mountain pass
Macquarie Pass
A twisting rainforest climb on the Illawarra Highway, hauling drivers 400 m up the escarpment between Albion Park and the Southern Highlands through 100-plus curves.
18 km · about 20 min drive
OceaniaAustraliaNew South Wales
Kiama Downs
New South Wales, Australia · Oceania
About Kiama Downs
Kiama Downs is worth a stop: 5 minutes from Kiama, 18km from Macquarie Pass.
Kiama Downs is in New South Wales, Australia, with about 4,900 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Kiama, about 4 km away.
Kiama Downs is a suburb of the town Kiama in the Illawarra region south of Sydney, Australia. Renowned for its picturesque beaches and seaside views, it is about 4 km (2 mi) north of Kiama and is bordered by the Minnamurra River to the northwest and Jones Beach to the east.
There is a bakery, cafe, pharmacy,Read more
supermarket, take-away store, and general practice on Johnson Street.
The western part of the suburb, west of Riverside Drive, was previously known as Gainsborough Estate when it was developed for housing in the 1980s.
Kiama Downs does not have a school or a railway station. The nearest public primary school is Minnamurra Public School and the nearest public high school is Kiama High School. The nearest railway stations are Minnamurra and Bombo.
The biggest beach is Jones Beach, about one kilometre long, between Minnamurra Point and a headland 30 metres high, of the southern Cathedral Rocks
Australian skateboarder Kieran Woolley is from Kiama Downs.
Where to Stay in Kiama Downs
Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.
Filter presets
Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.
Compare before you book!
Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Kiama Downs.
Explore the Area
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Kiama Downs.
Loading map...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Kiama Downs?
Within an hour or so of Kiama Downs: Macquarie Pass (18 km), Robertson Pie Shop (22 km), Hampden Bridge, Kangaroo Valley (32 km), Sea Cliff Bridge (44 km).
Are there any good drives near Kiama Downs?
The nearest famous roads are Macquarie Pass and Grand Pacific Drive.
Where is Kiama Downs?
Kiama Downs is in New South Wales, Australia, about 4 km from Kiama.
Road trip
Drive to Kiama Downs
Add it as a stop and the planner works out the driving, the nights and what's worth seeing on the way.
Start planningWhat's nearby?
Swipe through places to go
Places within a drive of Kiama Downs. Keep the ones you like and add them to your trip.
Explore now
Quick Information
- Population
- 4,852
- Continent
- Oceania
- Country
- Australia
- Region
- New South Wales
- Timezone
- Australia/Sydney
- Coordinates
- -34.6334, 150.8546
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Australia
112 works from mobiles. Distances between fuel stops in the outback can exceed 200 km: plan ahead. Wildlife is most active at dawn/dusk.
Full driving guide for AustraliaTags
Worth the detour from Kiama Downs
7 notable places within an hour's drive.
cafe
Robertson Pie Shop
A Southern Highlands roadside pie shop on the Illawarra Highway, operating since 1968 and long the mandatory stop for anyone driving between Sydney and the coast via Macquarie Pass.
22 km · about 25 min drive
bridge
Hampden Bridge, Kangaroo Valley
Sandstone-towered suspension bridge from 1898 carrying Moss Vale Road over the Kangaroo River, the oldest of its type still in use in Australia.
32 km · about 35 min drive
bridge
Sea Cliff Bridge
A 665 m balanced-cantilever bridge that curves off the Illawarra escarpment and hangs over the Pacific, the photogenic centrepiece of Grand Pacific Drive south of Sydney.
44 km · about 50 min drive
coastal drive
Grand Pacific Drive
140 km coastal route from the Royal National Park to Wollongong and beyond, sweeping past Bald Hill's hang-glider lookout, seaside villages and the famous Sea Cliff Bridge.
47 km · about 55 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Bald Hill Lookout
Clifftop lookout and hang-gliding launch at Stanwell Tops overlooking the Sea Cliff Bridge and Illawarra coastline, with roadside parking.
47 km · about 55 min drive
beach
Hyams Beach
A small village beach on Jervis Bay reputed to have the whitest sand in the world, with crystal-clear waters ideal for dolphin spotting.
54 km · about 60 min drive
Driving roads near Kiama Downs
- 18 kmMacquarie PassA twisting rainforest climb on the Illawarra Highway, hauling drivers 400 m up the escarpment between Albion Park and the Southern Highlands through 100-plus curves.
- 32 kmHampden Bridge, Kangaroo ValleySandstone-towered suspension bridge from 1898 carrying Moss Vale Road over the Kangaroo River, the oldest of its type still in use in Australia.
- 44 kmSea Cliff BridgeA 665 m balanced-cantilever bridge that curves off the Illawarra escarpment and hangs over the Pacific, the photogenic centrepiece of Grand Pacific Drive south of Sydney.
- 47 kmGrand Pacific Drive140 km coastal route from the Royal National Park to Wollongong and beyond, sweeping past Bald Hill's hang-glider lookout, seaside villages and the famous Sea Cliff Bridge.
- 47 kmBald Hill LookoutClifftop lookout and hang-gliding launch at Stanwell Tops overlooking the Sea Cliff Bridge and Illawarra coastline, with roadside parking.
Nearby Destinations
Other places to explore near Kiama Downs.
Your trip starts here
Plan a road trip from Kiama Downs.
Pick the days, drop in the stops, and share it with whoever's coming.