Kingston is located on the east–west aligned Kingston Plain which rises from the coast to about  above sea level in the foothills of the Kingston escarpment.  The plain is  long by about  wide, with calcareous lime sands to the south along the coast and basaltic clays to the north along the foothills.   The western end of the plain is marked by the  high Flagstaff Hill.  Watermill Creek traverses the plain after leaving Arthur's Vale to the north-west, and is joined by Town Creek and several minor tributaries to form the Kingston swamps before draining into Emily Bay.  Most of the accessible beaches on the island are located along the Kingston foreshores.  Southwards, Emily Bay and Slaughter Bay open into the Kingston lagoon and reefs and the broad expanse of Sydney Bay.  Eastwards, Cemetery Bay opens directly into the South Pacific Ocean.