The whole Kiama Headland is made of volcanic rock called latite. A volcanic extrusion, known as a dyke, cuts through the latite. This dyke is made up of softer rock called basalt. Over a very long period of time the basalt erode creating a tunnel inside the harder latite. Eventually a part of the headland collapsed and created the blowhole.
With large waves entering the blowhole, air compress in the cavity. When the water leaves, it is forced upward by this compressed air. The escaping air makes a loud sound and combined with the water spout it make a pretty spectacular sight. It performs at its best when the sea runs from the south east.
The main Blowhole was discovered by George Bass in 1797. More accurately George should be called the first European to discover this as local Aborigines had referred to it as Khanterintee for generations. A smaller blowhole is located a few minutes south of the main one. But while still at the main Blowhole, do treat yourself and wander down to the gorgeous Kiama Rock Pool for a swim.
Located 3km north of Kiama at the southern end of Jones Beach you’ll encounter a distinctive rock formation known as Cathedral Rocks. Sightseers and photographers have been lured to these rocks since 1890. While exploring a bit further inland we came across another of the special features of Kiama: dry stone walls. Historians say that Kiama’s first dry stone walls were built during the 1830’s and 1840’s by convicts. Unfortunately only negligible traces of these remain.
Luckily the work of skilled labourers like Thomas Newing are still found and protected now as heritage items. Newing arrived in the district in 1875 and was shown how to build a wall by a local settler. He began building walls that very year using the double-dyke method. Stone walls were built extensively until wire became cheaply available for fencing in 1880.