Kiama's most famous natural attraction is the Blowhole. It has been attracting people to the town since the 1880s (when the railway arrived) and still is a magnet for people visiting the town. The problem in recent years has been the apparent widening of the opening which means it "blows" spectacularly only when the wind and waves are coming from the south- east.

When the conditions are right it is common to see spray from the blowhole being hurled across the car park and drenching the walkway out to the viewing platform to the east of the cave-like aperture.

If the town's main blowhole isn't blowing it is worth making the effort of going to the Little Blowhole in Tingira Crescent.

Just a small fissure in the rocks, it seems to blow nearly all the time and if the wind and tide are coming from the north-east it will shoot high spouts of water into the air.

The route is complicated and poorly sign posted but the visitor's centre can provide a map and clear instructions.

Kiama has two rock pools where hardy locals can swim all year round. They are located at the north and south edges of the harbour entrance.

The northern one was built in 1888 and was designed to reflect the indecency laws of the time which forbade bathing in public.

The southern rock pool can be spectacular (and dangerous) when the tide is high and the sea is rough. It tends to be cleaned out by each high tide.

There is a 22 km walking trail from the Minnamurra River north of Kiama through to Gerringong. It is the kind of walk which can be experienced in small, bite-sized chunks or taken as a full day stroll along the coast. There is an excellent, detailed brochure available at the Kiama Visitors Centre which breaks the walk into three distinct sectors:

1. Minnamurra River to Kiama Blowhole - 8.4km - medium - three hours which passes through Kiama Downs, around the edges of Jones Beach, past Cathedral Rocks (at this point it is worth heading east to the Boneyard where the quarrying has left a large number of dramatic hexagonal basalt columns in a place that looks like a moonscape. The site is considered of international geological interest and is protected by a permanent conservation order. Then the walk heads along Bombo Beach, up Pheasants Point and then down to Black Beach and up to the lighthouse and the blowhole.

2. Blowhole Point to Loves Bay - 5km - medium - 1.5 hours - is a walk through southern suburban Kiama along the coastline. There are plenty of views from the headlands and pleasant walks past Surf, Kendalls Beach and Easts Beach.

3. Loves Bay to Gerringong - 6km - medium - 2 hours - is the most dramatic and beautiful section of the walk as it passes around the cliffs, with Saddleback Mountain rising to the west, on a quiet and peaceful stretch of the coastline. In season the walk is an ideal vantagepoint for whale spotting as they make their way up or down the coast.

In season (May-June and October- November) large numbers of whales - particularly humpbacks and right whales - make their way up and down the coast from the Antarctic to Hervey Bay on the Queensland coast.

The best viewing spots around Kiama are the headland at the north end of Bombo Beach (often referred to as the Boneyard Headland) and Pheasants Point, the promontory on the northern side of Black Beach.

Just a short drive from Kiama is where you will get one of the best views of the area, the coast and the surrounding countryside.

Park the car right up near the Saddleback Mountain lookout platform and wander out for some pretty spectacular views on a clear day. To the north you can see Lake Illawarra, Port Kembla and Wollongong. To the south is Seven Mile Beach, Coolangatta Mountain and Shoalhaven Heads.

Kiama hosts two monthly markets, on the third Sunday of the month for handmade goods and the other on the fourth Saturday of the month selling local produce.

There is usually 30 plus stalls along the lovely waterfront with most of them coming from sellers in the local area. Grab a coffee and a pastry from one of the vendors and stroll through tasting, browsing and buying whats on offer.

This small collection of shops are housed in restored timber houses circa 1886 which are the last of their kind in the area. They were originally built by the local miners and today house boutique shops, restaurants and cafes.

Located west of Kiama you will find the Minnamurra Rainforest which will transport you a world away from the coastal region.

From the Visitors Centre, take the easy one hour long loop walk which takes you over suspension bridges and up to viewing platforms to view the rainforest canopy.

Home to Australia's highest and most incredible Treetop Walk experience.

The Treetop Walk is a gentle 1.5- kilometre loop track with 500 metres of elevated steel walkway through the treetops, some 20-30 metres above the forest floor. This steel walkway features two cantilevered arms and culminates at Knights Tower, a spiral tower that rises to a breathtaking 45 metres above the ground.

Positioned 710 metres above sea level, the stunning panoramic views take in everything from the rainforest canopy, coastal towns and out to the Pacific Ocean.

Officially the highest Zipline in Australia, the Illawarra Fly Zipline Tour is a unique eco-wilderness adventure in the magnificent Illawarra rainforest. The Tour involves flying on a series of elevated cable spans and navigating suspension bridges from one tree platform to another, some 35 metres above the forest floor.