Kiama features several popular surfing beaches and caravan parks, and numerous alfresco cafes and restaurants.

Even to today it maintains a country and agricultural community with a weekly farmers markets held on Wednesday afternoons.

The Kiama Blowhole is part of an erosion process on the more recent rock, formed into columnar basalt, or latite.

There is evidence of a flourishing culture with intricate possum cloaks, a developed song and story cycle, and a deep understanding of the many plants of the rainforest.

[2] There is strong evidence of recent sea debris showing a mega-tsunami hit this coast around 1487 A.D according to Dr Ted Bryant of Wollongong University.

[3] The first European to explore the area was George Bass who stopped there on 6 December 1797 and viewed Kiama's blowhole.

Early Jamberoo was the population centre from about 1830 to the 1860s and when the wheat failed to grow, the farmers switched to dairying.

One particular quarry, the Bombo Headland, is of scientific importance as it is the site of the discovery of the longest known geomagnetic polarity interval called the Kiaman Reverse Superchron.

[5] When Kiama Harbour was hollowed out after 17 years' work, and flooded in 1876, larger steamers such as from the Illawarra Steam Navigation Company could enter and a flourishing sea trade followed.

Staithes for loading crushed blue metal stone directly into ships from rail trucks were installed along the eastern end of the harbour, allowing regular shipments to be taken to Sydney for the railways and road construction.

Over time tourism and housing growth turned Kiama into a dormitory suburb (where people travelled away to work) and summer tourist spot.

Nearby, on Black Beach, is a memorial to the blue metal freighter SS Bombo, which capsized and sank outside Port Kembla harbour in a huge gale after departing Kiama for Sydney on 24 February 1949.

Kiama was served by two tramways built to connect the Pike's Hill quarries west of the town with the harbour traversing Terralong Street.

The name "Kiama" is derived from the Aboriginal word "kiarama", which means "Place where the sea makes a noise".

A 7 kilometre southern extension to this path has been opened to allow people to walk along the cliffs to Gerringong.

Kiama has a quintessential country-style strip mall of cafés, restaurants, art galleries and shops on Terralong Street.

Also on this street is a war memorial, an historic fire station used for exhibits, and a small shopping centre.

West of Kiama in the green hills lies Jerrara Dam, built in the 1800s to supply water to the area.

North of the Minnamurra River is Killalea Recreation Area, a nature reserve on Bass Point.