The Ultimate Guide to a Relaxing Jervis Bay Getaway
From luxury glamping to whale watching on white-sand beaches, Jervis Bay is an idyllic backdrop for a mini break. We’ve handpicked some stellar accommodation, eateries, and activities to book for your next weekend away.
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Sydneysiders are blessed with more than the average city-dweller's share of nature — beach days and bush walks are as much a part of our identity as sipping flat whites and slurping rock oysters. But there's no denying that the south coast of NSW boasts breathtaking beauty you'd be hard-pressed to find anywhere else. Arguably the jewel in the crown of the region is Jervis Bay, home to dazzling powder-white quartz beaches and unspoiled coastline. I fear you won't find quite the same vistas in our beloved harbour city.
Getting away from the urban sprawl, even just for a few nights, is an ideal way to slow down, switch off and reconnect with nature. A bit of distance (less than three hours, in fact) between you and your day-to-day responsibilities is enough to help you reset and properly unwind. In Jervis Bay, you'll find turquoise waters dotted with whales, dolphins and seals, premium dining experiences, secluded coves, and charming neighbouring towns. It offers all the escapism of a far-flung island locale, without having to venture too far from home.
These are the places to stay, eat, and explore in Jervis Bay, so planning your seaside escape is as simple as deciding how soon you can leave.
Where To Stay
Paperbark Camp
Paperbark Camp
Immersing yourself in nature can help lower stress levels and improve mood, and it doesn't get much more immersive than a canvas safari-style tent enveloped by eucalyptus trees. Enter: Paperbark Camp. Three deluxe tented suites on the banks of the serene Currambene Creek are each built on an elevated wooden landing, creating a sense of seclusion among the treetops. From a deckchair on your private porch, you can sip your morning coffee surrounded by dense bushland and a cooling sea breeze.
For glampers more interested in the glamour than the camping, all three suites offer hotel-style comforts. The interiors are more lavish lodge than tarpaulin in the bush, featuring polished hardwood floors and private open-air ensuites with freestanding baths and showers. Even the toiletries reflect their nature-meets-luxury ethos, with lush soaps and lotions handmade from organic ingredients.
Nearby walking trails meander through scrub and mangrove forests. Take an early morning stroll and greet the local kangaroos before a gourmet breakfast at the on-site restaurant, Gunyah, included for guests. Despite the feeling of peaceful isolation, you can reach the seaside town of Huskisson in around 15 minutes by bike (provided on request) along the dedicated path, or in just five minutes by car. If you're up for an adventure, take the 'Paperbark Challenge' and canoe there and back, stopping off for a creekside picnic and a swim. After a day of activity, relax with a massage on your private deck amid the atmospheric sounds of rustling wildlife and native birdcalls.
Come dinner time, you don't have to go far for premium seasonal cuisine. In fact, simply bookend the day back at Gunyah, this time for a candlelit dinner among the treetops. More on that later…
Book your stay at Paperbark Camp here.
Sirena De Sol
Sirena De Sol
Those famed pristine powder-white beaches we mentioned earlier? At Sirena De Sol, you'll be less than a two-minute walk from the most iconic of them all: Hyams Beach, the poster child for Jervis Bay's crystalline coastline. Wake up to glittering waves and marvel at the pastel skies come sundown while strolling along the shore.
The loft-style home itself is an adults-only escape for the aesthetically-inclined. Design-led details characterise this stylish haven, perfect for a couple's retreat. The elevated décor is reminiscent of a modern Mediterranean villa, warm and contemporary with strong '70s influences (think bold tiling and curved furniture). Its earthy colour scheme takes cues from the environment around it — ochre-hued furniture and deep green feature walls. Even the main bathroom, fitted with a luxurious rain showerhead, has terrazzo flooring flecked with sun-washed tones.
Avid home chefs will appreciate the marble-clad kitchen, kitted out with top-of-the-range appliances. But if holidays are a no-cooking zone, there are plenty of local restaurants offering takeaway and dine-in options.
Despite the inviting interiors, you'll want to spend a decent amount of time in the multiple outdoor lounge areas or private garden oasis. Have a rinse under the outdoor shower post-beach dip or after a well-earned soak in the hot tub. Come nightfall, get cosy by the outdoor fire pit, enjoying a glass of wine as you while away the evening beneath the stars.
The laid-back neighbouring town of Vincentia is your go-to stop for a cup of coffee and essentials, and your closest hub for exploring cafés, restaurants and shops is Huskisson.
Book your stay at Sirena De Sol here.
Mimosa Lodge
Mimosa Lodge
The hardest part about planning a group trip is often finding a rental that suits the whole crew, but everyone will find something to love at the opulently-appointed Mimosa Lodge. With five bedrooms, three bathrooms and multiple living areas, there's enough room to spread out (see: not drive each other up the wall) without losing the fun that comes with staying under one roof.
The location is hard to beat. Chinamans Beach is directly across the road, putting Jervis Bay's postcard-perfect scenery right on your doorstep. While bopping back and forth from the beach to your home base will keep you sufficiently entertained, you're just down the road from the lively town of Huskisson if good food or an iced latte beckons.
The scenery may be the main attraction, but the spectacular interiors give it a run for its money: think floor-to-ceiling windows, four-poster bed, deep oversized bathtub, and modern furnishing and amenities. Ocean views set the scene for lazy days and long lunches, with an alfresco terrace featuring a built-in barbecue and outdoor kitchen. When golden hour rolls around, gather on the waterfront terrace for sunset drinks or settle in for a movie in the dedicated theatre room. And what shared getaway is complete without yapping the night away in a heated spa — especially one cocooned by lush tropical gardens? Thoughtful extras, including premium toiletries and a locally sourced welcome hamper, make the stay feel that little bit more special.
Book your stay at Mimosa Lodge here.
Where To Eat and Drink
The Gunyah Restaurant
The Gunyah Restaurant
You don't need to be sleeping under canvas to experience Paperbark Camp. Suspended among soaring gum trees, The Gunyah — an Aboriginal word meaning 'meeting place' — is the camp's treetop dining room, welcoming visitors for breakfast, afternoon drinks and dinner.
Seasonality and sustainability shape the menu here, with local produce used to create dishes that reflect Australia's multicultural culinary heritage. Regional wines and locally brewed beers keep things close to home, too. For the full experience, book a candlelit dinner on the verandah, where a three-course à la carte menu is served against a backdrop of native bushland.
If you're after something more casual, head to the Sundowner Deck between 3pm and 6pm for cocktails, drinks and bar snacks among the treetops. Early risers can also stop by for a three-course breakfast, complete with a cooked-to-order main and barista coffee, before heading out to explore Jervis Bay.
The Gunyah welcomes both overnight guests and day visitors, but bookings are essential for dinner, and recommended if you have your heart set on a spot on the verandah.
Pasta Buoy
For a taste of the Italian Riviera without leaving Huskisson, make a beeline for Pasta Buoy. Tucked behind timber-and-iron gates, this casual pasta bar centres around a Venetian-plastered courtyard that feels more European piazza than NSW South Coast.
The concept is simple: fresh, house-made pasta served takeaway-style, with dishes ready in around 10 minutes. Grab a spot in the courtyard or take your pasta across the road to the wharf or Voyager Park for an impromptu picnic by the bay. There's a cocktail bar, too, where drinks can be ordered to stay or poured into jars to take away.
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Pasta is made fresh on site in serious quantities, from rigatoni and gnocchi to trays of lasagne. Come for a quick bowl after a day at the beach, stay for the Tuscan-inspired setting and an Aperol spritz — it's casual coastal dining done particularly well.
The Huskisson Hotel
The Huskisson Hotel
For a quintessential South Coast pub experience, pull up a chair at Huskisson Hotel. Affectionately known as the 'Husky Pub', this local institution has occupied its prime position overlooking Jervis Bay since 1932, making it almost as much a part of the landscape to the locals as the white-sand beaches themselves.
The food keeps things pleasingly unfussy. The bistro serves local seafood, pizzas, burgers and classic pub favourites, so there's a bevy of options if you're travelling with family or a larger group. Grab a table inside or make the most of the enormous wraparound deck, where lunch comes with sweeping views across the bay.
For something even more low-key, head downstairs to the Waterfront Bar on the weekend for cocktails and casual bites by the Jervis Bay inlet. If your visit stretches into the evening, you'll have plenty of reasons to stick around: the pub regularly hosts live music, DJs, and other events.
What To Do
Get Out on the Water
Jervis Bay is just as spectacular from the water as it is from the shore. The bay is home to a resident population of bottlenose dolphins, while migrating humpback whales pass through the region between May and November, making a wildlife-watching cruise one of the best ways to experience it. If you're after something more active, hire a kayak or stand-up paddleboard and explore the coastline at your own pace. For the ultimate freedom, hire a boat and spend the day cruising the bay, stopping at lesser-known coves for swims along the way. Just don't forget snacks and sunscreen.
Beneath the surface, the marine park is home to diverse aquatic life, with snorkelling and diving offering an entirely different perspective on the bay. Murrays Beach and Scottish Rocks in Booderee National Park are your go-to spots, where you might encounter everything from colourful reef fish and blue gropers to rays, octopuses and elusive weedy sea dragons.
Explore the National Parks and White-Sand Beaches
We keep banging on about these beaches, but they really do have to be seen to be believed. For years, there was a long-standing myth that Hyams Beach held a Guinness World Record for the world's whitest sand. It turns out there's no such category and someone had exercised a little poetic licence — but you can see how the rumour started. With icing-sugar sand, jewel-tones sea and dense native bushland fringing the shore, you'd be forgiven for thinking you'd landed somewhere in the Caribbean.
Hyams Beach may be the headline act, but it's far from the only stretch worth laying your towel on. Nearby, Chinamans Beach offers similarly silky sand and clear, calm shallows, while Greenfield Beach is a picturesque spot backed by native bushland. For something a little wilder, venture into Booderee National Park for Murrays Beach and Green Patch. To take in several of Jervis Bay's best-known beaches in one go, follow the White Sands Walk, which winds through coastal forest and connects a string of coves and beaches.
Hyams Beach/ Getty Images/ John and Tina Reid
Explore the Neighbouring Townships
If you stay put in Jervis Bay, you won't run out of things to do, but there's plenty to tempt you further along the South Coast. Head to Currarong to explore the rock pools of Abrahams Bosom Reserve or take in the dramatic views from nearby Point Perpendicular. Culburra Beach is one for surfers, with Culburra Surf Beach and Warrain Beach separated by the whale-watching vantage point of Penguin Head; nearby Greenwell Point is also worth the detour for oysters fresh from the farm.
Further south, Sussex Inlet is built around a network of tidal canals, making it particularly good for boating, kayaking and paddleboarding. If food is the priority, continue to Milton, where heritage streets are lined with bakeries, restaurants, galleries and antique stores, with cellar doors and breweries nearby. From there, it's a short hop to Mollymook for its stunning surf beach and destination dining. With a few extra days up your sleeve, your Jervis Bay mini break can easily become a dreamy South Coast road trip.
For somewhere less than three hours from Sydney, Jervis Bay has a magical ability to make you feel a world away — slowing down here comes incredibly easily. So, when you're craving a break from the pace of city life, consider heading south. A few days spent swimming, wandering, eating and doing very little else might be exactly what you need.
Image Credit: Supplied
Lead Image: Peter Pesta
