Jervis Bay was one of the first places I visited after moving to Australia 8 years ago. Famed for white sand beaches, abundant marine life and beautiful national parks, it has remained one of my favourite spots in Australia. Most recently, I took the babies and my parents and spent a long weekend in Huskisson. It was their first visit, and I planned what I think is the perfect way to spend 3 days in Jervis Bay.
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It’s under a 3 hour drive from Sydney to Jervis Bay, making it an ideal spot for a weekend away from the city, but you can easily fill a week here. The drive itself also passes some lovely spots, including the Royal National Park, the surf havens of Thirroul and Killalea and the towns and villages of Kiama, Gerringong and Berry. So I recommend allowing some time to enjoy the drive slowly, stopping for swims, coffees, food, shopping and more along the way.
If you’re travelling with kids like me, there is a fantastic park at Berry called Boongaree Rotary Nature Play Park which is well worth stopping at to let off some steam.
This itinerary allows for three days in Jervis Bay and three nights. If you only have two nights, then I suggest cutting the afternoon of the last day.
Where to Stay in Jervis Bay
There is lots of accommodation in Jervis Bay, from campsites and glamping to holiday houses and hotels. Huskisson is a good base for a weekend in Jervis Bay as it’s in the centre of the Bay which means you can easily visit and drive to each side. It also has some lovely shops, cafes and restaurants, and gorgeous beaches. A highlight is Moona Moona Creek and Reserve which are good for kids, with shallow, sheltered water to play in and a children’s park.
We stayed at Oyster Catcher Huskisson. This gorgeous holiday house is a 5 minute walk from the beach and a 15 minute stroll from the town, but it’s located on a quiet leafy street and feels a world away.
We had such a great stay here, spending many evenings enjoying a glass of wine or dinner on the beautiful terrace. The low bunk beds were perfect for our toddler and the spacious lounge was the perfect spot for the little ones to play while we relaxed (as much as you can relax with a toddler and a baby!). I even managed to take a bath in the huge bathtub without the kids bothering me which was a real highlight!
The three bedrooms were perfect for our family, with my parents enjoying some privacy on one side of the house while we had the kids next to us on the other. We didn’t make use of it during our stay, but there is also a cosy fire pit out the back which I imagine would be lovely during the colder months.
We try wherever possible to travel and live sustainably and Oyster Catcher has been built with sustainability in mind, architecturally designed to minimise the need for air conditioning and heating, as well as using solar power and captured rainwater.
Jervis Bay Itinerary
Jervis Bay Map
Day 1 in Jervis Bay
Jervis Bay is famous for its stunning white sand beaches and there are plenty to choose from. You’ll have no doubt heard of Hyams Beach, which is listed in the Guinness World Records as having the whitest sand in the world. And you will, of course, visit the beautiful beach on this itinerary. However, my personal favourite is another Jervis Bay beach, located in Booderee National Park. The destination for the first day of your Jervis Bay itinerary.
Booderee National Park is an incredible spot, located on Aboriginal land, it is managed jointly by the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community and NSW Parks and Wildlife. Here you’ll find beautiful beaches, trails, campsites and a botanic garden.
There is a fee to access the park, but this gives you entry for 48 hours, meaning you can visit multiple times during your trip if you wish. Aim to arrive early, and once inside the park make your way to Murrays Beach. It’s a 5 minute walk through the forest from the car park to the incredible white sand beach with views of Bowen Island and the northern headland of the bay in the distance.
Spend the morning here, swimming in the crystal clear waters and exploring the rock pools and a cave at the eastern end.
You’ll need to bring a packed lunch as the nearest cafes are in Jervis Bay Village. Picnic on the beach and then spend the afternoon exploring one of the trails, checking out the other beaches or wandering the botanic gardens. Greens Patch is another idyllic spot for a swim.
In the evening, stroll into Huskisson for dinner at Wild Ginger, an Asian fusion restaurant with excellent cocktails.
Day 2 in Jervis Bay
Head into Huskisson for breakfast at 5 Little Pigs cafe and wander around the gorgeous boutiques. This is also a great rainy day activity if the weather in Jervis Bay isn’t good during your stay.
After a light bite for lunch, join a Jervis Bay dolphin cruise and enjoy beautiful views of the coastline and white sand beaches from the water. On our trip, we saw a large pod of dolphins playing close to the shore at Booderee National Park and they hung around for ages swimming below the bow of the boat. It was magical – particularly as it was the first time seeing a dolphin for our toddler.
During the winter months, there are also whale watching tours in Jervis Bay and you can even swim with humpback whales with Dive Jervis Bay.
That evening, relax at Oyster Catcher with a wine or beer on the terrace and a delicious Indian curry from Taj Indian, one of the best restaurants in Jervis Bay (in my opinion).
Day 3 in Jervis Bay
On your final day in Jervis Bay, visit the area’s most famous spot – Hyams Beach. Cooked Goose on Hyams is a nice cafe just behind the beach for coffee or breakfast. It’s a 2km beach, perfect for walking and swimming as there is little swell. There is also a good snorkelling spot at the northern end of the beach.
Parking can be busy, especially on weekends so try and arrive early. Another option if you fancy walking and don’t want to worry about parking, is to park at Greenfield Beach and take the White Sands Walk to Hyams Beach.
After a morning at the beach head to Jervis Bay Shellfish Market to buy oysters and mussels for lunch to enjoy on the terrace at Oyster Catcher.
In the afternoon, stay local and walk 5 minutes down the road to Moona Moona Creek. This is such a great spot for kids with a huge shallow sandy area for exploring and a children’s park. Our toddler loved searching for crabs and little fish and we even found a shark egg case which he was very excited about.
On your final night in Jervis Bay, make the most of the gorgeous terrace at Oyster Catcher and have a barbecue before the drive back to Sydney (or wherever you are returning to) the next day.
Other Things to Do in Jervis Bay
- Take a kayak tour of the bay or rent kayaks or SUPs and go for a paddle.
- Join a fishing tour or go fishing from the beach, you might catch flathead, snapper, whiting, Bream and more.
- Go diving in Jervis Bay and explore some of the 60+ dive sites on offer including a seal colony, shark nursery, sea caves and more.
- Visit one of the other beautiful Jervis Bay beaches such as Honeymoon Bay, Greenfields Beach or Sailors Grave Beach.
- Have a craft beer at Jervis Bay brewery.
- Explore the Jervis Bay Maritime Museum.
- Hike the White Sands walk and Scribbly Gum track. These two interconnected walking tracks pass the white sandy beaches of Jervis Bay and through beautiful coastal forest. It’s a 2.5km loop.
FAQs
When is the best time to visit Jervis Bay?
Between October and April the weather is warmer so you can make the most of the beaches. However, if you decide to visit in winter you might be lucky enough to spot a whale during their migration between April and October.
How long to stay in Jervis Bay?
Allow at least 3 days to explore Jervis Bay and its many beaches, the Booderee National Park and the Beecroft Peninsula. Though you could easily spend a week here.
What is the best beach in Jervis Bay?
Hyams Beach is the most famous beach in the bay, with incredible white sand and clear water. But there are many other beautiful beaches including Murrays Beach in Booderee National Park, Greenfield Beach near Vincentia and Honeymoon Bay on the Beecroft Peninsula.