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, supermarket, take-away store, and general practice on Johnson Street.

The western part of the suburb, west of Riverside Drive, is informally known as Gainsborough.

Kiama Downs does not have a school or a railway station.

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.