More Steps Through Paradise – Kiama Coast Walk, Day 2

Following on from yesterday, today we continue our bracing stroll along the Kiama coastline. It’s a walk that just keeps on delivering stunning views and makes you glad to be alive.

Slap on your sunscreen, fill up your water bottle and walk with me…

After chatting about the route with the very helpful lady in the Kiama Visitor Information Centre, she recommended that instead of walking from Kiama South to Gerringong, we walk from Gerringong back up to Kiama. I am not sure why she thought this was the best approach and perhaps it had something to do with transport links. My brain was telling me her directions were a bit illogical, but who am I to argue with local knowledge?

It is a grey ol’ morning  with some serious thunderstorms predicted later in the day. We had better get cracking …

Stage 2: Gerringong to Kiama (heading South to North)

• Distance: 11km (out of 19.4km). The map actually breaks this stage into two sections – from Kiama Blowhole to Loves Bay and from Loves Bay to Gerringong – but I am not sure how you could start/finish in the middle with little access to public transport, or roads for that matter.
• Rating: Medium to hard.
• Time: We started at 730am and finished around 1115am – just over their suggested 3.5hr time frame.
• Getting There/Away: Check the train timetable to catch a train from Kiama to Gerringong (or vice versa). It is an incredibly easy transport option. The trip lasts all of ten minutes and costs the princely sum of $3.61. Too easy.
• Maps & Signage: Collect a Coast Walk map from the Kiama Visitor Information Centre or download it from their website. Or simply keep the water on your right hand side (if you are walking northbound). There are a few directional and historical signs.
• Terrain:
  • This walk feels much more remote than Day 1. There are great expanses of open space, paddocks and isolated headlands rather than popping in and out of urban areas like yesterday.
  • The tracks are mostly cleared, mowed grass with a few smaller sections of beach to cross and then into the more built-up areas as you hit the outskirts of Kiama.
  • There are some lung-busting climbs as you clamber up and down the ridgelines and the views from the top of the ridges make it all worthwhile. Admire the view as you catch your breath.
  • Is it crazy to think it is steeper walking South to North rather than North to South? I will have to think about that one a bit more…

• What to Wear:
  • Footwear: Sneakers/joggers or those walking sandals would do the job.
  • Hat: There is little shade and the sun is extra strong on the coast.
  • Swimmers: Perhaps wear your swimmers under your walking clothes. You cross a number of gorgeous beaches (Werri Beach and Kendalls Beach to name a few) and they all looked very tempting.
• What to Bring:
  • Water Bottle: Cafes are only found at the beginning and end of the route in the town’s suburbs and there are no water fountains. Be prepared and take water with you.
  • Camera: The views are spectacular, bring your camera/phone to take home more memories of your stroll.

My Tips:

• Start Early: Catch an early train and walk as the sun is rising. You avoid the worst of the heat and you get the best of the day.
• Pop into the Kiama Visitor Information Centre before you walk: The staff at the Centre will be able to tell you if the Werri Lagoon is open or closed – something you need to know for today’s path. If it is open you must be prepared to wade through some water.
• Look Backwards: Don’t forget to pause and look behind, back where you have walked from. Some of the best views are in the rear view mirror.
• Fitness: You need to be relatively fit and be prepared to walk the whole distance as there is little-to-no opportunity to access public transport. It would be a little challenging if you changed you mind halfway along the path as there didn’t even seem to be any connecting roads (at the mid-point of the path).
• Safety: There are no fences or barricades between you, the cliffs and the ocean far below. It doesn’t feel unsafe, but if you were walking with dogs or young children, you would definitely need to keep an eye on them.

My Thoughts:

• This stage is prettier than Day 1…if that is even possible. I think it has something to do with the feeling of remoteness. It is also more open and exposed which delivers unimpeded views up and down the coast and back inland to the lush green paddocks.
• Safety: Even though the path takes you away from the towns, you still feel completely safe as there are other walkers/joggers out and about.
• Whales: This stretch would be ideal for whale watching as the ridges are so high and clear. Unfortunately we didn’t spot any monsters of the deep out in the briny blue.
• Again, I could not stop taking photos. The rock formations and eroded cliffs were so sculptural and the waves crashing on the rock platforms were almost mesmerizing. Unfortunately, the grey day and brewing storm didn’t really help my photos do justice to the gorgeous scenery.
• Architecture: If you like architecture, then you won’t be disappointed. Even on the most wind-blasted ridges dramatic homes were perched to make the most of the view. There was plenty of wishing and dreaming going on as we crossed each ridge and saw our new favourite home, “This is my favourite”, “No, this one is better”, “No, this one”, “What about that one?”…
• Geology: Like yesterday, this path would be a geologist’s idea of heaven with soaring cliffs of exposed rock, wind-blasted and eroded into every shape by a thousand stormy days.
• Gerringong: It looks like a buzzing little town. It was just coming to life as we walked through and I have no doubt you could find delicious coffee and snacks to reward yourself at the end of the walk. Instead we had a second breakfast back in Kiama – eggs benedict and a wagyu burger. Sorry, I forgot to take a photo until it was all gone.

I think the Kiama Coast Walk is the kind of path that you could walk many times and always see something different. The weather and changing light would colour the scenery differently and turn the sea from blue to green to steel grey.

 Care to join me for a walk?

 

The Basics

What: We stayed at an AirBnB right in the heart of Kiama. The location was excellent within easy walking distance of restaurants and shops. (As an Airbnb Associate, I earn a small commission when you book through this link and it doesn’t cost you anything extra.) 

Where: It starts 8.4km north of Kiama and officially finishes at Gerringong in the South. I understand that you can also extend your walk to Gerroa.

When: If you are walking in Summer, I would recommend starting early in the morning to make the most of the cooler temperatures. You may also be able to see the annual north-south humpback whale migration from early June through to late October.

Why: To get the heart and blood pumping and expose yourself to some of the most picturesque scenery in Australia.

How: For an easy option grab a train to your starting point or return the same way. Just check the timetable so you are not hanging around too long waiting for an elusive train.

Who: You would need a good level of fitness for this walk. There are some very stiff climbs and some heavy going across sandy beaches, however it is all doable if you pace yourself.

Related Posts:  To find out what the first stage of this path looks like, check out my review of Day 1.

Related Blogs: For an amazing selection of diverse walks and beautiful photos, have a look at Jo’s Monday Walks as she explores a whole range of coastal and inland paths in Portugal.

Read About It: Feel like a stroll in Australia, but a little further away from the coast? The check out Anthony Sharwood’s adventure, From Snow to Ash, as he walked 650km on the Australian Alps Walking Track. Grab a copy from Book Depository.

#bushwalk #travelinspo #shortwalks #waterviews #kiamacoastwalk #walktheworld #greatoutdoors #heartstarter #quietinthewild #kiama #gerringong