Three hours south of Sydney is a little patch of paradise called Jervis Bay, where the sands are blindingly white
The obvious choice of activity in Jervis Bay is to take advantage of the great outdoors. The spectacular bay plays host to over 90km of natural beaches and a raft of water-based pursuits – from dolphin and whale spotting, to chartered sailing, kayaking from what is claimed to be the world’s whitest sand – Hyams Beach.
Huskisson is a stunning town on the shores of the Jervis Bay Marine Park. It’s always busy during tourist season, with the cafes, shops and galleries full of tourists. If you’re looking for proximity to restaurants and shops, we recommend booking a stay in Huskisson.
Looking to stay near Huskisson? You can check out some local Airbnbs right here.
The next town south from Huskisson is Vincentia, which is a few minutes drive away. If you're looking for a quieter place to stay away from the buzz of tourists, it's well worth it. Vincentia has plenty of beautiful beaches including the dog friendly Nelsons Beach.
Looking to stay in Vincentia? You can check out some local Airbnbs right here.
Hyams Beach is a short drive south of Vincentia and has plenty to offer. The now residential area can get super popular from June to August, so getting a parking spot can feel like quite the competition between eager tourists. But this just goes to show how gorgeous the beach truly is.
Looking to stay near Hyams Beach? You can check out some local Airbnbs right here.
St Georges basin is only a short drive from Huskisson and Vincentia, nestled right on the northern shore and near Sanctuary Point. If fishing, boating and swimming are the top activities in your trip itinerary, this is the perfect place for you.
Looking to stay near St Georges basin? You can check out some local Airbnbs right here.
Why break city limits for a weekend only to check into a ruthlessly urbanised hotel? To make the most of Jervis Bay’s gentle and pristine beaches, crystal water coves, and the verdant Royal National Park that hems its coast set up camp at Worrowing Eco Resort. This rustic weekender is the perfect tonic for peace-seeking Sydneysiders. Within the 105 hectares of the Worrowing estate are a handful of purpose built, roomy yet unobtrusive eco cabins.
Designed in the bushman’s hut style and deceptively simple from the outside, the cabins are made entirely from reclaimed building materials, but finished inside with cool, contemporary styling – earthy tones complement the fragrant timber used throughout. Each self-catered cabin comes with a kitchen, TV/DVD, a huge soak tub and very useful gas barbie.
Worrowing Resort is nestled in secluded bushland bordering the Boderee National Park. The resort was designed for the eco-conscious traveller who looks for sustainability and affordability in their tourism experiences. As a buzz phrase, “Eco Resort” gets bandied about a lot these days but Worrowing stays true to the term. Here there’s a seamless synergy of home comforts and nature. One end of the cabin is all glass, evoking a sense of camping, as you peer out from behind the transparent flysheet. Outside the glass is an expansive lumber deck, ideal for communing with the local flora and fauna.
There, to a soundtrack of kookaburra calls and cicada choruses and with a cold drink in hand, you can while away a warm weekend without even leaving the comfort of the cabin. Smack bang in the middle of the bush your only neighbours are the countless families that skip playfully about on your lawn.
Neighbours? That’s right. Eastern Grey Kangaroos and shy Red Neck Wallabies reside in the Worrowing meadows all year round and they seem more than happy to share their idyllic abode, which seems miles from anywhere but, in reality, is only minutes to the sea and the heartbeat of the Jervis Bay area – Huskisson.
For dolphin and whale watching, we recommend going with Dolphin Watch Cruises. You can book online right here.
For a more wallet-friendly way to explore the water, the best kayak hire service comes from Jervis Bay Kayaks, where tuition, guided tours and rentals are all available from the enthusiastic staff.
At the south end on the Bay lies the expansive Booderee National Park – a haven of bushwalks, dune lakes, inquisitive wildlife and stunning secluded beaches. If, like Time Out, you enjoy less company on the beach – go for Murray’s Beach at the very southern tip of Jervis Bay’s crescent, or Steamers Beach on the south side of the park. Both beaches have basic facilities less than a ten minute stroll away. However, we recommend you use those ten minutes more wisely; get back in touch with nature – and pee in the sea (go on, we know you do it when you’re swimming at the city beaches).
If you happen upon Jervis Bay on one of those (ever more present) days of the year when the heavens have opened, the clouds have corralled, and the sound of the rain on your cabin’s tin roof is sending your urbane lugs batty, head down to Huskisson Pictures. This quaint 1913 cinema harks back to the golden age of movies – with its rich burgundy Art Deco interior, the cosy 170-seat theatre heavy with the smell of fresh butter popcorn. With four screenings a day, the old picture house screens current releases with an old fashioned smile.
Hyams Beach General Store is an unexpectedly impressive café/restaurant adjacent to the famous blindingly white beach.
For a decent lunch, pop into Husky Bakery and Café – we suggest you tuck into a Husky steak pie ($4.50) – they’re packed full of huge tender chucks of intact steak wrapped in a pastry that’d make Harry blush. On your way out pick up a slab of signature apple crumble to heat up and demolish back home in the cabin.
As far as seaside dining goes, we dub Seagrass Jervis Bay’s finest; a chic Huskisson restaurant, delivering small but perfectly formed contemporary seafood in a pretty setting under awnings by the sands. Time Out left fat and happy after a light and fragrant John Dory, and for those who can’t see past the red flesh– the rib eye steak is a big and bloody godsend for avowed carnivores!
For nightlife that doesn’t involve conversations with insects, marsupials and jeering birdlife, head to Jervis Bay’s most local ‘local’ – the Husky Pub. A prime setting for refreshments rather than repast, the Husky boasts live music every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. The Enmore it ain’t, but perched on the shores of one of Australia’s most beautiful bays, you’ll forgive the minor aural imperfections when you’re soaking up sundowners on a warm summer evening. The Husky is less than 50m from the shore, and boasts a sea-facing, kid-friendly beer garden with well kept greens running down to the water.
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