast Walk from the Blowhole.
• Whales: read our guide to whale watching from Blowhole Point and the rest of the Kiama coast.

With children in tow, pair the Blowhole with more things to do in Kiama with kids, or see free things to do in Kiama.

Stay a 35-minute walk from the Blowhole

At Kiama Ridge Waters you can check the swell over breakfast and pick your blowhole. The Little Blowhole is a 20-minute walk away, Easts Beach is 15 minutes on foot, and the main Blowhole is about 35 minutes' walk or 5 minutes by car. Each of our three-bedroom apartments at 2 Surfleet Place sleeps six, with two bathrooms, a full kitchen, a laundry and secure parking for two cars.

Most of our apartments welcome pets (a $200 cleaning fee applies). Check-in is from 3pm and check-out is by 10am. See our three-bedroom apartments in Kiama, family accommodation in Kiama and pet-friendly accommodation in Kiama, or check availability. If you are still deciding, read where to stay in Kiama.