After leaving the beaches of Wollongong I a bit of weariness was already setting in…Kiama was my next stop on my trip down the south coast of Oz and I was a little bit taken aback by how remote these coastal towns are…I just expected it to be more developed, much like the US. But it’s not.

Kiama is the quintessential small south coast “city,” this tiny town literally has one main street and one claim to fame: the Kiama Blow Hole.

The whole of the town is situated right on the water and besides a grocery store, church, and the dozen or so cafes catering to the tourists visiting the Blow Hole, there’s just not much else.  And this all sounds very cozy and cute…and it is, but at the same time, there weren’t a lot of other backpackers in Wollongong and I with few here in Kiama I am questioning my decision.

Am I ever again going to encounter other backpackers, traveler culture, and instant friends with whom I can travel and explore as I make my way down the coast?

Quaint is about all that comes to mind when I walked around Kiama- you may recall a couple of posts ago about my trouble finding internet, let alone wireless internet…well this one of those towns that stepped back about ten years in the internet technology boom.

I guess they don’t really need the internet because my less-than-fabulous hostel was hosting just myself for the evening…and likely for the week.  Facing a small bout of loneliness when I arrived, and pondering if I should have booked myself on some tours of the very popular north coast instead, I headed out to explore the town and get myself out of my funk.

Between the downright chilly (this is summer right?!) but fresh sea air and an entire mint Aero bar (by far one of my favorite chocolate candy bars that you just can’t often find in the US) I was feeling a lot better and able to enjoy this undeniably charming town.

Exploring the Kiama Blow Hole

Tops on the list (and perhaps the only touristy thing to do) was a trip to the Blow Hole – the Blow Hole forms as a result of air pressure building up as they waves crash into a cave, then the water spouts up really tall into the air through a hole in the rocks.

The Blow Hole has it’s moment of  interest. Really intriguing though is the darkly churning grey ocean that hits the brown craggy moon-cratered rocks. The rocks stand sentinels on the little piece of land jutting into the south pacific waters.

I was able to navigate my way across the rocks and to the cliff’s edge along with a handful of other backpackers willing to risk a bit of danger…and while I could have sat out there for hours looking at the ocean, in concession to the cold, it was time to head back to town for a bit of tea (Aussies seem to drink heaps of it here!).

The next morning I discovered I was lucky enough to visit on the third Sunday of the month – this meant a slew of little tents and stalls popped up from the sidewalk and dotted themselves along the bay as local vendors and crafters pedaled  their wares.  I wandered the through the stalls munching on fresh roasted almonds and warm croissants and dodged strollers and children while perusing some of the handmade crafts.

The town was thoroughly enjoyable, but without access to the internet I was forced to move onward after only a night…and the loneliness of at least a week alone has me hoping the next town had some other backpackers staying at the hostel!