Day 6 - Batemans Bay to Springwood

On the penultimate day of our alpine road trip, we said goodbye to Batemans Bay and headed north along the coast. The morning passed through Ulladulla and Nowra, with the Princes Highway alternating between bushland, glimpses of sparkling water and sleepy holiday towns, before we arrived in Kiama in time for lunch.

Kiama is one of the South Coast’s real gems. Its postcard-pretty harbour is lined with Norfolk pines and heritage buildings, giving the town an easygoing charm. After a leisurely lunch, we wandered out to Blowhole Point, where the 1887 lighthouse stands guard over the rocks. The Kiama Blowhole is the star attraction: when a strong swell pushes water into a sea cave, it is forced up through a vent in the rock and erupts skyward, sometimes reaching 25 metres. A second, smaller blowhole nearby is well worth a look too.

From there, we continued through Wollongong, hugging the coast, before pausing at Bald Hill Lookout. The sweeping view south along the coastline made a fitting farewell, with hang gliders often drifting overhead. Here, our paths split. My brother pushed north to spend the night near Newcastle, then headed home to Brisbane tomorrow, while I turned inland for the Blue Mountains and a night with a friend.