Murrays Beach, Jervis Bay: Why visit this Booderee National Park beach?

Visit Murrays Beach in Booderee National Park for white sand, calm, turquoise water, the Murrays Beach sea cave and the walk to Governor Head Lookout. The penguin colony of Bowen Island, Jervis Bay Territory, is just over the channel.

Jervis Bay is known for its white sand beaches, such as Hyams Beach, Blenheim Beach in Vincentia and Callala Beach. But the prettiest one of all might well be Murrays Beach, hidden away in the Booderee National Park.

Jervis Bay accommodation sells out fast. Book in advance for the best rates.

Booderee National Park makes up most of the tiny Jervis Bay Territory, which has different laws and administration to surrounding New South Wales. The national park is jointly managed by Parks Australia and the Wreck Bay Aboriginal community.

Booderee National Park entry fee

Murrays Beach is considerably quieter than most Jervis Bay beaches, partly because you need to pay to enter Booderee National Park. It costs $13 per vehicle for a two day pass.

It’s also quieter because it’s right at the end of the line. The Murrays Beach car park is at the end of the Jervis Bay Road.

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How long is Murrays Beach, Jervis Bay?

Murrays Beach is by no means the biggest beach in Australia – it’s about 510km long. But it feels wild, backed by thick vegetation. It also has the white sands Jervis Bay is famed for.

Crucially, the water is usually calm at Murrays Beach, often taking on photogenic teal and turquoise colours. It faces north, when the Jervis Bay swells come in from the south-east.

This Booderee National Park beach is also protected by Bowen Island, which the beach looks out upon over a 700 metre channel.

Swimming at Murrays Beach, Jervis Bay

You’re not going to do any surfing at Murrays Beach, Jervis Bay, but swimming is relatively safe. There are no lifeguard patrols, but the water is generally calm. Just watch out for currents in the channel to Bowen Island.

If you want more vigorous activity, then you can walk up to the neighbouring Governor Head Lookout. The bush trail has information signs, delving into Bowen Island and the penguin colony that lives there. There’s also the Murrays Beach sea cave just around the corner from the beach.

6 Jervis Bay experiences worth booking now

See the dolphins and lounge above the water on a dolphin cruise with boom netting.
Explore the beaches, spotting wildlife on the way, with a sea kayaking tour.
Watch sunset on the beach, then explore the heavens with an astrophysicist on an evening stargazing experience.
Admire the migrating humpbacks on a whale-watching cruise.
Try cycling on the sand on a Culburra Beach fat-biking tour.
Discover the lesser-visited hideaways on a hidden secrets cruise.

Sea Cave near Murrays Beach, Booderee National Park, Jervis Bay — Man enjoying the sun from a sea cave near Murrays Beach, Jervis Bay in Booderee National Park. Photo by Jordan Robins, courtesy of Destination New South Wales.

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