Things to do in Jervis Bay, NSW
The best things to do in Jervis Bay, NSW, include dolphin cruises from Huskisson, the White Sand Walk in Vincentia and Cave Beach in the Jervis Bay Territory.
Jervis Bay, NSW, is an astonishingly underrated region of Australia. On the New South Wales South Coast, about three hours’ drive south of Sydney, Jervis Bay offers wildlife and white sand beaches.
As the name suggests, the region is based around the bay. But it is a collection of small towns and national parks within the City of Shoalhaven rather than a single destination. Where you base yourself will affect the nature of your holiday.
Things to do in Jervis Bay, NSW: Whale and dolphin cruises
Things to do in Jervis Bay centre around Huskisson, the largest town on the bay. This is where the boat tours leave from. Year-round, Dolphin Watch Cruises and Jervis Bay Wild run dolphin-watching cruises. Dolphin sightings are reliable, as around 100 to 120 bottlenoses live in the bay.
Both companies offer whale-watching cruises during the winter months, and Dolphin Watch Cruises also offers trips to see the fur seals and high cliffs around Point Perpendicular. For Jervis Bay’s whale watching season, aim for mid-May to mid-November.
Things to do in Jervis Bay, NSW: Kayaking and diving
Jervis Bay Wild branches out into equipment hire, too. You can hire a kayak, canoe or stand-up paddleboard to explore the calm water of Currambene Creek.
Meanwhile, Dive Jervis Bay offers PADI courses and diving trips, while dining options include Asian restaurant Wildginger, steak favourite Stone Grill or the Huskisson pub.
What to do in Jervis Bay: Callala Beach and Beecroft Peninsula
On the other side of Currambene Creek are the beach village of Myola, and the longest beach in Jervis Bay – Callala Beach. However, unless you take the Husky Ferry across the creek from Huskisson, it’s a half hour detour of a drive. This is one of the oddities of Jervis Bay – the settlements aren’t all that well connected.
Also on the northern side of Jervis Bay is the Beecroft Peninsula, a good chunk of which is military land. However, there are still some spectacular beaches, including Honeymoon Bay and Currarong Beach. If sticking to the northern part of Jervis Bay, Currarong, Culburra and Callala Bay are the best bases.
Jervis Bay attractions: Vincentia beaches
The southern half of Jervis Bay arguably has more to offer, however. Huskisson is divided from Vincentia by Moona Moona Creek, the mouth of which is a fantastic family swimming spot.
Vincentia is home to several top class beaches, and you can stroll between them on the White Sands Walk. Nelsons Beach is dog-friendly. Blenheim Beach and Greenfield Beach offer bush settings, white sand and good snorkelling. The walk continues to Hyams Beach, the most famous spot on Jervis Bay. Here, the sand is frankly dazzling.
Things to do in the Jervis Bay Territory
South of Hyams Beach, you get to one of Australia’s geographical oddities. The Jervis Bay Territory is a small, separate territory, carved out of New South Wales to give the ACT a port.
90% of the Jervis Bay Territory is taken up by the Booderee National Park. Things to do inside the Booderee National Park include the Booderee Botanic Garden – the only Aboriginal-run Botanic Garden in Australia – and the ruins of the Cape St George Lighthouse.
The beaches are the star attractions, though. Top choices include Iluka Beach, near the Green Patch camping area, and Murrays Beach on the south head of the bay entrance. Arguably the most spectacular beach, however, is Cave Beach on the southern side of the Jervis Bay Territory. This offers the obligatory white sand, but also surf, a cave to explore and a few kangaroos on the walking trails.
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.
Where to stay in Huskisson
The best Huskisson accommodation options are:
- For a holiday park kids will love: Jervis Bay Holiday Park.
- To be right in the centre of the action: Huskisson Hotel.
- For a well-reviewed motel: Jervis Bay Motel.
This article came as a result of a Melbourne to Sydney coastal road trip in March/ April 2022. This trip was supported by Tourism Australia.
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