Explore Jervis Bay: Complete guide

If you’re looking for things to do in the Sydney area, don’t miss Jervis Bay. This huge bay is one of Australia’s most popular beach destinations, and it’s not hard to see why. White sand and crystal clear waters come together in this little corner of paradise, where an incredible range of activities are on offer, from water sports to boat trips. Another highlight of the area is its diverse flora and fauna. Although Jervis Bay is a very popular tourist destination, it retains a wild landscape, where nature is prized above all else. The spot also offers a truly magical spectacle during the whale and dolphin season, not to be missed under any circumstances!

How to get to Jervis Bay from Sydney?

Jervis Bay is located on the east coast of Australia, about a 2h45 drive south of Sydney. The bay is easily accessible, which makes it the ideal destination for a holiday or weekend away.

By car

Driving your own vehicle is the best way to get to Jervis Bay. We recommend you take the Grand Pacific Drive, a 140km highway that starts south of Sydney and ends in Nowra. This route is one of the most spectacular drives in the world. During your journey, you can admire the coastline and its countless breathtaking views thanks to its roads that wind above the Pacific Ocean. You will also cross the famous 665m Sea Cliff Bridge.

If you don’t have your own means of transport, the second best option available to you is renting a vehicle. At Sydney Airport, you can rent a car for as long as you want. This is expensive, but having your own way to get around is a big advantage. Budget at least $280-$300 for two days.

Read more: Vehicle rental Australia

By bus

Jervis Bay has its own airport, but it is a military airport and you can’t get a flight there as a civilian.

A shuttle service (Jervis Bay Airport Express) operates from 7:30am to 8pm from Sydney Airport. The journey takes about 3 hours. To view the timetable, click here.

By train

From Sydney, go to Wolli Creek Station, where trains run daily to Jervis Bay. The price of the ticket varies between $17 and $25 for a (direct) trip lasting 3h30.

On an organized tour

If you want to visit Jervis Bay in a day, there are many tour operators offering excursions from Sydney. Budget about $160 per person including the return trip from Sydney and a whale watching excursion.

When to go and how long to spend there?

Best time to visit Jervis Bay

Jervis Bay has a maritime climate. The best time to visit is from October to April, during the summer and fall seasons. The average air temperature varies from 20 to 24°C, as does the water temperature. But these can easily rise and reach 30 to 40°C. If this sounds too hot for you, you should visit in autumn or spring. That all being said, summer and autumn are the rainiest seasons in Jervis Bay.

In the spring, the temperatures are a little cooler, which is ideal for hiking. Winter is the perfect season for whale watching, as it is their migration period.

We recommend visiting out of season, when there will be fewer tourists. If you can, avoid the crowds and save money by visiting mid-week as opposed to on a weekend, and outside of the school holidays and high season.

How long should I stay?

Jervis Bay is a magical, relaxing place where you can recharge your batteries and connect with nature. You can go there just for a weekend, for a few days or for a longer vacation. The area is full of things to do and explore, so you’ll never be bored.

What to do in Jervis Bay?

Visit Booderee National Park

This magnificent national park boasts several splendid beaches and small hiking trails. You’ll also find a lovely botanical garden, the ruins of the Cape St George Lighthouse, and historic native sites.

You can visit the national park with a pass that costs $13 per vehicle, and is valid for 48 hours. The pass also gives you access to the botanical garden, which is open from 8am to 4pm (from May to September) or until 5pm or even 7pm (from October to April).

The botanical garden is partly maintained by indigenous people. In the garden are many plants that they use to heal and feed themselves. To understand each plant, leaflets are available at the entrance to the park. The park is made up of several small gardens, each one unique. You can continue your walk along the shores of the lake until you reach the forest. The walk is quite easy, and the whole visit will only take you about 2 hours.

By arriving early in the morning (or the night before), you can do a lot of different walks in the space of a day. It is however recommended to stay at least two days in Jervis Bay to explore the whole area (bay side and ocean side) by foot. Hikes tailored to several different fitness levels are available, especially for families. You will be amazed by the beauty of the landscapes as you walk along the various beaches or cross the forest. Don’t forget your camera!

Some ideas for walks

From Iluka Beach (the first beach in the national park), it is possible to reach the other beaches via paths that run along the bay (Green Patch, Bristol Point and Scottish Rocks). If you don’t want to do the route on foot, all the beaches have car parks. You can therefore easily move around without missing the highlights.

Continuing on Jervis Bay Road, you can reach the last beach on the bay side: Murrays Beach. From this point, you can embark on the Munyunga Waraga trail. This hike is located on the tip of the bay. The view of the ocean and the bay is very pretty, and you can feel the power of the waves crashing against the rocks. On the other side, you can observe the bay, soothing and filled with tranquility.

The first 20 minutes of the hike will bring you to Governor Head. If you wish to continue your journey, you will have to follow the ocean for 5.5km or 2h30. To mix things up, you can do the return through the forest (or vice versa).

Finally, take a look at the national park website to discover the range of walks available to you.

Be careful – part of this wonderful territory is reserved for the Aboriginal community and it is strictly forbidden to go there. To find out what places you are authorised to visit and make sure not to miss anything, go to the information point located at the entrance to the park. You can get a card there that will be very useful to you.

Chill at the beach

Bay side

Hyams Beach easily tops the list of the best beaches in Jervis Bay. This famous beach is a MUST stop! It is known all over the world and reputed to be the beach with the whitest sand in the world! Another funny aspect of the sand is that it “crunches” when you walk on it!

Along the bay, there are more beaches, which also offer immaculate white sand and turquoise waters. We recommend you check out Murrays Beach, Moona Moona Creek, Blenheim Beach, Nelsons Beach, Greenfield Beach and even Chinamans Beach or Hare Bay. For a slightly less touristy spot, go relax at Warrain Beach or Callala Beach and Callala Bay.

Ocean side

Renowned for its beautiful sunset, settle down at Cave Beach in the early evening and admire the spectacle that awaits you. Don’t forget to bring something to drink and eat, make a picnic of it! Wilsons Beach, Steamers Beach and Five Mile Beach are also very nice beaches where you can enjoy the beauty of the bay.

Try some watersports

The multitude of activities on offer at Jervis Bay will delight you. There is something for everyone here, at very affordable prices. The first thing to do if you want to cool off and experience the crystal clear waters of the bay is simply to go for a swim. If you want to see more, put on a mask and snorkel and go for an impromptu snorkeling session at Green Patch or Blenheim Beach.

If that is still not enough for you, you can book a trip with a scuba diving centre. You can choose between an introductory dive or one for more advanced divers. For snorkeling or scuba diving, head to Marine National Park. If you’re a bit more adventurous and want to live Robinson Crusoe style, then fishing is for you! You can also try your hand at taming the waves with some surfing at Cave Beach. Finally, book some stand-up paddle boarding or kayaking and soak up the tranquil atmosphere of the bay. You can rent equipment by the hour or by the day and sign up for lessons if you are a beginner.

In summer, you will need to book in advance to ensure availability as it is a busy time.

Observe wildlife

Jervis Bay is an important nature sanctuary for animals. It is full of terrestrial, marine and flying species. It is very easy to spot grey kangaroos here. If you are staying at Bream Beach Holiday Camp or Bushy Tail Caravan Park then you are guaranteed to see some, and up close! You might also be lucky enough to spot some on the beach, which is another fabulous sight, especially when the sun goes down.

But that’s not all – you will certainly have the opportunity to meet many other species during your stay here. Of course, your chances will be multiplied if you have planned to walk around the national park! The park is home to an incredible array of native wildlife such as snakes, spiders, opossums and swamp wallabies, as well as echindnas, lizards and quolls.

Thanks to the creation of the Jervis Bay Marine Park in 1998, hundreds of marine species have also made their home here. The park protects the coastline for more than 100km. You can come face to face with grey nurse sharks during a diving or snorkeling session. Stingrays are in the game too! If you want to observe some up close (and without getting wet), take the road to Woollamia (15/20 minutes drive north of the bay). Head to the harbour, where stingrays wait to greet returning anglers.

If you’re luck, you may have the opportunity to see little penguins! Finally, there is a remarkable diversity of bird species here, including several cockatoos.

You just have to pay attention to discover the magnificient wildlife in the area, so keep your eyes open!

Go on a trip

Jervis Bay is popular for dolphin and whale watching. The bravest among you will even have the opportunity to swim with whales (and seals)!

The two main tour operators in Jervis Bay are Jervis Bay Wild and Dolphin Cruise.

Jervis Bay Wild offers a 1.5-hour excursion to meet dolphins for $25 (departures at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.). You can also go whale watching for 2 hours for $45. These excursions are only available from mid-May to mid-November during the whale migration season (identical departure times).

Top tip💡

Bring warm, waterproof clothes (in case they are not provided) as well as seasickness medication (it might come in handy).

Where to sleep?

Several campsites and caravan parks are located in and around Jervis Bay. Remember to book your stay well in advance during the high season (December to January). Inside Booderee National Park, you’ll find Bristol Point (tent camping only) and Cave Beach, two campsites a short walk from the beach. In addition, Green Patch is the largest campsite in the national park. Also close to the beach, it accepts motorhomes. You will also find the BIG 4 Caravan Park in Jervis, which has all the necessary amenities.

If you don’t want to give up your creature comforts, Paperbark Camp offers luxury canvas tents with a king size bed, bath and/or shower, small living room, meals (optional), your own terrace etc. These tents can accommodate up to to 6 people.

That being said, you will have to pay a small fortune to be able to enjoy all this luxury! At Paperbark Camp, prices start at $940 for 1 night for 4 people, with breakfast and dinner included.

Finally, for the more adventurous among you, a free rest area is located at the intersection of Princess Highway and Sussex Inlet Road.

Jervis Bay FAQs