Australia Features

Awesome Things to Do in Jervis Bay, Australia

Have you heard of Jervis Bay? Located only three hours south of Sydney, Jervis Bay has been getting a lot of attention from beach enthusiasts around the globe for its pristine white sand beaches. Hyams Beach, which ranks among many unofficial lists of the best beaches in the world, is one of the most popular white sand beaches in this area. With so much promise for a great holiday, Jon and I made sure we had enough time to explore Jervis Bay.

With nearly a full week on hand, we explored some of the best beaches, discovered some amazing wildlife and had the best time in Jervis Bay. Here are some of the best things to do in Jervis Bay, Australia:

Hyams Beach

Perfection. Hyams Beach ticked every box of a ideal beach holiday destination. We made sure to visit the beach early in the morning so we could skip the crowds. What’s better than having almost a whole beach to yourself? Hyams Beach is definitely one of the most picturesque beaches we’ve visited — we were blown away by its long stretch of powdery white sand and crystal clear blue water. I was so mesmerized by this beach, I just literally took my time admiring the waves crash against the shore. I love that there’s also not a lot of development here to obstruct the tropical island feel. The beach is surrounded by lush trees which made the area feel very secluded. Hyams Beach definitely lives up to the hype. We went back later in the day to check out how busy it gets – it wasn’t too bad. There were a few people hanging out close to beach access but it was almost deserted otherwise.

Chinamans Beach

One of our favourite beaches in Jervis Bay, Chinamans Beach (despite its outdated name) is like a  smaller version of Hyams Beach. It’s essentially the same stretch of beach! Chinamans beach offers the same spectacular scene with dazzling white sand and turquoise blue waters. I could spend ages just relaxing on this gorgeous beach. The thing I loved most about Chinamans beach was the calmer water. While some people love the waves, it’s nice to swim in shallow calm waters (says the person who isn’t a great swimmer).  Due to its size, it’s also a lot easier to capture on camera (if that’s a consideration for you).

Huskisson Beach

Huskisson Beach is another popular beach in Jervis Bay, mainly because of its location, close to Huskisson, one of the best places to stay if you are out to explore Jervis Bay. Huskisson Beach has a lot of character in terms of its shoreline with a little sandbar which extends towards Moona Moona Creek. With long stretches of calm water, Huskisson Beach is another great stretch of beach, ideal for families.

Huskisson is a great are to base yourself while visiting Jervis Bay with its variety of cafes and restaurants. Compared to Hyams Beach, there are also more affordable accommodation options located closer to the beach front.

White Sands Walk

Connecting  Hyams Beach to Huskisson beach, the White Sands Walk is one of the best ways to explore the many stunning beaches in Jervis Bay. You’ll be rewarded with spectacular views of Jervis Bay while traversing the walking trail above the different white sand beaches. If you love bird watching, you’ll be thrilled to know that there are many species of bird life to discover here.

Dolphin Tour with Boom Netting

One of the best things to do in Jervis Bay is to explore Jervis Bay on a boat to see the surrounds and discover its great marine life. During our visit to Jervis Bay, we went aboard Jervis Bay Wild‘s boat  tour with the hope of seeing some of the local dolphins. The tour didn’t disappoint. While it took a little while to find them, considering the vast area the boat had to cover, we saw bottlenose dolphins in great numbers and at a very close distance! It was definitely one of my best dolphin encounters! We spent a bit of time wandering around the bay with the dolphins swimming beside the boat. We really appreciated the skipper extending the tour a little longer than usual so everyone could have a chance to fully experience the dolphin encounter.

Another awesome thing about Jervis Bay Wild’s dolphin tour is the boom netting experience (they are the only tour operator that does this in Jervis Bay). Not everyone did the boom netting but I’m so pleased I did it! Imagine an outdoor spa bath while at sea. It was a so much fun! It was surely one of the most memorable boat tours I’ve done and I highly recommend it.

During the winter season, Jervis Bay Wild also offer Whale watching tours, where you have a chance to see some of the different whales in this part of Australia.

Booderee National Park

Another great area to explore in the Jervis Bay Territory is the Booderee National Park. This area offers many outdoor activities including camping, swimming, hiking and snorkelling. There are a many place to explore here including beautiful white sand beaches, a botanical garden and the Cape St George Lighthouse. If you are wanting to find some kangaroos, this is also a great area to spot them. You can easily spend a day or two in this area. Note that there is a $13 park fee, valid for 48 hours per vehicle.  You can purchase the Booderee National Park passes online or at the park entrance.


Disclaimer: We were hosted by Jervis Bay Wild on our Dolphin with Boom Netting Tour at Jervis Bay. Thoughts and opinions in this post are our own.

Have you heard of Jervis Bay? Do you have plans to visit Jervis Bay? Let us know. 

About the author

Gia Kristel Algie

Currently based in New Zealand, Gia grew up in Manila, lived in Singapore for three years and travelled the world for nearly two years. From watching sunsets to hiking mountains, she loves the outdoors. She enjoys living in big cities but takes pleasure staying in quaint, small towns. An aspiring photographer and budding writer, she is the voice behind Mismatched Passports, a travel blog dedicated to the journey around the world with her husband, Jon.

Leave a Comment