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When it comes to white-sanded beaches in Australia, Jervis Bay (NSW) sets the standard! This beautiful seaside destination is perfect if you are looking for a relaxing break!
There are many things to do in Jervis Bay and I will give you plenty of ideas below!
Jervis Bay is home to beautiful beaches, the stunning Booderee National Park and is a paradise for sports lovers!
There are many snorkelling and diving spots. It’s also a very popular spot to go whale watching!
In this ultimate Jervis Bay guide, you will also find accommodation and travel tips! Perfect to know what to do in Jervis bay, where to stay and where to eat!
1. Jervis Bay National Park
Jervis Bay National Park is located by Huskisson. It’s mainly known for being home to the whitest beaches in the bay! But who says white sand beach, says crowds as well!
Jervis Bay National Park is generally busier than Booderee National Park, so something to bear in mind when you visit.
That said, it’s home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world!
2. Hyams Beach
Hyams Beach is known as the world’s whitest beach. Definitely something you should see!
Of course, as Hyams Beach is very often considered as the best beach in Jervis Bay, it can get pretty busy in high season.
Visitors have mixed opinions on this beach but I personally loved it.
The water is crystal clear and the sand so white! It’s one of the most beautiful places in the world. It’s incredible how naturally beautiful it can be!
Hyams Beach is basically the perfect postcard for Jervis Bay.
When you get there, if it’s busy for you, feel free to move to one of the beaches mentioned below but no matter what, you have to check it out!
3. Whale watching Tour
It would impossible to talk about Jervis Bay attractions without mentioning whale watching.
It’s one of the best things to do in Jervis Bay and if you get a chance to go in winter that’s something you can’t miss out on.
In winter, the humpback whales start their migration from South to North.
It starts getting cold in the south of Australia so they are seeking warmer waters.
Luckily for us, Jervis Bay is the ideal location to observe this beautiful phenomenon.
There is a variety of whale watching cruise in Jervis Bay. They usually last about 2 hours and are an amazing opportunity to admire the whales, birds and take beautiful photos of the white sanded beaches!
4. Dolphin Cruise
If you prefer watching dolphins, that’s fine too! There are plenty of them in the area!
You can opt to go on a dolphin cruise in Jervis Bay. You will be on the boat for about 1 hour and a half. The dolphins generally come near the boat, kind of saying hi! It’s very cute.
They are very easy to spot as the waters are so clear!
It’s the perfect Jervis Bay activity with kids (and for adults!)
5. Greenfield Beach
Located on the loop of the White Sand path, Greenfield Beach is beautiful and less crowded. It’s not quite as white as others but it is a very pleasant beach.
I highly recommend it if you want to enjoy a relaxing day with kids!
6. Booderee National Park
Booderee National Park is definitely one of the most stunning National Park in Australia.
Pretty underrated compared to other places, it yet has so much to offer! It’s home to some of the most stunning beaches in the world!
But that’s not all, it’s also full of history! The Booderee region is very important in aboriginal culture. The park is co-managed by Parks Australia and Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community.
In 1995, was renamed to fit better with the Aboriginal background of this place. In Dhurga language, Booderee means “bay of plenty” or “plenty of fish”.
As a visitor, I highly recommend making the best of that beautiful environment! Go to the beach, snorkel, walk the trails… and if you decide to stay in, you will find some beachside campsites managed by the park.
The entry fee for a car is $13.
7. Chinamans Beach
This one is my personal favourite. It’s very white and not crowded.
It’s perfect for a walk or just lay down on your towel! I think the reason it’s not as busy as others are because there is a lot of seaweed on the sand.
But personally I didn’t think it was an issue.
If you are looking for a calm and beautiful beach away from the crowds, Chinamans Beach will be ideal!
8. White Sands Walk & Scribbly Gum Track
These two easy walks offer some of the most beautiful views in Jervis Bay National Park.
They take you down in the forest, along the coastline and are the perfect opportunity to discover stunning beaches such as Greenfield Beach and Chinamans Beach.
If you are lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of dolphins jumping!
If you wonder what it looks like, you will be happy to know that most photos in this article were taken on this trail.
- Length: 2.5 km loop
- Grade: Easy
- Time: Between 30min and 1h30.
- Starting point: Greenfield Picnic Area
9. Cave Beach
Cave Beach is not as white as the others but it is the perfect beach for adventurers! It’s quite big and the perfect place to go camping.
The Cave Beach campsite is very popular and run by the Booderee National Park.
If you love nature, seeing kangaroos on the beach and want to go snorkelling, Cave Beach will be your paradise
10. Murrays Beach
Murrays Beach is very similar to Hyams but a bit further from the nearest towns, making it less crowded. This little gem is perfect for a relaxing day!
11. Blenheim Beach
Blenheim Beach is another option if you are looking for something a bit secluded. It’s surrounded by trees and known to be a very good spot for snorkelling!
12. Nelsons Beach
If you are looking for a beautiful beach in Vincentia, Nelsons Beach will be perfect.
This beautiful long beach is easily accessible from most accommodation and restaurants.
It’s also one of the most popular dog-friendly beaches in Jervis Bay.
13. Iluka Beach
Iluka Beach is located a bit more south, near the village of Jervis Bay.
It’s a perfect combination of all of the above! You can enjoy the wildlife, white sand and go snorkelling!
14. Green Patch Beach
Located in the Booderee National Park, Green Patch is an all-time favourite for families in Jervis Bay!
It’s the perfect spot to spend a quiet and fun day. You will also find barbecues, making it easy to get lunch.
Finally, it’s common to see wallabies, echidnas and parrots on the beach. The kids love that!
15. Hyams Beach Trail
If you want to discover the birdlife in Jervis Bay, the Hyams Beach Trail will be perfect for you.
It was even nicknamed the Bird’s Spotter walk! Although short, it is quite a hard hike though so bear that in mind.
- Length: 2 km loop
- Grade: Hard
- Time: Between 45 min and 1h15.
- Starting point: Hyams Beach
16. Munyunga waraga dhugan loop walk
This one is the perfect trail to start discovering Booderee National Park.
There are signs along the way that will tell you everything you need to know about the aboriginal culture in Jervis Bay!
Perfect to discover plants, animals and history at the same time!
- Length: 5.4 km loop
- Grade: Moderate
- Time: 2h30
17. Hare Point Walking Track
Located near Callala Bay, the Hare Point Walking Track is perfect for people who want to get a bit of everything. Forrest, beach, birds… it has it all!
That having been said, it is a hard walk and there aren’t many signs so please be careful!
- Length: 6 km loop
- Grade: Moderate
- Time: 2h30 to 3h
18. Steamers Beach walk
This two-hour walk is perfect to discover more of Boodemeere National Park. You will start with a walk through the bush, up to Brooks Lookout and down to Steamers Beach.
- Length: 4.6 km return
- Grade: Moderate
- Time: 2 hour
- Starting point: Steamers Beach Car Park
19. St George Head Circuit
This one is for serious hikers! It’s an 11 km walk that will take you most of the day.
I wouldn’t say it’s particularly hard but it was longer than any other walk in Jervis Bay.
You will discover stunning places such as Kittys Beach, Blacks Harbour, Whiting Beach and Blacks Waterhole.Â
I would recommend asking for as much information as possible at the visitor centre though.
There aren’t that many signs so you need to make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into.
Restaurants in Jervis Bay
Jervis Bay is ideally located along the coast.
There are many fresh products in the area including fish, vegetables and fruit. If you want to discover the best restaurants in Jervis Bay, here are some examples that could help you choose where to eat.
The Huski Pub at the Huskisson Hotel
The Huski Pub has been around for a long time and known as one of the best restaurants in Jervis Bay.
They are open every day of the year and offer a beautiful selection of dishes. Everything is made with fresh and local products and of course, love!
Every day they come with new daily specials, inspired by the season! Perfect to enjoy some amazing food! If you like fish, you will love it even more!
It’s also a nice place to get drinks!
Hyams Beach Café
I know this is not a restaurant, however, that’s one of the best cafes in Jervis Bay.
The food is very good but the best thing about this cafe is its location and fish and chips! Located by the beautiful Hyams Beach, you can grab a delicious fish and chips and head to the beach for a picnic!
I promise that will be a lovely lunch! So yeah, it won’t be exactly the best food of your life (although don’t get me wrong, it’s very good!) but it will be one of the best meal of your life!
Stonegrill
The Stonegrill is located in Huskisson. It’s well known for its excellent food and meat!
They serve the meat and fish on hot stones. Quite different from everything else in the area.
Accommodation in Jervis Bay
Choosing your accommodation in Jervis Bay is one of the best parts of planning your trip!
There are many options and for all wallets! As it is a marine park, you will find many campsites but also amazing villas, cottages and resorts!
Please note that there aren’t a lot of hotels in Jervis Bay. As a matter of fact, I didn’t include any in the list below as I don’t find them as charming as the houses!
Luxury accommodation in Jervis Bay: If you are looking for a beautiful villa with luxury equipment and beautiful environment, the Treehouse Jervis Bay will be ideal. Located in Vicentia, it’s a very good starting point to go and explore the bay. There are 5 beautiful bedrooms and a big living room!
Mid-range accommodation: When it comes to mid-range accommodation, you will find very nice resorts in Jervis Bay with affordable prices.
Located only a few yards away from Shark Net Beach, The Huskisson offers amazing accommodation for a fair price.
If you are willing to go a bit further from Jervis Bay, you can opt for Ingenia Holidays Lake Conjola for example. It’s perfect for families and couples looking for comfy place with amazing facilities.
Budget accommodation: If you are on a budget, you may want to go camping in Jervis Bay! And you would be right to do so. The surroundings are beautiful and it’s one of the best and safest places to camp in Australia. There are a few caravan parks in Jervis Bay that offer both bungalows and tent pitches.
One of the most recommended camping in Jervis Bay is Jervis Bay Holiday Park.
How to get to Jervis Bay?
Despite being located in quite a remote place, Jervis Bay is quite a popular destination. There are many ways to reach it.
The best way to get to Jervis Bay is by car. You will probably want to move around once you get there so having a car will come in very handy.
Sydney to Jervis Bay
Jervis Bay is 200 km away from Sydney. It will take you about 3 hours to get there. If you can’t drive, you can take a shuttle from the city or the airport.
Melbourne to Jervis Bay
From Melbourne, it will be a bit of trek but it’s totally feasible! It’s a very popular stop on the Melbourne to Sydney Coastal drive. If you choose to take the shortest route, via Albury, Jervis Bay is about 800 km away from Melbourne. If you don’t stop (which you should!) it will be a 9h trip.
When is the best time to go to Jervis Bay?
The amazing thing about Jervis Bay is that you will find a reason to go pretty much all year round!
If you want to enjoy the beaches, the best time to go is summer (December to February). It’s the perfect time to swim, snorkel, dive and surf!
Spring is also a good time to go if you want to avoid the crowds and still enjoy nice weather. If you want to do the walks rather than spending all your time on the beach, spring will be perfect for you!
Finally, if you want to see the whales, winter will be the best time for you! Humpback whales can only be spotted in winter!
What to pack for Jervis Bay
It’s always a bit hard to give a Jervis Bay packing list as it really depends what you are into and when you are going to go.
However, here is a list of the essential things to take:
- A bikini
- Walking shoes
- Beach towel
- Shorts
- Dresses
- Thongs
- Sunscreen
- Hat
- Mosquito repellent
If you are going to Jervis Bay in winter, for whale watching, for instance, I’d recommend getting a good wind jacket as well.
Where is Jervis Bay?
Jervis Bay is located on the southern coast of New South Wales. It’s part of the Shoalhaven region. The nearest town is Nowra.
It’s about 200 km from Sydney and 800 km from Melbourne.
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