JERVIS BAY - NEW SOUTH WALES - 2540
Population: 850
Height above sea level: 10m
Latitude: -35.0800
Longitude: 150.4300
Location:  203km south of Sydney
Highway: Off Princes Hwy (1) 
Nearest Major Town: Nowra
Nearest Airport: Wollongong
Touring Area: South Coast

Beach at Jervis Bay


Remember those quaint little fishing villages that once dotted the coastline just outside Sydney ?
They have all but gone these days, apart from one such outpost at Jervis Bay. Over the years Sydneysiders and their forbearers have forgotten about Jervis Bay and have passed by it unknowingly on their escapes down the Princes Highway to the more commercial getaways of Ulladulla and Bateman's Bay.
In the meantime, Jervis Bay has only been visited by the occasional intrepid traveller who has lost their way and accidentally discovered a natural wonderland boasting 'the whitest sand in the world' (Guinness Book of Records) and 'the cleanest water on the east coast of Australia'.
No wonder Jervis Bay has only recently found recognition by our bureaucrats and been proclaimed one of NSW's newest Marine Parks.
Even the rightful owners of these ancient lands have recognised its significance to their heritage and have recently won back ownership of the magnificent former Jervis Bay National Park (now aptly named Booderee National Park, meaning Bay of Plenty, and home to kangaroos, rainbow lorikeets, crimson rozellas, echidnas .... and the list goes on. They operate the park in conjunction with the Australian Nature and Conservation Agency.

Historical
Walter Burley-Griffith drew-up plans for parts of the Jervis Bay region, in the hope that it would become the port of Australia's National Capital. This goes back to the time when the inland site of Canberra was selected to be Australia's National Capital. At the time of Canberra's establishment in 1913, war with Germany was looming and Germany had a colony on Papua New Guinea. Australia needed a navy - fast, and it needed a Federal Port for this navy. Jervis Bay was announced as the site in 1915, and it was proclaimed as Jervis Bay Territory.

A Scenic and natural wonderland
So today, because it was set aside to be part of Australia's National Capital, Jervis Bay has been preserved as one of the natural scenic wonders of Australia.
Jervis Bay:
  • Contains one of only 3 Marine Parks in NSW.
  • Is fringed by spectacular National Parks.
  • Has the whitest sand in the world at Hyam's Beach, according to the Guinness Book of Records.
  • Is at least 6 times bigger in volume (and 4 times bigger in area) than Sydney Harbour.

    It also offers the opportunity to see an incredible diversity of wildlife: seals, dolphins, whales, penguins, kangaroos (even in the streets of some of the villages around the bay), black cockatoos and crimson rosellas. Many people are unaware that just 2.5 hrs south of Sydney they can go on a cruise to see the pods of dolphins that reside in Jervis Bay Marine Park all year round, or on a whale watching cruise in winter to see the Humpback and Southern Right Whales that pass by Jervis Bay on their annual migration to and from the Antarctic. And then there are the little penguins and fur seals that drop into the bay for a little fishing now and then.
    Jervis Bay symbolises the best of the whole South Coast, where the bush and the ocean meet in harmony. It's a fascinating place any time of the year, but especially on those sunny Winter days (when most Sydneysiders head north), which is "Quality Time": you can walk on deserted beaches, breathe the cleanest air you'll ever breathe, see marvellous sunrises and experience millions of stars in the clear night sky. Don't just stopover, stay a while and discover its secrets.
    What other noted persons have observed
    Captain Cook was the first European to sight Jervis Bay in 1770, and he noted what a fine bay it was.

    Stephen Nicholls (Sydney Morning Herald 27/3/99) wrote: "Hyams Beach, on Jervis Bay, may be the State's best-kept secret....And, unlike other world wonders, Hyams hardly receives any press. It's the sort of place that those in the know want to keep to themselves."

    Bruce Elder (Sydney Morning Herald 4/9/99) featured Jervis Bay in his article on places within 200 Km of Sydney "where few people go, which are the best kept secrets of the city's hinterland". He said "Why weave your way through the flotillas of boogie boards, hordes of screaming kids and harassed parents, and have to contend with footpaths made sticky by dripping ice-creams at Terrigal or The Entrance when you could be sitting on the whitest sand in the world (as the local publicity would have it) with a couple of dozen other people at any one of a number of isolated beaches around the edges of Jervis Bay."
    He goes on to write "When the average Sydneysiders think 'holidays' they think "north". Terrigal, Port Macquarie, Byron Bay, Noosa and all the places inbetween.
    A place like Jervis Bay, with its pristine waters, its pure and impossibly white sand beaches and its sleepy weekender ambience, is overlooked."

    On September 23 2000 he also said
    "The near South Coast offers visitors a wonderland of magical experiences....But the real piece de resistance is Jervis Bay with its pristine waters, its pure and impossibly white sand beaches and its sleepy ambience."

    Bernard Zuel (Sydney Morning Herald) wrote:
    "Comparatively little visited outside school holidays (and even then far from a rugrat-infested hellhole), Jervis Bay is one of the most attractive spots on a South Coast not short of beauty."

    Bruce Elder (Sydney Morning Herald 2/10/99) wrote:
    "Jervis Bay is a strange anomoly. To drive into Huskisson or Vincentia is to go back in time when life was less complicated and holidays were usually spent -if the family could afford them - in a shack beside the ocean."
    "There is a kind of old-style family holiday feeling which ensures that the beaches are never crowded.... and there is a pleasant, lanquid sleepiness."
    "There is good diving at various points around the bay... There are excellent bushwalks...with the possibility of seeing great gliders, ... possums, ... kangaroos, ...echidnas, ...bandicoots, ...and bats. The park also boasts 170 species of birds, including crimson rosellas, king parrots, kookaburras, satin bowerbirds, shearwaters and endangered white-bellied sea eagles, the ground parrot and the eastern bristlebird." "The area is so large and diverse that you could spend a fortnight and not do the same thing twice. That is probably a fair measure of the richness of this piece of unspoilt coastline."

    Frommers Guide to Australia lists Jervis Bay under its 'Best of' headings, featuring it in: 'The best places to view wildlife' and in 'The best beaches'. It describes Jervis Bay as an 'Off-the-beaten-track gem', and it also says 'Booderee National Park is nothing short of spectacular. You should make a trip here even if you miss out on some of Sydney's treasures.'
    How long before you discover the secrets of Jervis Bay ?

    SOME FACTS ABOUT JERVIS BAY
  • The first European to sight Jervis Bay was Captain Cook on Endeavour in 1770, and he noted what a fine bay it was. In 1791 it was given its present name by Lieut. Bowen.
  • The George Bass on the ship Cumberland became Jervis Bay's first shipwreck in 1797. Wreck Bay has been the scene of many shipwrecks, from the Hive in 1835, the Blackbird (sent to retrieve stores from the Hive's wreck), and at least eight other ships. Sadly little remains of these wrecks, the last of which was in 1922.
  • In the 1840s man's contact with whales was via a whaling factory ship which operated on the north-eastern side of Jervis Bay, today it's via winter whale-watching cruises.
  • The Wool Road was a privately-funded road built by convicts from Braidwood in the 1840s to transport wool to Jervis Bay for shipment to England. It is still a dirt road, but is now one of the most scenic and fascinating "undiscovered" roads in the SE, traversing Morton National Park.
  • Whilst parts of the sheltered waters of Jervis Bay are declared a NSW Marine Park, other parts are actually Commonwealth protected. This is because the area was selected in 1911 to provide Canberra with access to the sea!
  • The lighthouse built at St George's head had to be destroyed because it was built in the wrong place, and was a danger to shipping.
  • Jervis Bay, with all its natural beauty, is one of only three marine parks in NSW.
  • Hyam's Beach has the whitest sand in the world according to the Guinness Book of Records!
  • The weather on the south coast is similar to that of Sydney, and is much more moderate than inland areas because it's blessed with a temperate coastal climate. In winter the temperature can be almost double that of Canberra!
  • Some people think that the only accommodation is caravan parks and motels, but in recent years a renaissance has taken place, and there now is a large variety of accommodation on offer.
  • Jervis Bay is at least 6 times bigger in volume than Sydney Harbour, and about 140 square kilometres in area.
  • The biggest secret is that there's quite a lot to do apart from lying on the exquisite beaches. There's a multitude of sporting and adventure activities on offer, many of which can be done year-round.
  • Jervis Bay is one of 7 places in the world where marlin fishing can be done from the shore.

    Jervis Bay Description
    Jervis Bay, the jewel of the beautiful South Coast, invites you to share its secrets:
  • Magnificent national parks
  • The beauty and charm of its small towns, hidden creeks and inlets
  • The natural unspoilt beauty of secluded bays, clear blue waters and excellent white-sand beaches
  • A fisherman's paradise, on the bay, in the nearby rivers, lakes and creeks, or tackling marlin out at sea
  • A water-sports wonderland, ideal for swimming, snorkelling, windsurfing, sailing, scuba diving and canoeing.
  • A wildlife haven, with dolphins, black cockatoos, kangaroos, and brilliantly coloured rosellas, king parrots and lorikeets. And in winter you may be lucky and see penguins, seals and whales.
  • In its hinterland you'll also discover rugged scenery, with mountains, waterfalls, creeks, and great bushwalking.

    Booderee National Park
    Booderee Park offers 6,000 hectares of outstanding natural beauty.
  • White-sand beaches
  • Towering sandstone cliffs facing the pounding ocean
  • Tranquil sparkling blue waters within the bay
  • Delightful bushwalks where you'll see an amazing variety of birdlife. Highlight include
  • Green Patch, a favourite picnic spot because of the hundreds of brilliantly coloured Rosellas and Lorikeets, and its friendly kangaroos.
  • The ruined lighthouse at Cape St. George, with spectacular cliff views
  • Cave beach which is a good spot for surfing.
  • Jervis Bay Botanic Gardens which has some lovely walks, a beautiful Rainforest Gully and a wide variety of native plants from around Australia, including displays of mosses, lichens, banksia and bottlebrush

    Huskisson ("Husky")
    The gateway town to Jervis Bay (twenty minutes south east of Nowra), has a relaxed seaside atmosphere and one of the prettiest harbours on the south coast. Huskisson was founded on the 19th century shipbuilding industry, but for today's visitors it's a great base for taking a few days to explore the Jervis Bay Territory, or as a stop-off on your way south (although once you've stopped at Huskisson, you may not want to continue any further).
    Take time to visit some of Huskisson's attractions, which include: a fascinating maritime museum, an interesting antique shop, a charming old cinema, wonderful white sand beaches, a lovely old bakery and a choice of restaurants. There's no shortage of places to stay, with a variety of guesthouses, B&Bs, motels and cabins.
    Choose from a variety of different activities: fishing, diving, surfing, charter a boat, sea kayaking, bushwalking, dolphin watching, whale watching (winter), golf or tennis. Down the road you can go sailing at Sanctuary Point, or visit a lavender farm at St. Georges Basin, whilst at Falls Creek you can go horse riding, canoeing or try your skill at archery.

    Hyams Beach
    This idyllic seaside village is surrounded by National Parks, the two kilometre crescent of "the whitest sand in the world" is beyond comparison. There is a wide range of holiday accommodation available, ask for an accommodation guide at The General Store Cafe, which offers most of the needs of short term visitors.

    Callalla Bay
    Situated on the northern shore of Jervis Bay, this is a popular place for swimming, diving, snorkelling and sailing (the Jervis Bay Cruising Yacht Club is located here).

    Vincentia
    A few kilometres south of Huskisson, this is a residential township and shopping centre that has some lovely beaches.

    Wildlife and Dolphin Watching
    The diversity of wildlife at Jervis Bay is quite remarkable considering its proximity to Sydney. This includes:
  • A pod of about 60 resident Bottlenose Dolphins who live in the Bay all year round. It's a wonderful experience to see them close-up on a dolphin watching cruise.
  • A seal colony to the south of Jervis Bay, and a sanctuary for a large breeding colony of Little Penguins on Bowen Island, at the entrance to the Bay. The penguins are protected and no public access is permitted to Bowen Island, however you may be able to see them and the local seal colony from a charter boat in the winter months.
  • Humpback Whales as they pass by whilst migrating north in June and July and returning south from September to November.
  • Wallabies or grey kangaroos, who you may stumble across on a bushwalk, or see around Green Patch in Booderee National Park.

    Birdlife
    The diverse landscapes of Jervis Bay is home to a large variety of birds. Along the many trails and boardwalks in Booderee National Park and the Botanic Gardens visitors may see: Honeyeaters, Eastern bristlebirds, majestic White-bellied Sea Eagles, Lyrebirds, Satin Bowerbirds, Lorikeets, magnificent Black Cockatoos ("Nowra" is Aboriginal for "black cockatoo"), and brilliantly coloured Crimson Rosellas, and King Parrots.

    Activities
    Jervis Bay offers a variety of outdoor activities. You can play golf at a choice of golf courses, go horse riding, go bushwalking or birdwatching, go reef or deep-sea fishing, go diving, sailing, sea kayaking, mountain bike riding, cycling or dolphin watching. In winter you can take a boat charter and visit the seal and penguin colonies, or go on a whale-watching cruise. If you are interested in maritime or naval aviation history you can see the fascinating exhibits at these museums, and a little further afield you'll also find several wineries. At night you can dine out, visit the lovely old "Huskisson Pictures", or watch the moon glimmer on the bay and be amazed by the thousands of stars that you never see in the city.

    Art and Craft
    The beautiful Jervis Bay region attracts many resident artists and crafts people.
  • Bundanon, the home of the late Arthur Boyd, on the Shoalhaven River near Nowra, is a must for lovers of Australian art. Only open on the first Sunday of each month -bookings essential.
  • Timbery's Aboriginal Gallery in Huskisson for authentic Aboriginal artefacts
  • Pyree craft market (4th Sunday of month)
  • Harv's Gallery in Tomerong, for unique hand-crafted bush furniture.

  • Heritage
    The area around Jervis Bay offers some outstanding heritage attractions.
  • The award-winning Lady Denman Heritage Complex in Huskisson, where visitors can see the 1911 Huskisson-built Sydney Harbour ferry, "Lady Denman', visit the maritime museum, feed fish from the Bay or wander the boardwalk among the mangroves.
  • The Huskisson Trading Post, which is both a charming antique store and the local tourist information centre.
  • The Australian Naval Aviation Museum, between Nowra and Jervis Bay has a fascinating exhibition of vintage aircraft, and holds regular air shows.

  • Bushwalking
    Another great way to really experience the wildlife and wonders of Jervis Bay is to go for a bushwalk. Walking guides are available from Shoalhaven and Booderee Visitors Centres. Popular walks include
  • Wirreecoo trail and mangrove boardwalk at the Lady Denman Heritage Complex in Huskisson.
  • Beecroft headland, which has several walks, some with sites of Aboriginal significance, -Aboriginal tribes have existed here for over 4,000 years. In fact several of the walks in Boodereee National Park were constructed with the help of members of the Jerringa tribe.
  • Point Perpendicular lighthouse near Currarong, which offers stunning views.
  • NSW Jervis Bay National Park, Greenfields Beach (Vincentia) to Hyams beach, and the scribbly gum walk.

  • Eating Out
    After a day of activities or relaxation, you'll find a variety of places to dine out (booking advised). Huskisson has several modern Australian style cafes and restaurants as well as Chinese, Italian and Thai restaurants, not to mention the bistro at the famous Husky Pub. In addition to the restaurants there's the lovely old Husky bakery, famous for its spinach, cheese and chives bread.
    Outside Huskisson you'll find restaurants and cafes in scenic locations such as next to a boat ramp on St. Georges Basin, and at Hyams Beach (a pleasant place to stop on your way to or from the National Park).

  • Accommodation
    There is a proud history of tourist accommodation, dating back to the early 1900s when the phone number for guesthouses were single-digit, and they boasted of having electric lighting! There is a wide variety of accommodation on offer, from cosy B&Bs, elegant guesthouses and a choice of self-contained accommodation, some in historic cottages. Advance booking has always been recommended in summer, but is also becoming advisable in winter (especially at weekends), as increasing numbers of people discover the year-round charms of Jervis Bay.
    PLACES OF INTEREST:
  • Diving & Snorkelling
    Thousands of divers already know that Jervis Bay is second only to the Great Barrier Reef for diving.
    Dive sites offer:
  • Fascinating marine life: seal colonies, giant cuttlefish (a metre or more in length), the strange Weedy Sea Dragons, and in winter, when the visibility is best (sometimes up to 50m), you can see giant sea salps 10-20m in length.
  • Wreck sites: SS Merimbula wrecked in 1928, Wandra in 1915, and the plane wreck of a Firefly lost in 1956.
  • Spectacular formations and features: deep-water reefs, steep drop-offs, underwater caves and tunnels, sea gardens, sponge gardens and kelp forests.
    Snorkelling can be a wonderful experience as well, with some of the more popular sites being at Currarong, and all along the shoreline from Whale Point (SS Merimbula) to Beecroft Head, Green Patch, Murrays Beach, Bristol Point and Honeymoon Bay.

  • Sailing windsurfing and sea kayaking
    If you'd rather be on the water than under it, you can explore the bay by sailing or wind-surfing at Callala, Currarong, or St. Georges Basin (where you can hire catamarans and boards). Another healthy way to explore the Bay is to go on an organised sea kayaking trip (available year-round).

  • Horse-riding.
    There's good horse-riding around Falls Creek, where tracks go through natural bushland and offer an opportunity to see kangaroos, echidnas, goannas, birds, bandicoots and wombats.

  • Tourist Information
  • Shoalhaven Visitors Centre
    Ph: (02) 4421 0778 or 1800 024 261, fax: (02) 4423 2950.
    PO Box 475, Nowra, NSW 2541.
    Huskisson: Trading Post. ph (02) 44415241, fax (02) 44415198
    Vincentia: Century 21. ph (02) 44415747, fax 44416724
    Jervis Bay Tourism

  • Location Information
  • Two and a half hours south of Sydney, 3 hours north east of Canberra

  • Local/Community Activities
    For local contacts, phone the Shoalhaven Visitors Centre.
  • Mountain Bike-riding (BUG): Saturdays or Sundays.
  • Sailboarding: Sanctuary Point Sailboarders race every Sunday.
  • Jervis Bay Yacht Club, Jervis Bay CYC, The Commodore, PO Box 173, Nowra.
  • Markets:
    2nd Sunday Huskisson Markets: Arts, craft, plants, food
    4th Sunday Pyree Markets: Craft, glass, art.
  • Information kindly provided by Jervis Bay Tourism

    ACCOMMODATION & SERVICES:

    Category: 


    INFORMATION CENTRE:
    Shoalhaven Visitors Centre.
    Cnr. Princes Hwy & Pleasant Way. Nowra. NSW 2541
    Ph: 02 4421 0778

    HOW TO GET THERE:
    By car along the Princes Hwy. (1) then east from Nowra.
  • Light Plane to Wollongong
  • Coach

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    © Copyright Peter W. Wilkins