12 Exciting Things to Do in Jervis Bay, NSW

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Jervis Bay is magical. It’s a small, seaside town with less than 400 permanent residents (according to the 2016 census), but you can still be sure there are plenty of things to do in Jervis Bay!

Sure, it’s famous for its beaches, and in Australia, it’s rare to find an ugly one. But every now and then, you’ll discover a beach in Australia that hits the “oh wow this is so magical” qualities.

Just when you think you are getting blasé about just another beach, one opens up to stun you.

That’s the Jervis Bay region.

That’s what happens when beaches are protected by National Parks and Marine parks – pristine, natural and beautiful.

Jervis Bay doesn’t overdo it. You can either go on wonderful adventures and explore the serene nature nearby, or accept an invitation to sit and enjoy the free-spirited ambiance.

If you’re not sure what to do in Jervis Bay, then keep reading to find out…

Where Is Jervis Bay?

The Jervis Bay region is just 180km south of Sydney (about 2.5 hours drive). The nearby town of Huskisson offers ample accommodation options for all budgets, plus lots of nice cafes.

It’s not overdeveloped with high rises and tourist gimmicks. It invites you to wander, cycle, swim, paddle, or cruise out to the ocean to watch for breaching whales.

It sits 200km South of Sydney, which takes about 2 hour 50 minutes driving time. While many people visit Sydney to take the Sydney to Brisbane coastal highway, we urge you to turn your thinking upside down and head south before.

Things to Do in Jervis Bay

Now you know a little bit about how to get to Jervis Bay, it’s time to introduce you to the top Jervis Bay attractions!

1. Walk The ‘White Sands Walk’

Craig billed the White Sands Walk as his favourite coastal walk in Australia so far. I’m not too sure about that, but it’s definitely in my Top 5.

It’s beautiful and virtually free of other walkers. The walking trail meanders around the coast, offering views of the ocean from every step.

It’s also flat, with spectacular views and only a few kilometres. This is the perfect combination of Aussie bush and spectacular ocean.

2. Visit Booderee National Park

The Booderee National Park is one of the main reasons to visit Jervis Bay. It’s the perfect place to go for a hike and enjoy being in nature.

Booderee National Park is an incredibly unique and beautiful place to visit. With stunning white sand beaches and clear turquoise waters, as well as diverse wildlife such as kangaroos, wallabies and over 200 species of birds – it’s no surprise why people flock to this Booderee!

Head over to the Booderee Botanic Garden to learn about native plants and fauna, or walk over to Cape St George lighthouse, or check out scenic views from Governor Head lookout, there’s so much to see and do in this park.

Including…

3. Go Camping at Green Patch Beach

Even if camping is not your thing, you must spend the $11 for a 2-day pass into the stunning Booderee National Park. This has to be one of my Australian favourites.

It’s on a peninsula so you are absolutely spoilt with white sand, turquoise water, pristine, tropical looking beaches with no one on them!

Possums forage around your tent at night, and kangaroos and parrots bounce around to greet you of a morning.

4. Check out The Scottish Rocks

We walked down from our campsite at Green Patch Beach, headed to the right end of the beach and around the rocks and before we knew it we were discovering an amazing place called Scottish Rocks.

These amazing rock formations hugged the cliff and jutted out into the bay. We couldn’t believe our eyes. Craig kept saying “this is as good as you would see anywhere in Australia”.

5. Spend a Day at Famous Hyams Beach

Hyams Beach is famous for having the “whitest sand in the world”. That’s what they claim, and I think I might let them have it.

You hear a lot about Whitehaven Beach and Wineglass Bay, but with the title “world’s whitest sands”, we simply had to check this out.

It really is one of the the most beautiful beaches in Australia, and I do believe this pristine beach has not been given the recognition it deserves.

6. Have a Sunset Drink at Husky Pub

The Husky Pub has a huge beer garden with views out over the bay. It’s a lovely spot to spend the evening hours appreciating the end of a day lived well.

On Sundays, they have live acoustic in the beer garden, so get there early to jag a seat, as it’s a popular place.

Another popular spot to drink a refreshing local craft beer is the Jervis Bay Brewing Co, which has a wonderful beer garden and some of the most delicious beers on the South Coast.

7. Eat the Famous Husky Pie

The Huskisson Bakery & Cafe is famous for pies, and judging by the amount of people in the shop when we visited, word has spread far and wide.

Not only do they make a great pie, but they have LOTS of variety of pies.

Craig enjoyed a potato pie whilst the kids played in the built in playground at the back of the cafe. It’s a great place for breakfast, brunch or lunch.

8. Have Coffee and Breakfast at Hyams Beach Store and Cafe

We didn’t do the breakfast, but the meals looked pretty good as they were delivered to full tables around us.

We sure enjoyed the coffee.

The Hyams Beach Store and Cafe makes for a great retreat after visiting the famous beach, or as a half way rest point during the White Sands Walk.

9. Kayak Along Currambene Creek

We stayed in a cabin for three nights at the Jervis Bay Caravan Park located on a clear waterway accessing Jervis Bay. It’s in the quieter part of town and, although not in the centre of the action, offers a peaceful retreat.

You can cycle along the pathway to Huskisson town, or even better, hire kayaks and paddle your way in. Kalyra and Craig spent a bonding afternoon enjoying the views from a kayak.

10. Swim, Picnic, BBQ and Play at Any of the Beaches

The only problem with this is deciding which beach to choose.

Take your choice from the famous Hyams Beach, Green Patch Beach, Cave Beach, Murrays Beach, Steamers Beach, or other stunning beaches such as Greenfields and Chinamans.

If you’re looking for a beach that offers something more than just swimming, then the Greenfield Beach is a great beach to visit for a picnic.

The Greenfield Beach picnic area is one of the best picnic areas in Jervis Bay since it has a well maintained green space with BBQ facilities and toilets.

11. Catch a Movie at Huskisson Pictures

Huskisson Pictures is a small, quaint little movie theatre that has been placed in a former community hall. The building was built in 1913, and to be honest, it doesn’t look like much has changed this since!

This is the perfect place to watch new movies, in a historic setting that has been sharing picture movies for more than 80 years.

Because Huskisson is so small, the cinema is only open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. You can check showing times here.

12. Go Snorkelling or Diving

If you love scuba diving, you’ll want to check out the Jervis Bay Marine Park as it’s one of the top things to do in Jervis Bay!

There are more than 65 dive sites in the Jervis Bay region, and because of the shape of Jervis Bay, the dive sites are usually sheltered, which means you have greater visibility and calmer waters to swim in.

You can dive and swim with Australia’s northern-most permanent seal colony, a shark nursery, explore underwater sea caves and caverns, as well as dive with whales at the Bluff during winter months.

One of the top diving companies in Jervis Bay is Dive Jervis Bay. They offer several dive and snorkel tours, so check out the Dive Jervis Bay website to see more options.

13. Take In The Scenic Views from Point Perpendicular Lighthouse

There are many places where you can enjoy beautiful views in Jervis Bay. Arguably one of the best views if from The Point Perpendicular Lighthouse, which sits on a cliff at the edge of Beecroft Peninsula, overlooking Jervis Bay.

The views from the historic 1899 lighthouse span across the Booderee National Park, Hyams Beach and sheltered Jervis Bay.

It’s also a great place to go whale watching! Being near to the East Coast of Australia, Jervis Bay has the privilege of being on the humpback whales migration route.

Just off the shores of Perpendicular Lighthouse, you’ll find seals, dolphins and whales swimming happily between the months of June to November.

Where to stay in Jervis Bay

The nearby town of Huskisson offers ample accommodation options for all budgets, plus lots of nice cafes. We stayed in a cabin at Jervis Bay Caravan Park overlooking the river.

Here are a few more you may like:

• The Edgewater Bed & Breakfast features a beautiful waterfront location with panoramic views of St Georges Basin.
• Jervis Bay Motel is located in the center of Huskisson, with beaches, cafes and shops less than 1,650 feet away there are panoramic views of the pristine Jervis Bay Marine Park. 
• Best of both worlds at the Bush to beach one bedroom apartment. From the tranquil bush setting to beautiful Collingwood Beach on Jervis Bay is a 5-minute stroll.
• This affordable, luxurious contemporary home is located on absolute waterfront, with private, direct access to the beach.

Tours you may like

These are some of the bestselling tours in Jervis Bay:

Final Thoughts on Things to Do in Jervis Bay

So there you have it, those are the best attractions in Jervis Bay, and as you can see, there’s a lot to see and do that isn’t just relaxing on the beach.

By now we hope you’ve realised that Jervis Bay is one of the most unique destinations in Australia and is the perfect seaside escape from the hustle and bustle of Sydney.

We hope this guide helped you plan your trip and map out your itinerary. Can you think of any more things to do in Jervis Bay? If so, let us know in the comments.

More South Coast NSW travel tips

• 2 Weeks in South Coast NSW – Travel Itinerary
• 11 Best Beaches in South Coast NSW – Photo Essay
• The Different Views of Narooma – a south coast NSW gem
• If you want to see wild kangaroos in Australia come here
• Chasing chooks at Crystal Creek Meadows, Kangaroo Valley
• What a day at famous Hyams Beach looks like
• Why visit Kangaroo Valley in NSW

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