Winter, spring, summer, autumn, there’s always heaps to do with the family down at Jervis Bay, just three hours south of Sydney.
If you’re looking for things to do in Jervis Bay, here’s my collection of great places to visit with kids… and without!
Most of the suggestions can be clicked on and you will find a very detailed post with all the info families need.
There are now many more than 25 places listed.
Jervis Bay Family Accommodation
Where To Stay At Jervis Bay With Kids tells you all the Vincentia and Huskisson accommodation options we recommend, including the most excellent Jervis Bay caravan parks, which are always a great option for families.
Contents of this post
- Jervis Bay Family Accommodation
- Jervis Bay’s Beautiful Beaches
- Jervis Bay Family-Friendly Cafes
- Walks With Kids At Jervis Bay
- Boobooks – A Great Little Book Shop
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- Family Friendly Movies
- Two Terrific Swimming Pools at Jervis Bay
- Playgrounds With Beautiful Views of Jervis Bay
- Indigenous Culture South Coast Tours
- The Jervis Bay Maritime Museum
- Boat Trips On Jervis Bay
- Snorkel Trip By Boat on Jervis Bay
- Trees Adventure, Nowra
- Jervis Bay What To Do In Winter
- Huskisson Carnival January
- The Huskisson Bay Triathlon – February
- Things To Do At Jervis Bay When It’s Raining
- Things To Do in Jervis Bay in Winter
- Where To Stay At Jervis Bay With Kids
- South Coast Kids – Jervis Bay What’s On
No need to wonder what to do in Jervis Bay any longer … even if it rains… so grab a cuppa, sit yourself down and have a look through these posts for some Jervis Bay things to do family holiday inspiration.
Jervis Bay’s Beautiful Beaches
Numero Uno of all Jervis Bay activities is… beach, beach, beach. There are literally dozens to choose from. Here are our favourites.
Moona Moona Creek A fantastic spot for families with young children, this estuary is so beautiful and there’s even a bridge to jump off… a new council sign says not to but…. check out info and photos at:
Jumping off the Bridge at Moona Moona Creek
Murray’s Beach And The Shark That Got Away
Murray’s Beach is right down at the end of Jervis Bay on the south side, and just off shore if Montague Island. This is one of our favourite beaches for a big day out. There’s a lovely little walk through the bush to the beach and then all sorts of areas to explore. Read more on the post, just click the title above.
Both Huskisson and Collingwood beaches are so good for children, easy to get too and with a very shallow slope. And the views!
This is another fab beach for a big day out. It’s on the opposite side of the bay to Vincentia and Huskisson, the drive takes 40 minutes or so. The horseshoe-shaped bay is small and sweet with the lovely beach to play on, clear waters and rocks to explore. Then drive over to the delightful village of Currarong for fish and chips.
Hyams Beach
The bright white sands of Hyams Beach attract lots of visitors, no wonder! We love the smaller beach between headlands to the east of the long manin beach. This is a great spot for snorkelling. To get there turn left where Hyamsn Road meets Cyrus Street and walk down the small road to the toilets and beach.
The main area of Hyams Beach is found by turning right at Cyrus Street and turning left into the car park just after the cafe. This fills up quickly and you may need to look for a park on Cyrus Street instead. Hyams Beach is 2km, a terrific walk for families, up and down. The far end is pretty too.
Jervis Bay Family-Friendly Cafes
Some of our favourite places to go with children are:
The Cooked Goose Cafe at 76 Cyrus Street, Hyams Beach is a good spot for takeaways and for sitting in. It has lovely views and plenty space inside. This used to be the Hyams Beach Cafe and then changed owners and names.
Walks With Kids At Jervis Bay
Here are two shortish and absolutely beautiful walks to do with the whole family:
The Wreck Walk at Abraham’s Bosom, Currarong
Longer walks to do with older kids include:
The Huskisson To Plantation Point, Vincentia Walkway is terrific too
Boobooks – A Great Little Book Shop
We love to cycle to Husky, have an ice cream and then pay a visit to:
Family Friendly Movies
Here’s a gorgeous old-fashioned and very reasonable cinema right in the heart of Huskisson:
Two Terrific Swimming Pools at Jervis Bay
A visit to each of these is a regular part of our holidays. The Bay and Basin is indoors and great for a rainy day or a boiling hot one:
A visit to Nowra Aquatic Centre is one of the best kids activities Nowra has to offer. It can get very busy on a hot, sunny day but you can always go early to beat the crowds.
The Bay and Basin Pool, Vincentia
Playgrounds With Beautiful Views of Jervis Bay
No need to wonder what to do in Huskisson, there are many fun activities there. For our mob, the playgrounds have always been a huge attraction and they are keen to stop in every time we visit Husky.
Our kids are old enough to cycle along by themselves to these two playgrounds. We meet them there with a takeaway coffee. Joy!
White Sands Playground has fabulous views over Jervis Bay, find it on Hawke Street, and you can read more about it, just click the link below. There is also a wee playground by the jetty in Huskisson, where the whale and dolphin watching cruises depart from. It is on the grassy area in front of the RSL, there are toilets further along near the sea pool and the HMAS Voyager memorial.
White Sands Park Playground, Huskisson
Indigenous Culture South Coast Tours
Boodereee National Park is managed by the local indigenous community of Wreck Bay and Parks Australia, it is Aboriginal Land. Visit the Information Centre before exploring the park, it is fascinating. Read more about the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Council here.
Deirdre Martin offers guided cultural and bush tucker tours in Jervis Bay National park. Read more on Deirdre Martin’s website here.
Jervis Bay Stand Up Paddle Board runs an Indigenous Perspectives Cultural Tour with a local indigenous guide.
Djiriba Waagura
Visitors can enjoy cultural bush walks, with a Welcome to Country by a traditional land owner, bush tucker and ancient stories. There are also on-country camps.
Here’s a Youtube video from Djiriba Waagura:
Gadu Aboriginal Boat Charters
Based in Sussex Inlet, Gadu offers culture tours, game fishing, sightseeing, photography, whale watching, scuba and snorkels trips.
Gadu Aboriginal Charters website
Nurugunya
Noel and Trish Taylor are based at Milton and offer bush food and cultural history tours.
Keep up with all the indigenous experiences in the Shoalhaven on the Shoalhaven Council website here.
The Jervis Bay Maritime Museum
You’ll spend hours looking around at the ships and marine artifacts at this large and well laid out museum. Lots to read about the maritime history of the local area plus other exhibitions. This is one of the best Jervis Bay attractions for rainy days, and also for very very hot days too.
11 Dent Street Huskisson
Open daily: 10am – 4pm
Boat Trips On Jervis Bay
Jervis Bay is famous for its whale and dolphin cruises, there are in fact many sorts of cruises to enjoy and these are some of the top rated Jervis Bay activities for visitors.
A boat trip is de rigeur when you’re looking for things to do around Jervis Bay, you’ll get to see the vast size of the bay itself and lots of interesting wildlife.
Check prices and book dolphin cruises at Jervis Bay here.
From May to October there are wonderful opportunities to spot whales.
Check out prices and availability for whale cruises here.
Whale and Dolphin Videos: a little video I made and some others too
Snorkel Trip By Boat on Jervis Bay
Most recently the whole family went aboard a boat and had two terrific snorkelling sessions on the north side of the bay, and swam through a cave!!
Snorkel Trip by Boat at Jervis Bay.
Trees Adventure, Nowra
Kids from aged four and over can try out the many courses on this high ropes and cliff climbing centre.
Jervis Bay What To Do In Winter
We spent a week at Jervis Bay in July this year and had good fun. Here’s my post:
Things To Do With Kids In Winter at Jervis Bay.
Huskisson Carnival January
All the fun of the Fair, dodgems, the lot! In the school holidays this is alway the top of the Huskisson activities list for my kids… and I’ve been known to have a few turns on the rides myself too.
The Huskisson Bay Triathlon – February
A terrific weekend each February, no need to run myself but I did enjoy a swim:
Huskisson Triathlon Festival – Ocean Swim Classic
Things To Do At Jervis Bay When It’s Raining
Here’s our advice on what works well in wet weather, click here.
Things To Do in Jervis Bay in Winter
Click here for our post on what we like to do.
Where To Stay At Jervis Bay With Kids
I’ve just written a post with our family’s personal recommendations, find it here.
South Coast Kids – Jervis Bay What’s On
Check out the local website South Coast Kids for all the latest info on shows, concerts and other activities.
Hope you’ve enjoyed this Jervis Bay What To Do guide.
Do you love Jervis Bay too?
What’s your favourite places down there?
I have been waiting for this post!! I want to take my mum and dad there these holidays. We’ve never been before and I can’t wait – heard so many good things about it xx
It is such a lovely spot, really it is… and we’re zooming down there next Tuesday for a few days – hooray!! I must write up the White Sands Walk I did and add it to this list. Good thing aboyt this post is that I can add to it as I go along and just change the 21 to 22 then 25 and so on. The caravan park called White Sands has good cabins and is in a terrific spot for young children, and there are also heaps of good houses to rent. Our house is totally booked for all school hols – by friends and ourselves or I’d suggest it.
Hi Seana,
It looks like an amazing spot – do you ever get tempted to just stay there forever?!
Hi Seana, we moved down here 3 years ago from Sydney because we fell in love with the place. So we bought ‘Greville Corner Cafe and Store’ in Sanctuary Point, right next to Palm Beach. I know your post was about Jervis Bay, but here on the Basin we’re kissing cousins! I just wanted to let you know that we are super family friendly, with plenty of space for prams and kids, with a big menu offering burgers and the like plus our Quality Toddler meals like Beef & Vege Lasagne and Grilled Chicken with Rice Pilaf. We are by the beach, there are 2 kids playgrounds in walking distance, plus we are at the starting point of a section of the beautiful basin walk. Come and visit us next time! Cheers, Sophie & Ian Clayton
Yes, I will. I hardly know the Basin and we’re long overdue an good explore over your way. Thanks so much fior getting in touch.
Hi Seana
I’ve loved reading all your articles on Jervis Bay. We are hoping to head down there for the first time later this year with our 19 month old. She loves her swimming lessons so I’m sure she would love Moona Moona Creek.
Do you have any reccommendations for what time of year is best if we want to spend a lot of time in the water?
Thanks Jenny
Hello, yes I’d say anytime from October to Easter is generally warm… summer can be very hot, but there’s always water to cool you down. Even in winter we do splash and swim on sunny days… but very quickly. It’s a great spot for kids, lots of family-friendly cafes too down there.