Ever since I moved to Australia, I’ve been trying to explore the surroundings of Sydney as much as possible. Whenever there’s a sunny day and I’m not working, I’m out exploring the national parks around the city. Earlier in March, my flatmate Raquel and myself decided to go to Jervis Bay for the weekend. This little piece of paradise is a 3-hour drive from Sydney and is part of the region of Shoalhaven. It is home to the thinnest and whitest sand I have seen in my life, it isn’t a joke! It’s the perfect place to visit if you’d like to disconnect from the city and feel like you’re on a little holiday. If you’re planning to stay there overnight (which I highly recommend), just note that there aren’t many hotels in the area. The bay is surrounded by many campsites, but if you’re looking to stay at a hotel, be prepared to spend a considerable amount of money. Airbnb is another option, but it ain’t that cheap and most accommodations are located 20 to 30 minutes away from Jervis Bay.

1- Breakfast @ 5 Little Pigs

To start your day the right way, I’d recommend heading to Huskisson to have brunch at the 5 Little Pigs. I got myself the Smavo, which is some sort of Mexican-style breakfast; yummy! Their breakfast signature dish is the Pork Belly Benedict, which also looked really yummy.

2- Chinamans Beach

Our first beach stop of the day was Chinamans Beach, which is located right next to Hyams Beach, the most famous beach in the area. The entire bay is basically a long white sand beach, so there’s plenty to explore, and chances are there won’t be a lot of people around you! The weather really wasn’t great that morning, so we snapped a few photos before we ran back to the car where we waited for the bad weather to pass.

3- Hyams Beach

Once it stopped raining, we headed to Hyams Beach, and OMG I totally get why it gets so much attention here in Australia. This place is absolutely incredible; 2.8 kilometres of white sand magic.

4- Lunch at Hyams Café

Right behind the beach, you’ll find the only café in town: Hyams Café. I’d suggest having lunch there, they have fresh salads as well as a small a la carte menu.

5- Iluka Beach - Greenpatch

After lunch I’d suggest driving further south to Greenpatch. The beach there is a bit more remote, but very similar to others in Jervis Bay. The reason why I’m mentioning it is because I have seen a lot of kangaroos chilling there! They were so adorable and not scared of humans at all!

6- Currarong Rockpools

These pools are actually not located along the bay, they are just on the other side on the North shore facing the ocean directly. The ocean was particularly calm that day so we enjoyed a quick dip.

7- Abrahams Bosom Beach

If you go all the way up to the pools, I’d suggest checking out Abrahams Bosom Reserve, which is located right next to them. The reserve is home to a beautiful beach with some beautiful rock formations. There’s also an opportunity to go on a little hike to Gosangs Tunnel (which we didn’t have time to do unfortunately).

8- Dinner at The Quarters, Huskisson

Most restaurants in the area are located in the town of Huskisson. My personal recommendation would be to go have dinner at The Quarters. My experience there was fantastic! Really great combination of food/wine, service and decor. I had the duck confit, which was delicious!

There are definitely plenty of other things to do/see down in Jervis Bay, which gives me the perfect excuse to go back. Some of them include: Blenheim Beach, Nelsons Beach, Barfleur Beach (where you can spot the bioluminescent algae at night after a storm), Steamers Beach, bird watching, kayaking, scuba diving, whale watching, and so much more. On your way down to Jervis Bay, I’d also suggest stopping in Berry, which is a super cute village with lots of shops and cafés. Lastly, if you’re wondering whether or not you should plan a longer holiday in the area, all I have to say is: YES, DO IT! 😄 There are so many things to see: wineries, waterfalls, beaches, etc. You won’t regret it.

*All photos of me were taken by my talented photographer flatmate, Raquel Pires.