CC – Isaac Kohane
One of my favourite things to do is lie on my beach towel and listen to the sound of the waves calmly lapping on the shore. The sun warms my back as I relax on a secluded beach, enjoying the Australian summer. Maybe I like this so much because I like to escape from the stress of life occasionally, but I think everyone should experience this, and the best beaches are at Jervis Bay on Australia’s South Coast in NSW. I grew up in the area and know the local culture well. Some of the beaches with the whitest and finest sand in the world are found in this part of the South Coast. The area also provides more than just beaches, ensuring happiness for those interested in being more active. Jervis Bay is not just a place for retirees. It is also the perfect location for a relaxing or action-packed weekend away for everyone.
Camping in the Booderee National Park is great place to spend a weekend with friends. A typical day consists of waking up to the sounds of the birds, watching a sunrise, exploring the beaches, soaking up the sun, sitting around a campfire, and having a good barbeque at night. The bathrooms at the campsites are excellent, with hot showers and mirrors. Bristol Point campsite has large sites suitable for groups and a few smaller sites, while Green Patch has smaller sites ideal for young families or a small group of friends. Caves Beach also has a few campsites, however there is a fairly long walk from the car to the campsite, which makes carrying your gear harder. The Bristol Point and Green Patch Beaches face the calm waters of the bay making snorkelling idea, while Caves Beach faces the opposite direction creating the perfect waves for surfing.
Jervis Bay has a marine park, ideal for water sports. Wildlife also abounds in the area, and the animals are used to people so they are friendly. The seaside townships of Huskisson and Vincentia provide great places for all the touristy shopping and dining. Huskisson also has unique markets on some weekends as well, and fishing in the area is possible.
If you want a bit of excitement and chilling by the beach sounds boring, here’s a list of 3 things you can do while camping in the bay:
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Sea Kayaking
This can be lots of fun. I went kayaking up the Currambene Creek with hired kayaks from Jervis Bay Kayaks in Huskisson. We went in the morning and followed the tide up the creek, stopping for lunch and then paddling out with the tide. While on our lunch break I decided to jump of the pier and a friendly stingray came up to literally say hello, which was a nice experience. However, if you aren’t an expert kayaker here’s some advice: when heading for the shore in your kayak, aim your kayak head-on with the beach, not on an angle, otherwise you may be dunked by a wave, as I was.
If you don’t have your own kayaks Jervis Bay Kayaks is a great solution. For a singe kayak it’s $49 for three hours or $69 for all day, but if you’re willing to share to save some cash a double is $64 for three hours or $90 for all day. Jervis Bay Kayaks also have a special deal where you can collect the kayak at closing time and return it before opening time the next day for only $50 for the single and $60 for the double. This can be the best-priced option as their opening hours are 9.30am-4.30pm during the week and 9.30am-3pm on the weekend, meaning you still have ample time with the kayak.
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Scuba Diving
With Dive Jervis Bay, you can go on dives with marine life such as seals and see the beauty of the protected bay. For those who can’t dive, but want to go along with their friends, they offer snorkelling off their boats.
For the best experience with seeing seals it is advisable to go between May and October, with morning dive trips to the seal colonies of Jervis Bay. There are many other diving sites in the bay and Dive Jervis Bay allows you to experience this with a professional diving team. For their double boat dives, which are half-day programs with refreshments and equipment provided the cost is $190 per person. If you only need the tanks/weights it is only $150 per person, and if you have all the gear it is only $130 per person.
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Dolphin/whale cruises
Go exploring for dolphins and whales, depending on whether it’s whale season, and see these creatures up close. There are two companies, Dolphin Watch Cruises and Jervis Bay Wild, offering these cruises in Jervis Bay and the adult prices are generally $35 for dolphin cruises and $65 for a whale/dolphin cruises. I would recommend wearing warm clothes, as it can be cold on the water. Also, if you get seasick easily it would be best to take something for it prior to the cruise.
The best part about the bay is the unlimited choices of different beaches in a close area, meaning the beaches are not as crowded as the Sydney beaches. Put simply, the bay has something to offer everyone if they are willing to explore it. It is perfect for groups of friends or young families. Being only two or three hours south of Sydney, Jervis Bay is affordable and relaxing. If you get bored and have more cash to spend, there are always more activity options. So, get your camping gear ready, invite your friends, and head down for a relaxing weekend.
Angelina Kerr is a young college student studying International Poverty and Development at Avondale College. She is passionate about social justice issues and hopes to travel the world, while positively impacting people’s lives. She is currently surviving student life with the philosophy that chocolate can fix anything.