hero media

The most picturesque beaches in Jervis Bay

Carla Grossetti Carla Grossetti
This picturesque region boasts some of Australia’s best beaches.

The best Jervis Bay beaches have every aspect covered on our bucket (and spade) list: think white sands, turquoise-tinted waters, and vast swathes of bushland tumbling down to the sea. A visit to Jervis Bay wouldn’t be complete without a visit to one of these spectacular spots.

In short

Booderee National Park holds great significance to the Traditional Owners of Jervis Bay. Set off on the Munyunga waraga dhugan loop walk to learn more about Indigenous heritage and culture.

Murrays Beach

Murrays Beach, Jervis Bay
Murrays Beach is sheltered by Bowen Island. (Image: Destination NSW)

You can’t camp directly on Murrays Beach, but you can camp nearby in Booderee National Park, which is jointly managed by Parks Australia and Wreck Bay Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community. Wake early, to the tune of birds singing soprano, so you can set off on the Munyunga waraga dhugan walking trail in the lilac pink of dawn. Learn about Indigenous culture and native flora and fauna along the 5.4-kilometre-long track which affords great opportunities to spot wildlife. Entry fees apply.

Greenfield Beach

Greenfield Beach, Jervis Bay
The stunning Greenfield Beach is perfect for beachside picnics. (Image: Destination NSW)

Close your eyes and imagine, if you will, the absolute best Jervis Bay beach day. There are children scampering toward the water. A few doughy tourists learning to paddleboard. And a bunch of old blokes in board shorts fishing off the beach. Walk down the timber boardwalk hemmed with native grasses and build a pillow of sand so you can stare at the horizon bathed in a golden light. The family-friendly Greenfield Beach has barbecues, picnic areas and wheelchair access.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

AI Prompt

Honeymoon Bay

Honeymoon Bay, Jervis Bay from above
The pristine bay is exceptionally clear and vibrant blue. (Image: Jordan Robins)

When viewed from above, Honeymoon Bay resembles an opal, ringed with blues and golds that fade into a pearly white crescent of sand. It’s the perfect spot for swimming, but not much chop for surfing. Honeymoon Bay is a popular place for proposals; scratch Marry Me into the sand with a stick and Instagram the whole thing, so you enshrine the story into your family’s mythology. Prefer to fly solo? Wander the shoreline at low tide to enjoy some quiet contemplation.

Cave Beach

a family exploring Cave Beach, Jervis Bay
The rugged cliffs make for a dramatic backdrop. (Image: Dee Kramer)

Aussie surfers love Cave Beach. The remote beauty of the place makes it a magnet for intermediate wave riders who like to avoid the crowds. The beach is protected by pillars of rock that are pockmarked with caves that yawn open to the elements. There’s a camping area on a grassy knoll some 300 metres from the car park, but all equipment must be schlepped in. The rugged cliffs make for a dramatic backdrop and provide nesting areas for seabirds.

Green Patch Beach

Green Patch Beach, Booderee National Park, Jervis Bay
Swim or snorkel in the calm waters. (Image: Discover Jervis Bay)

If the Jervis Bay beaches were themed Green Patch Beach would be in the Convivial category. The beach has a campground that seems to attract families due to its calm conditions and powdery soft sand. Cue the vigorous applause when you arrive at this beach, which is also popular with folks who want a leisurely swim or snorkel without big waves. The Jervis Bay beach is an easy escape from Sydney and a recommended location for scuba diving.

Weekly travel news, experiences
insider tips, offers, and more.

Hole in the Wall Beach

My father-in-law’s advice is always sapiential when it comes to recommending under-the-radar beaches. He lives in Canberra and he added a lot of emphasis when he recommended Hole in the Wall Beach to us as a serene spot to take the kids. Our insatiable curiosity led us to this hidden spot tucked away in Booderee National Park. Take a selfie near the sandstone rock wall with a hole in it at the northeastern end of the beach and then stay sprawled and daydreaming for the rest of the day.

Blenheim Beach

a couple walking along Blenheim Beach, Jervis Bay
Stroll along the scenic Blenheim Beach. (Image: Destination NSW)

Bookend your White Sands Walk in Jervis Bay with a swim in the blue-green waters off Blenheim Beach. It’s one of the best things to do in Jervis Bay. The beach is a short and secluded section of the walk, but it offers a bonafide bush-to-beach experience and some of the best snorkelling in the bay. You’ll want to hang around for a bit and have a snorkel; the crystal-clear waters off the beach are teeming with marine life.

Chinamans Beach

Don your polarised sunnies when you visit Chinamans Beach, as the white sands of this Jervis Bay beach can be blinding in the dazzling sunshine. Chinamans Beach is one of the most popular beaches in NSW as a backdrop for weddings. Make sure your beard is extravagantly groomed before photo bombing the wedding party. Check out the beach on Google Street Trekker. If unexpected weather is forecast, we recommend picking up a kilo of glossy black Jervis Bay mussels and going back to your crash pad.

Carla Grossetti
Carla Grossetti has written across print and digital for Australian Traveller and International Traveller for more than a decade and has spent more than two decades finding excuses to eat well and travel far. A prestigious News Corp cadetship launched her career at The Cairns Post, before a stint at The Canberra Times and The Sydney Morning Herald gave way to extended wanders through Canada, the US, Mexico, Central America, Asia and Europe. Carla was chief sub editor at delicious and has contributed to Good Food, Travel & Luxury, Explore Travel, Escape. While living in London, Carla was on staff at Condé Nast Traveller and The Sunday Times Travel desk and was part of the pioneering digital team at The Guardian UK.
View profile and articles
bread on display at Kraken Sourdough, Jervis Bay
Jervis Bay

The best cafes in Jervis Bay

Our guide to the best Jervis Bay cafes includes a mix of chill places to work, top-notch spots for a caffeine fix and fantastic locations for brunch and lunch. Plug the following places into your satnav. Now go.

Read more
a private tub with bush views at Paperbark Camp, Woollamia
Jervis Bay

A comprehensive guide to the best camping and glamping spots in Jervis Bay

One of the first things to know about that much-dreamed-of Jervis Bay camping trip is that it’s just two and a half hours south of Sydney.

Read more
countryside views at Cupitt’s Estate, Ulladulla
Jervis Bay

Our guide to the best Jervis Bay restaurants

The pull of a weekend getaway to the NSW South Coast has never been stronger thanks to a plethora of great places to eat and drink in and around Jervis Bay.

Read more
Hyams Beach, Jervis Bay from above
Jervis Bay

This coastal village has bioluminescence, white-sand beaches and wineries

Discover the best things to do in Jervis Bay by land or sea.

Read more
hero media

After dark: 6 experiences along the Murray lighting up the night

(Credit: Serena Munro)

    Gemma Kaczerepa Gemma Kaczerepa
    Continue
    See the Murray region in an entirely different light by exploring its night-time experiences and attractions.

    By day, the mighty Murray River is a majestic and ever-changing sight, with river red gums and wetlands stretching along 2500 kilometres. But by night, its cities, towns, villages and landscapes totally transform.

    From Albury Wodonga to Mildura, and everywhere in between, you’ll be in for a multi-sensory and memorable treat encompassing mesmerising light shows, guided ghost tours and vibrant celebrations that capture the nocturnal magic of the river.

    This is no ordinary nighttime adventure; the region becomes an entirely different world when the sun sets. Discover six must-do activities along the Murray that can only be enjoyed after dark.

    1. Share in ghostly tales

    Port After Dark tour Murray at night
    Hold on to your nerve when learning local ghost stories. (Credit: Campaspe Shire Council)

    If you’re up for something a little more spine-tingling, Port After Dark in Echuca is your best bet. Rumour has it that the Port of Echuca Wharf and the buildings around it have long been home to lingering ghosts and mysterious events – like the vengeful woman said to haunt an old tramway bridge and spirits searching for stolen money through the town centre.

    You can hear all about them on this guided lantern tour, which takes place on Wednesday and Saturday nights after dark. The stories are atmospheric and intriguing – you may even spot a ghost or two yourself. If you’d like a more intimate experience, private tours are also available to groups of 15 or more.

    2. Wander art installations

    Bruce Munroe's Fibre Optic Symphoinic Orchestra Murray at night
    See Bruce Munro’s immersive art installation. (Credit: Serena Munro)

    Right near the Perry Sandhills, sits an experience that feels almost otherworldly. Artist Bruce Munro (of Uluru’s Field of Lights fame) has created a Fibre Optic Symphonic Orchestra, a network of 80 Hills Hoists illuminated with fibre optic light combined with the sounds of an orchestra. The clotheslines glow and pulse in time to the specially composed score, immersing you in a dreamscape of light and sound.

    For a different light experience, you’ll find stillness at Trail of Lights, also curated by Munro. Located just 30 minutes away on Lock Island in Mildura, thousands of lights stretch over the landscape, spotlighting both the river and a series of Munro’s sculptures. The trail is intended to be a peaceful and meditative setting for wandering and reflecting.

    3. Learn through lasers

    Heartbeat of the Murray at night
    Travel 30 million years into the Murray’s past at Heartbeat of the Murray. (Credit: Ewen Bell)

    Discover a fascinating history in this dual act of lights and projections on the banks of the Little Murray River. Legends of the Mallee is a multimedia show in Swan Hill combining lasers and lights, which tells the story of the region’s rich past. Learn about the Wamba Wamba and Wadi Wadi Peoples who first inhabited the area, as well as the figures and events that shaped the Mallee of today.

    The river steals the spotlight in the Heartbeat of the Murray, a multimedia spectacle inside the Pioneer Settlement encompassing lights, lasers, sound and special effects against the natural backdrop. Through a sequence of large-scale animated projections, you’ll go back 30 million years to explore the Murray River’s formation before travelling to the present to learn how it supports modern communities.

    4. Light up the lake

    Lake Mulwala Laser Light Show Murray at night
    Watch the lights and lasers of Lake Mulwala. (Credit: Mulwala Water Ski Club)

    Travelling with kids? Head to Yarrawonga Mulwala and nearby Lake Mulwala for the family-friendly Laser Light & Sound Show. Lights and lasers are projected over the lake and onto curtains of fog, creating a colourful and high-energy visual display. The show suits all ages and tastes, set to a mix of songs that everyone knows and loves.

    You can take in the spectacle from either the grassy banks of the lake or book a table at the Mulwala Water Ski Club’s Malibu Deck Cafe, serving pub-style food and refreshing drinks, including excellent classic cocktails. If you’re watching from the foreshore, the show is entirely free, making it a great budget-friendly option.

    5. Be captivated by local culture

    Bullanginya Dreaming Murray at night
    Soak in the culture of the Bangerang People. (Credit: Laser Vision)

    Set aside an evening to explore Bullanginya Dreaming in Cobram Barooga – you’ll want ample time to take in the stories and symbolism of this immersive laser light and sound trail. The 1.8-kilometre trail explores the storytelling and culture of the Bangerang People, who have long cared for the lands around Bullanginya Lagoon in Barooga. The trail features 12 activations – each telling a different story – and combines dramatic lights and lasers with water and fire.

    Intertwined with the visual displays are Bangerang narratives, giving you meaningful insight into the area’s Indigenous heritage. It’s designed to be explored over 90 or so minutes, encouraging you to move slowly and thoughtfully.

    6. Discover a winter glow

    winterglow festival
    See the streets of Albury Wodonga come to life after dark. (Credit: Visit Albury Wodonga)

    Albury Wodonga comes alive as the weather drops, with an annual celebration of the season on Saturday, 15 August. WinterGlow takes over the CBD and features a vibrant program of things to see, do, learn, eat and drink.

    Take part in hands-on workshops that let you try different art forms and crafts. Feast on street food and winter warmers from local eateries. Browse for artisan wares at the night markets. Watch musical acts on the main stage. Or get involved in different activations, including a silent disco and giant maze. Artificial snow will be falling to add to the festive atmosphere.

    Even wandering the streets and laneways and soaking up the late-night energy will leave you feeling enchanted.

    Start planning a day-to-night adventure along the Murray at visitthemurray.com.au.