Discover white-sand beaches and crystal-clear water on the NSW South Coast.
When it comes to natural beauty, Jervis Bay is hard to beat. About three hours’ drive south of Sydney in the Shoalhaven region near Nowra, the bay stretches for 100 kilometres, bordered by national parks and holiday townships including Huskisson, Currarong. and Callala Beach. The South Coast getaway's most famous attraction is without a doubt Hyams Beach, often said to have the whitest sand in the world. But it’s just one of many beautiful beaches that dot the shore. The bay is also one of the best whale-watching destinations in Australia, as whales stop to rest in the protected waters during their annual migration from June to October.
No trip is complete without a visit to Hyams Beach, the main highlight of Jervis Bay National Park. In addition, the White Sands Walk and interconnected Scribbly Gum Track loop through the park, taking you along the coast and through forest and woodland. Stop along the walking track to go snorkelling or picnic at a secluded beach, and look out for native sugar gliders and birdlife including New Holland honeyeaters, eastern spinebills, eastern rosellas, and crimson rosellas. From an elevated viewing platform, Bull Hole Lookout offers fantastic views over the coast and surrounding dunes, all covered in swamp oak, banksias, and wattle trees. Learn the area’s history and culture on a tour with an Indigenous guide to try your hand at weaving and taste damper and native tea.
See the ruins of the Cape St. George Lighthouse perched on the edge of a cliff in nearby Booderee National Park. The park has great camping areas and is home to Australia’s only Indigenous-owned and managed botanic gardens. The area’s beaches include family-favourite Green Patch, Scottish Rocks, Bristol Point, Hole in the Wall, and Murrays Beach, a great place to watch sunrise over Bowen Island. Cave Beach is another popular highlight, known for surfing and offering the chance to see native kangaroos and wallabies.
Explore the tranquil Currambene Creek and its mangrove forests during a safari or sunset cruise aboard the iconic Husky Ferry. You might see wildlife like soldier crabs, sea eagles, and stingrays. The ferry also operates between Myola and Huskisson on weekends.
Just north of Huskisson, Moona Moona Beach is ideal for swimming and picnics, thanks to its shallow water, barbecue facilities, and outdoor showers. While you’re there, catch a flick at Huskisson Pictures, housed in a former community hall built in 1913, or try some local ales and a bite from a food truck at Jervis Bay Brewing Co.