Welcome to Kiama’s Visitor Information Centre
Published on 09 January 2023
We interviewed Kiama Council’s Visitor Services Coordinator, Lauren, on the tourism services Kiama Council provides.
What does your typical day involve?
Generally lots of liaising with our Destination Kiama partners. Ensuring their businesses are well represented and promoted to a high standard through our Kiama.com.au website, the Kiama Area Visitor Guide and at the Visitor Information Centre (VIC) located at Blowhole Point.
We also make sure the Centre is adequately stocked with souvenirs and info from as many local businesses as we can.
How many visitors are you expecting these summer holidays?
The last two months in particular have shown a big increase in visitors - in October we had 3,278 visitors come through the doors. Last year we saw 158!
We look forward to getting back to our pre-covid visitations of 7,000 to 9,000 visitors per month over the peak season; maybe this summer we’ll get close.
Most of our visitors are from NSW (38%) followed by our interstate tourists (17%). It has also been nice to welcome people from countries including Canada, India, USA, Switzerland, Indonesia, UK, Argentina Japan, France (and many more) over the last six months.
What do visitors ask for info about?
People always ask about the blowhole(s). Also topping the list are the Kiama Coast Walk and our local markets.
People love a recommendation on where to eat, take photos and of course options on where to stay once they realise how beautiful the area is.
No two days are the same up at the VIC, and we always enjoy a curly question where we are required to pool our local knowledge.
What about events?
The big one was the New Year’s Eve Sky Show (which had 15,000+ people attend this year).
This month, we’re also looking forward to our lineup of Australia Day events on 26 January and the Kiama Show (27-28 January).
Moving forward, Kiama Sevens rugby is on 27 February and the ever-popular Kiama Jazz and Blues Festival will be 10-12 March.
Tell us more about the Kiama blowhole?
Did you know there are two blowholes?
Formed from basalt lava flows some 260 million years ago, the power of the ocean eroded the softer rock to create a sea cave. When the water gets pushed in from a large swell, the air within the chamber acts like a drill, powering the incoming waves vertically and forcing water up through the hole in the top.
The blowhole was well known by traditional owners the Wodi Wodi people, whose name for it was Khanterinte (where the sea makes noise).
The best time to see the big Kiama Blowhole is when there’s a south east swell (and wind helps too), while our Little Blowhole works on a north east swell – and can often put on more of a show
What’s your biggest challenge in this job?
As we move into peak time, it’s not having enough accommodation to offer those visitors wishing to stay!
What do you love about working for Kiama Council?
Look where I get to work every day! Who wouldn’t want to walk into an office surrounded by Kiama’s beautiful coastline?
I work with an amazing team that are friendly, professional, and fun. And we get to meet people from all around and talk about what Kiama has to offer. What isn’t to love.
Image: Lauren (right) and the tourism team outside Kiama's Visitor Information Centre
www.kiama.com.au/listings/info-services/kiama-visitor-information-centre