Cast Your Vote: Let’s Rally Behind Kiama & Shellharbour in the 2025 NSW Top Tourism Town Awards
Voting is open, folks. Y’know what that means. It’s time to let your fingers do the talking, and lodge your votes for the 2025 NSW Top Tourism Town Awards. Voting closes on 4th May, 2025.
The annual award is presented in partnership with NRMA and we’re all invited to vote for our fave Tiny Town (considered tiny if it has a population of under 1,500), Small Town (with a population of 1,500 to 5,000) and Top Town (towns with population of 5,000).
This year Illawarra residents have the chance to get behind Kiama and Shellharbour for the title of 2025 Top Tourism Town. Nothing like a lil’ friendly competition!
What’s to love?
We’re glad you asked. Because the answer is ‘SO MUCH’. There’s just so much to love about our beloved Kiama and Shellharbour….
Shellharbour
Shellharbour is like the Jan Brady of the Illawarra (but without all the drama). You know – stay with us here! – the middle sister that sometimes gets overlooked because the older sister is so flash and has a busy social life (that’s you Wollongong!) and the younger sister is a bit quieter and oh so beautiful and people just love to tell her how cute she is (that’s you Kiama!).
Well, the towns of Shellharbour have all got their own thing going on. We love how the busy burbs of Shell Cove, Albion Park, Albion Park Rail and now Calderwood are so different to the coastal towns of Warilla and Shellharbour, or the lakeside towns of Lake Illawarra (obvs), Mount Warrigal and Oak Flats. And we’re always up for a mini-escape and Sunday drive – heading out among the lush, green paddocks through Tullimbar and Tongarra on our way to a bushwalk at Cascade Falls, at the bottom of Macquarie Pass – such amazing landscape out here! Those escarpments are stunning.
Beautiful beaches in the east, rainforests in the west, a stunning lake in the north, the Killalea Reserve in the south and the burbilicious towns in the centre – that is one fun and spunky middle sister!
Kiama
Blue and green should never be seen….. unless they are the rolling hills of this stunning landscape meeting the blue of the ocean in this beautiful region of the Illawarra. I mean, where do you start?
Let’s take it outside to the awesome enclave of action that is Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventures, Minnamurra Rainforest Centre, Barren Grounds Nature Reserve and the Jamberoo Action Park over to the west of the region. Loads of fun to be had at all four places – bushwalks, ziplines, lookouts, waterfalls and of course, the super-fun wave pool and kickbutt rides at Jamberoo.
If that’s a bit too much adrenaline for you, and relaxing drives (and sticky beaking at beautiful properties) is your thing, explore the rolling hills and farmlands of Jamberoo, Foxground, Curramore, Rose Valley, Jerrara and Saddleback Mountain.
For the water babies among us, start at Minnamurra – such a beautiful area. There are plenty of fab reserves alongside the Minnamurra River. We reckon start at James Oates Reserve which is where the river meets the sea and a cracking spot for some kayaking, canoeing and some SUP action! This is also where the Kiama Coastal Walk starts – we’ve done the first half of it! Read about it here.
Then it’s a dream run of awesome beaches down the coast. Jones Beach, Kiama Downs, Bombo Beach, Surf Beach, Kendalls Beach, Easts Beach, Werri Beach, Gerringong Beach and Seven Mile Beach are all patrolled in the warmer months. We also love the vibe of Kiama when it’s pumping with people, markets, events and sunshine. Grab a post market bevvie (and the schnitty if you can fit it in) at the Grand Hotel Kiama. And of course, the iconic Kiama Blowhole and Lighthouse is always worth a visit and a looksee, and don’t miss the weekly Kiama Farmer’s Market for stocking up the pantry.
Head a little further south to shop up a storm – Gerringong has a fab selection of stylish fashion and lifestyle stores, as well as some delicious spots to get your foodie fix. We loved popping into the Gerringong Bakery for some freshly baked bread and some special treats!
The towns of Kiama offer up so much variety – nature lovers have got it made, shoppers are totally covered, foodie fans are covered, adrenalin junkies can take their pick and of course, those of us that just like to chill out somewhere? Sorted. Love it.
Who will you vote for?
