Updated: June 18, 2025
Location: Kiama, NSW

As of 11:12 AM AEST on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, the days are getting longer, and the golden hours are stretching—perfect conditions for photographers heading to Kiama. With summer just around the corner, now is the best time to plan your next coastal shoot.

Kiama, just 90km south of Sydney, is a magnet for landscape and astrophotographers. From dramatic basalt cliffs to tidal estuaries and dark skies perfect for Milky Way photography, this coastal gem offers an incredible range of photo opportunities. In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to photograph three of Kiama’s most iconic spots—Bombo Quarry, Cathedral Rocks, and Minnamurra—including the best times to shoot, ideal gear, and insights gained from running workshops on location.

Why Kiama Is a Must-Shoot Location

Kiama challenges and rewards photographers. You’ll learn how light, tides, and weather shape every shot—and how to adapt your camera settings to suit. Whether you're into long exposure seascapes or astrophotography compositions, Kiama offers professional-grade scenes with minimal effort once you know where to look.

1. Bombo Quarry – For Drama and Depth

Bombo Quarry’s jagged basalt columns and wild coastal energy make it one of Australia’s most compelling seascape and night photography locations.

Best times to shoot:

Golden Hour: Soft light enhances texture and shape.
Clear winter nights: Perfect for Milky Way alignment over the quarry.

Gear & tips:

Tripod: Carbon-fibre preferred—sturdy in wind and salt spray.
6-stop ND filter: Slows shutter speed for motion blur in waves.
Wide-angle lens: Essential to capture scale and depth.
Shutter speed: 1–2s for texture, 10s+ for a misty water effect.

💬 Workshop Moment: One student captured the Milky Way arching over crashing waves—combining a tracked sky with a static foreground using exposure stacking. A wall-worthy print, built from a 5-minute on-site demo.

→ Join a Bombo workshop and shoot it like a pro.

2. Cathedral Rocks – Foregrounds for Astro & Seascape

These towering volcanic formations create unforgettable silhouettes against colourful skies—or anchor Milky Way compositions with bold geometry.

Best times to shoot:

Sunrise/Sunset: Low light adds contrast and drama.
Moonless nights: Ideal for tracked or stacked astrophotography.

Gear & tips:

Tripod + Graduated ND filter: Balance the bright sky and dark rocks.
Wide-angle lens: Needed to frame both stars and foreground.
Shutter speed: 0.5s–1s for water texture, 20s+ for ethereal blends.

💬 Workshop Moment: A client submitted their tracked Milky Way shot to an international competition—and became a finalist. Their secret? Careful planning with the PhotoPills app, a tip we covered in-session.

→ See the Kiama Coastline Multiday Workshop 2026

3. Minnamurra – Tranquil Estuary Scenes

Where river meets ocean, Minnamurra offers stillness, soft gradients, and lush vegetation. It’s ideal for long exposures and telephoto compositions.

Best times to shoot:

Winter mornings: Expect soft fog and magical reflections.
Late afternoons: Rich golden tones and long shadows.

Gear & tips:

6-stop ND + polariser filters: Slow the shutter and remove glare.
Telephoto lens: Perfect for isolating details.
Shutter speed: 1–4s for painterly water and tidal motion.

💬 Workshop Moment: One beginner created an image that resembled an oil painting—fog, clean water, and soft light—all from a pre-dawn shoot after a quick rundown on metering and shutter control.

→ Grab my Sescape Cheat Sheet for full estuary setup and editing tips.

What’s Next?

Mastering Kiama’s landscape photography is about more than gear. It’s about timing, composition, and knowing how to respond to light and conditions. These locations are not just photogenic—they’re where photographers level up.

“You don’t make a photograph just with a camera. You bring to the act of photography all the pictures you’ve seen, the books you’ve read, the people you’ve loved.”
— Ansel Adams

Take Action

Ready to take your shots from “nice” to “next level”? Here’s how:

📸 Join a Workshop: Hands-on training at Bombo, Cathedral Rocks, or Minnamurra.
📘 Download My eBooks: Proven techniques for long exposures, seascapes, and Milky Way mastery.
📺 Subscribe on YouTube: Free tutorials, gear reviews, and behind-the-scenes edits.
✉️ Join My Mailing List: Get exclusive tips, early workshop access, and gear discounts.