A vast, protected bay three hours south of Sydney, Jervis Bay is famous for some of the whitest sand in the country — from Hyams Beach to the quiet coves of Booderee National Park — plus resident dolphins, a marine park, and the easy-going town of Huskisson. Here's how to make the most of it.
Jervis Bay is a huge, sheltered bay on the NSW South Coast, ringed by national park and beaches of extraordinarily white sand. The water is clear and calm — it's a declared marine park — which makes it perfect for swimming, snorkelling, kayaking and dolphin watching. Huskisson, on the western shore, is the main town, with the cruises, cafes and dive shops; Vincentia and Hyams Beach sit nearby, and Booderee National Park caps the southern end.
It's the headline destination of the NSW South Coast, and one of the most rewarding short breaks from Sydney. A Cooee Tours day tour brings you the highlights without the three-hour drive, or we can build Jervis Bay into a longer coastal itinerary.
The sand: among the whitest in Australia, from Hyams to Booderee
The water: a clear, calm marine park — superb for snorkelling and kayaking
The wildlife: resident dolphins year-round, whales in season
The base: Huskisson — relaxed, walkable, full of good food
Jervis Bay is about 3 hours' drive south of Sydney.
By car: the beaches and Booderee are spread around the bay, so a car or tour is ideal
On foot: Huskisson is walkable, and the White Sands Walk links Greenfield and Hyams beaches
On the water: cruises, kayaks and dive boats depart Huskisson
Hyams Beach gets the headlines, but Jervis Bay is ringed with beaches just as white — many far quieter. Here are the standouts.
The famous one — dazzling white sand and clear water. Small village with very limited parking; come early or visit on a tour.
White sand with easy parking, grassy picnic areas and shade — one of the best family options, and the start of the White Sands Walk to Hyams.
Inside Booderee National Park — arguably the most beautiful beach in the bay, backed by bush and usually quiet (park entry fee applies).
Local-favourite white-sand beaches on the western shore near Vincentia, calm and good for families.
A surf beach within Booderee with a popular campground behind it — the spot for surfing and a wilder feel.
Quieter pockets around Vincentia and the western shore, ideal when Hyams is busy.
Hyams Beach is a small residential village with strictly limited parking that fills early over summer and long weekends. Arrive early, respect the residents and signage, and consider Greenfield, Murrays or Chinamans — every bit as white, with room to move. A guided tour avoids the parking issue altogether.
At the southern end of Jervis Bay, Booderee National Park is owned by the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community and jointly managed with Parks Australia — one of Australia's most significant examples of Aboriginal land ownership. "Booderee" means "bay of plenty" or "plenty of fish" in the local Dhurga language, and the park lives up to it.
Entry fee: a vehicle pass applies, payable at the entry station and valid for several days
Peak periods: the park can reach capacity and close its gates on the busiest summer days — arrive early
Respect Country: this is Aboriginal-owned land; follow all signage and leave no trace
Resident dolphins year-round from Huskisson, with humpback whales added May–November. The calm bay makes for smooth, scenic cruising.
The marine park's clear water, reefs and seagrass make it among the best easy snorkelling and diving in NSW. Operators run trips from Huskisson.
Paddle the sheltered bay and explore coves and beaches inaccessible by road — hire or join a guided paddle from Huskisson.
An easy coastal walk between Greenfield and Hyams beaches, with white sand, clear water and frequent dolphin sightings offshore.
Dramatic clifftop views at the bay's northern head, via the Beecroft Peninsula (access can be closed for Defence activities — check before you go).
Cafes, galleries, the Lady Denman maritime museum, weekend markets and a relaxed seaside-town feel — the heart of the bay.
See the full range on our South Coast tours page. Day tours include Sydney pick-up and drop-off.
Hyams Beach, a Jervis Bay highlight or two and Kiama on the way, with the option of a dolphin cruise. The white-sand classic from Sydney.
A fuller day: a dolphin cruise plus time in Booderee National Park and the bay's best beaches, with a local guide.
Stay overnight in Huskisson and take it slow — beaches, Booderee, a cruise and snorkelling, tailored to your group.
Dolphins: resident in the bay year-round
Whales: roughly May to November on migration
Jervis Bay is part of Yuin Country, and is home to the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community, who own Booderee National Park and have cared for this bay, its beaches and its waters for tens of thousands of years. The names of the land and sea here — including "Booderee" — come from the local Dhurga language.
Cooee Tours acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Jervis Bay, including the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community, within Yuin Country, and pays respect to their Elders past and present. We travel on Country with care and respect, and encourage visitors to support Aboriginal-led experiences.
Hyams Beach is the famous one, but Jervis Bay is ringed with equally white-sand beaches. Greenfield Beach has easy parking and picnic areas, Murrays Beach inside Booderee is stunning and quiet, and Chinamans and Blenheim are local favourites. For families, the calm western-shore beaches around Vincentia are ideal.
Yes. Booderee National Park charges a vehicle entry fee, valid for a number of days, payable at the entry station. The park is owned by the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community and jointly managed with Parks Australia, and the fee supports its care. Camping is available and books out in peak periods.
Jervis Bay has a resident population of bottlenose dolphins, seen on dolphin-watching cruises from Huskisson all year. These are wild dolphins viewed from the boat; organised swim-with-dolphins experiences are not generally offered, as the focus is on respectful, low-impact wildlife watching in the marine park.
Hyams Beach is a small residential village with very limited parking that fills early in summer and on long weekends. Arrive early in the morning, be respectful of residents, or visit one of the equally white nearby beaches like Greenfield or Murrays. A guided tour removes the parking stress entirely.
Yes — Jervis Bay is a marine park with clear water, seagrass meadows, reefs and abundant marine life, making it one of the best easy snorkelling and diving spots in NSW. Popular shore-snorkelling sites sit around the bay, and dive operators run trips from Huskisson.
Plenty — a dolphin or whale cruise, snorkelling and diving in the marine park, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding, the White Sands Walk, exploring Booderee National Park and its botanic garden, and the cafes, galleries and markets of Huskisson and Vincentia.
It's about three hours each way from Sydney, so a long day trip is possible and covers Hyams Beach and a highlight or two. To enjoy Booderee, a cruise and a couple of beaches without rushing, an overnight in Huskisson or Vincentia is well worth it.
Summer has the warmest water and is busiest; autumn is a sweet spot with warm seas and fewer crowds; winter is quiet and good for whale watching; and spring brings whales heading south. Dolphins are present year-round, so there's no bad time for a cruise.
📞 0409 661 342 | ✉ contact@cooeetours.com.au
Level 2, 200 Adelaide Street, Brisbane QLD 4000 |
Home | All Tours | About Us | Book a Tour