Lazy Weekend Guide To Jervis Bay, Australia

It’s going to be a long hot summer and the South Coast of Australia beckons…

One of my favorite past times in summer is to visit the beautiful South Coast of Australia (geographically speaking from Jervis Bay down to Bega) to get away from the hustle and bustle of the east coast. The South Coast is one place I go to relax and be in the moment completely. Having explored most parts of this awesome coastline, I recommend some places to visit if you’re planning a full-blown expedition or a drive-by.

So let’s start from the top which is Jervis Bay.

Visit Jervis Bay

What is Jervis Bay? My humble ‘lazy’ definition is that it’s a confusing maze of small sleepy towns set amongst some of the whitest sandy coastlines along the South Coast of Australia. There is so much downtime to be had, and you’ll be spoilt for choice with a range of beaches to choose from.  The water temperature varies from beach to beach, and the best time to go is in January and February when the water has warmed up. There are many cool cafés, pubs, and restaurants to try out in this idyllic lazy maze of a coastal town. Click here to find out more.

Huskisson (or Huskies)

Huskisson is the main town center or so ‘unofficial’ capital city of Jervis Bay. The Huskisson Hotel is great for recovering from your long drive or a day at the beach and take in the views of Jervis Bay. The meals are great value for money, and I highly recommend the fish and chips. This is also a great place if you’re looking for some nightlife and want to kick on at Jervis Bay – check their gig guide here.

There are also other cafés along the road if you’re looking for a chilled-out breakfast place – you cannot go wrong! Check out for dining options here.

There are a kayak hire place and an information center to book whale watching tours, fishing trips, and detailed information about Jervis Bay’s beaches. Click here to pre-book your tours.

Where to stay in Jervis Bay?

Here are some places that we’ve stayed at:

Worrowing 4 Bedroom House: This is a great option if you have a big group or a few families looking for a typical Australian outback experience with lots of space, tranquillity, and farm animals. This place was very comfortable, and relaxing, with great facilities and there’s a BBQ area. The only letdown is that you have to drive to a beach.

lazy weekend at Worrowing 4 Bedroom House Jervis Bay

Orion Beach CottageThis beach house is perfect for a family getaway with a few steps away from a quiet beach and accommodates up to 6 people comfortably. The big backyard also accommodates a wide range of cricket strokes and precise drop punts if you want to kick the footy around.

Orion Beach Cottage Jervis Bay

Check out Airbnb for other deals.

My Favourite Jervis Bay beaches

Jervis Bay has so many beaches, each with its own unique characteristics. I reckon you need at least a couple of weeks for the full relaxation experience. Whether you’re into surfing, snorkeling, relaxing, or doing beach reviews, Jervis Bay beaches will satisfy your lazy desires:

  • Cave beach – Chilled vibe, great for a big group.
Lazy weekend at Cave beach Jervis Bay
  • Hyams beach – Touristy vibe and apparently has the whitest sand in Australia.
Lazy weekend at Hyams beach Jervis Bay
Culburra Beach Jervis Bay
Culburra Beach Jervis Bay
JERVIS BAY TERRITORY WEATHER

How to get to Jervis Bay?

From Sydney

Take the Princess highway south past Wollongong and turn left in Jervis Bay road, which leads up straight to Huskisson. It should take around 3 hours to get there.

From Canberra

There are a few ways of getting there from Canberra, and it depends if you have a 4wd vehicle (or are willing to convert your car into a 4wd) or prefer to take the slower scenic route.

Fastest way:  Get to Braidwood and turn left when you see a big sign saying “To Jervis Bay.” Unassumingly, I remember taking this shortcut for the first time in our brand new Accord Euro and thought I’d be holding only a steering wheel when we got to Jervis Bay – it starts as an innocent gravel road. It turns into a turbulent four-wheel driving track somewhere in the middle. It’s definitely a shortcut (don’t get me wrong), but riding it in a 4wd vehicle would be more enjoyable.

Scenic route: Via the Hume highway taking the Mittagong exit. This adventure will take you through towns such as Mossvale, Kangaroo Valley, Fitzroy Falls, Kangaroo Valley, and Nowra before you reach Jervis Bay. I highly recommend a stop-over at Fitzroy Falls, which is a bit more than the halfway point. There’s a café and guided walks up to some cool waterfalls. Watch out also for the World’s best pie shop, which is highly overrated and too pricy in my opinion.

Check out our Jervis Bay beach reviews here.

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