Bombo Beach, Kiama: Wild Surf Beside the Basalt Quarry

Bombo Beach is a long, wild, windswept stretch of sand just north of Kiama, running between the town and Cathedral Rocks. At its northern end is Bombo Quarry, an old quarry where workers exposed walls of dark hexagonal volcanic columns, now one of the most photographed rock formations on the coast.

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It's more a place for walking, watching and photographing than lazy swimming: open surf, no lifeguards and a coastline that feels ancient. We include it in Swim New South Wales for the drama, and for the rare calm days when a careful dip is on.

Swimming at Bombo Beach

Bombo faces straight into the swell, with powerful, shifting breaks that experienced surfers love. There are no lifeguards and rips can be strong, so swimming is only for confident swimmers on calm days. Even then, wading and bodyboarding close to shore are the sensible options. If it's rough, stay on the sand.

The warmer months are best if you want to get wet. In summer the sun rises straight out of the sea and lights up the rock columns in pink and orange. Autumn brings crisp air and cleaner swell, winter brings moody skies and empty sand, and spring mornings often have mist rolling off the water at Cathedral Rocks.

The rock columns at the quarry are volcanic latite (often described as basalt) dating from the Late Permian, around 250 million years ago. The site is listed on the NSW State Heritage Register as a geological site. The best way to experience Bombo is to walk the full beach, take in the quarry, then continue toward Cathedral Rocks at low tide.

Bombo lies on the traditional lands of the Dharawal people. The headlands, tidal zones and rock formations here are part of a wider cultural landscape used for seasonal fishing and gathering.

How to Get to Bombo Beach

By train: Bombo has its own station on the South Coast Line, just a few minutes' walk from the beach, which makes it one of the easiest NSW beaches to reach from Sydney by train.

By car: Bombo is roughly 1 hour 45 minutes south of Sydney. Take the M1 and Princes Motorway toward Kiama, then follow signs to Bombo Beach via Cliff Drive or North Kiama Drive. There's free parking at the Bombo Quarry car park and limited roadside parking on the headland.

On foot: from Kiama town centre it's about a 15-minute walk north along the coast, or via the Bombo Headland Eco Walk, which links to the quarry and Cathedral Rocks. Kiama Council reopened the Bombo Quarry staircase in May 2025; the steps are steep and the coastline at the bottom can be dangerous.

Know Before You Go

• There are no lifeguards at Bombo and rips can be strong. Only swim if you're confident and conditions are calm; check surf conditions first.
• Rock platforms at the quarry and Cathedral Rocks are extremely slippery and dangerous at high tide or in swell. Waves surge in without warning: stay well back and never turn your back on the sea.
• Stick to established paths, don't climb unstable rock formations and keep well back from cliff edges. The quarry is a fragile, heritage-listed geological site.
• Visit Cathedral Rocks at low tide only.
• There's little shade. Bring water, sun protection and sturdy shoes; the sand gets hot and the quarry rocks are sharp.
• Beach and parking are free.

Bombo Beach FAQs

Can you swim at Bombo Beach?

Only with care. It's unpatrolled with strong rips and powerful surf, so it's better for wading, walking and watching unless you're experienced and it's calm.

How old are the rock columns at Bombo?

They're volcanic latite from the Late Permian, roughly 250 million years old, and the quarry site is on the NSW State Heritage Register.

Can you get to Bombo Beach by train?

Yes. Bombo station on the South Coast Line is a few minutes' walk from the beach.

Is Bombo Quarry open to visit?

The headland is accessible on established paths, and Kiama Council reopened the quarry staircase in May 2025. Stay on paths, off unstable rocks and away from the wave zone.

More Kiama & South Coast Spots Nearby

• Bombo Quarry Kiama: the South Coast "Moonscape"
• The Boneyard, Kiama
• Werri Beach Rock Pool, Gerringong
• NSW South Coast Swims: Kiama to Eden