Jervis Bay is 200 km south of Sydney. A remarkable, beach area Jervis is popular for whitest sands and blue water. This destination attracts a large number of tourists from Sydney as well as other cities in NSW. Jervis is a great stopover for visitors travelling from Sydney to Melbourne via Princess Highway. With easy road access and campgrounds available near the beaches, Jervis is ideal for a weekend break or a family holiday. Shoalhaven region is home to some lovely beaches, water inlets, lakes and tropical rainforest.
Explore South Coast NSW
How to travel to Jervis Bay NSW from Sydney?
The driving distance between Sydney and Jervis Bay is approximately 3.5 hours as the speed limit on South Coast Highway varies between 60 to 100 km/hour. You will need to slow down near small towns on the way with speed limits marked at 50 km/hour or even slower. Therefore, keep in mind that the driving time will be more than you expect.
There are no trains from Sydney to Jervis Bay Area. The last train station on South Coast is Bombaderry near Kiama. You will need to catch a local bus to reach Jervis Area. Keep in mind that Jervis Bay is quite spread out and you will need to drive to various beaches in the region. Therefore, relying on public transport is not the best option when travelling to Jervis Bay.
Other ways to travel to Jervis Are is to catch a bus from Sydney to Ulladulla and use local buses to reach various beaches.
Ulladulla is the nearest city to Jervis Bay and is quite popular for fishing and water sports. There are nice cabins available along the river and offers an ideal environment for relaxing by the waterfront and enjoying boating and fishing. Staying at Ulladulla and exploring the Jervis Bay area is also a great idea if you are not driving to Jervis Bay.
Where to stay in Jervis Bay NSW?
Accommodation can be hard to find at Jervis Bay as the camping spots are quite busy during summers. If you are planning to look for accommodation online better option to find affordable accommodation in Ulladulla or Nowra . In order to get to Jervis Bay, you turn left from Princess Highway once you go past Nowra. There is a $10 entry fee to get to the beaches. Camping grounds are available in the area. Enquire in advance for availability.
Popular beaches in Jervis includes Murray Beach and Hyams Beach. Both of these beaches have their own car parks. You will still be required to walk a little bit to reach out to the beach area. The beaches are unsupervised, therefore, practise precaution when swimming in the water. In Murray beach, the water is relatively calm and flow in ripple which is ideal for swimming, boating, kayaking or simply sunbathing on the beach. These beaches are also popular for fishing.
Some of the recommended places to stay includes:
Note: Make sure you are well equipped with your supplies for the Beach. Carry plenty of drinking water, sunscreen, beach towel, food and sunshades (canopy).
Swimming at Murray Beach Jervis Bay
There are secure parking lots available near the beaches and you have to take walking tracks to get to Murray Beach. Hyams beach is very close to residential streets and easily accessible from the streets.
Beautiful Lighthouse at Kiama Bay on the way to Jervis Bay Area
What are the best things to do in Jervis Bay NSW?
Looking for the most popular activities in the Jervis Bay area? Being a coastal region surrounded by national parks, the Jervis Bay area is a great location for a number of outdoor activities including:
- Camping at Bristol Point camping ground, Green Patch Camping Ground or Honeymoon Bay Camping Ground
- Bushwalking at White Sands Beach and Murramong Aboriginal Walking track (2.2 km), Telegraph Creek Nature Trail & Mount Bushwalker Trail in Morton National Park
- Drive inland through Berry to Kangaroo Valley to enjoy some scenic landscapes, kayaking in Kangaroo Valley or get a spa treatment and one of many amazing retreats.
- Enjoy Illwarea Flying Zipline Tour (a fun-packed adventure for kids, advanced booking is required online) and Minnimurra Rainforest Center are some great locations for kids
- Hire a boat at Sussex Inlet ( no licence required), fishing rods, a bike or a kayak
- Try to stand up paddle (SUP) in the calm waters of Swan Lake
- Enjoy great food including local oysters at Culburra and Pumbulla
- Enjoy local produce at local markets and unique dining experiences at the wineries in the hinterland area and Kangaroo valley
Best things to do in Jervis
At Murray beach, the water flows in ripples and as you step into the water the sand is white and the water is clear and absolutely refreshing. You can sit in your beach floats and enjoy and nice cool beer while drifting over the water. You will spot occasional fishing boats and tour boats pass by you.
Another 200 km from Jervis takes you across beautiful Morton national park. The drive is uphill and you can see beautiful mountain ranges stretching westward. The region is very scarcely populated and you come across lazy towns with buildings dating back to the 1880s.
For more adventures travellers several interesting activities include:
- Book a Fishing Charter
- Book a Dolphin Watching Tour
- Simply enjoy a Walk along the beach area
- Enjoy a 1.4 km boardwalk near the Huskisson Beach area. Access from Dent Street & Wollamia Street, Huskisson NSW 2540
Driving from Jervis Bay to Canberra
If you have a couple of days to yourself, exploring the central NSW towns and driving up to Captial Territory is a great way to explore the beautiful landscapes of NSW. Bateman's Bay is located at a distance of 141 km and takes around two and a half hours of driving along the princess highway to reach this amazing destination. Batemans Bay area is popular for fishing, seafood and watersport. The water inlets around the city are home to a local variety of freshwater fish.
If you are looking for some deep water adventure, charter a boat with one of many local operators for the deep-sea excursion. Alternatively, you can enjoy kayaking, paddleboards or snorkelling in the pristine waters.
The B52 freeway connects, Batemans Bay to the capital Territory. After an early checkout from Jervis, you can spend a day in Batemans bay and in the late afternoon drive up to Canberra for a night stay and a full day of exploration before heading back to Sydney from the Hume Highway.
Driving from Batemans Bay to Canberra
Canberra has a laid back feel to it with a thriving student population studying at local universities. The city of full of life during Parliament sessions and you will observe plenty of activity around town. Weekends are lively with plenty of activity in the downtown area having massive shopping Malls and a number of great restaurants and a Casino.
Floride the flower festival is celebrated between September to October and attracts around half a million people from around the country.
One of my favourite attractions in Canberra is the Telstra Tower commanding 360 degrees views of the region. A visit to the Parliament House and local Museums is a must to learn about the cultural history of Australia.
Exploring Canberra
The drive back from Canberra to Sydney along Hume Highway takes around 3 hours. Stopover at Goulburn to take some pictures with the Big Marino. I stopped over for a lunch at the famous Paragon Cafe located on the main street in the town of Goulburn.
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Other Interesting locations in this region