7 wild outdoor adventures in Jervis Bay & Shoalhaven

From kayaking and snorkelling to hiking and rock-climbing, Jervis Bay and Shoalhaven are loaded with outdoor adventure activities. Make memories that will last a lifetime as you abseil, stargaze, and learn about Aboriginal culture and history.

Destination NSW

Dec 2025 - 4 min read

Hike coastal and scenic trails

With 16 stunningly white coastal coves in the Jervis Bay and Shoalhaven region, you’ll visit many of them on the White Sands Walk through Jervis Bay National Park. The 90-minute return walk begins at Greenfield Beach picnic area in Vincentia and weaves along the coastline. Take a dip at any number of beaches before the walk concludes at the incredible Hyams Beach. Return via the Scribbly Gum track to see wildlife in their tall forest and woodland habitat.

Hyams Beach, Jervis Bay - Credit: Jordan Robins

For more hikes, head to the northern section of Murramarang National Park near Bawley Point, where the 1km-return Pretty Beach to Snapper Point walking track offers amazing views. Find great vantage points when you follow the trail from Abrahams Bosom Beach in Currarong to the top of sheer cliffs on the Beecroft Peninsula. This is a spectacular spot for whale watching.

For a longer challenge, beach hop on the 3-day, 34km Murramarang South Coast Walk, which weaves past Depot Beach and Durras Beach before finishing at Maloneys Beach. Pre-book your stays at picturesque campgrounds or beachside cabins, or join a guided hike with an expert leader, villa accommodation and delicious meals.

Don’t miss the spectacular coastal views from Meroo Head lookout walking track. It’s a lovely, short walk through forest in Meroo National Park to the northern edge of the headland, where you’ll emerge to panoramic views of uninterrupted coastline.

People walking along Murramarang South Coast Walk, Pretty Beach

Murramarang South Coast Walk, Pretty Beach - Credit: Remy Brand | DPE

Deep dive into Aboriginal heritage

To learn about traditional bush tucker and medicinal plants, as well as Aboriginal history in the region, visit Booderee National Park Botanic Gardens. Australia’s only Aboriginal-owned botanic garden, it is home to a wealth of native plants and knowledge.

Booderee National Park Botanic Gardens, Jervis Bay - Credit: Alexandra Orme | Parks Australia

Also in the region, Djiriba Waagura Cultural Tours offers everything from half- and full-day tours to learn about Aboriginal traditions, to overnight camps. Join them to discover ancient rock art, bush foods and wildlife, as well as some of the world’s most beautiful beaches.

Another immersive cultural experience is the 2.2km Murramarang Aboriginal Area Walking Track, which takes in ancient middens and other significant sites. To see 270-million-year-old marine fossils, follow the Gondwana Coast Fossil Walk. 

Indigenous tour guide taking group on tour with Djiriba Waagura Cultural Tours, Jervis Bay

Djiriba Waagura Cultural Tours, Jervis Bay - Credit: Djiriba Waagura Cultural Tours

Hang out on a rock-climbing or abseiling adventure

The sandstone cliffs of the Shoalhaven region are ideal for rock climbers. Popular spots include the sport crags of Nowra, the epic sea cliffs of Point Perpendicular and beginner-friendly Hospital Rocks. Let a local guide show you the best spots on a climbing tour with Outdoor Raw.

For those who prefer the thrill of bouldering, Vincentia is your go-to, while those who like abseiling can join Valley Outdoors for a morning of rappelling down cliffs.

Man enjoying a rock climbing experience with Outdoor Raw in the Shoalhaven region of NSW

Outdoor Raw, Nowra

Meet local wildlife

During their annual migration (May to November), whales can be spotted breaching and blowing offshore. From Shoalhaven Heads in the north to Bawley Point in the south, you’ll find spectacular headlands that make for great vantage points. Lighthouses offer great views too - try Point Perpendicular Lighthouse or Cape St George Lighthouse.

To see whales up close, join cruise operators like Jervis Bay Wild and Dolphin Watch Cruises Jervis Bay for an ethical tourism experience. Departing from Huskisson, learn about whales with the help of knowledgeable guides before spotting them as they leap from the water. Dolphin tours and summer boom-netting experiences are also offered.

Humpback whale breaching off Jervis Bay on the south coast of NSW

Whale Watching, Jervis Bay - Credit: Jordan Robins

Shoalhaven is home to two fur seal colonies, found at either headland of the Jervis Bay Marine Park, with numbers peaking during winter. Join a snorkelling tour with Jervis Bay Sea Sports (also known as Dive Jervis Bay) to swim with the seals. 

Man swimming with seals during a snorkelling tour, Dive Jervis Bay - Credit: Jordan Robins

Jervis Bay Sea Sports, Jervis Bay - Credit: Jordan Robins

Explore native bushland and rainforest

Bushwalkers are spoiled for choice in the Shoalhaven region, home to nine national parks. If you’re coming from Canberra, set your GPS for Morton National Park for scenic hikes up Pigeon House Mountain and the spectacular Tianjara Falls.

There are numerous trails to explore in Booderee National Park, and plenty of beaches to cool off in along the way. Other great walks through native forest include Bens Walk, Three Views walking track, Kangaroo River walking track and Telegraph Creek Nature Trail.

Couple looking out, Pigeon House Mountain (Didthul), Morton National Park

Pigeon House Mountain Didthul Walking Track, Morton National Park

Paddle a marine park and rivers

Sea Kayak Jervis Bay offers paddling trips throughout Jervis Bay Marine Park. Look out for cheeky dolphins that may come to play. 

For a stunning gorge and rivers, head to Kangaroo Valley, where you can hire a kayak to go at your own pace or take a guided tour with Kangaroo Valley Safaris Kayak and Canoe Hire and Kangaroo Valley Kayaks. Reset and recharge during a contemplative paddle along calm waters on a Mindful Canoeing Nature Experience with Valley Outdoors. Overnight adventurers can paddle along Shoalhaven Gorge and set up camp upstream from Tallowa Dam. The area is known for its dramatic sandstone cliffs and tumbling waterfalls, and is only accessible by kayak.

Other top spots for kayaking are Sussex Inlet, home to a network of tidal canals, and St Georges Basin, where you can spot black swans, pelicans and sea eagles. This giant coastal lake is also a great place for fishing. Enjoy sailing, windsurfing, waterskiing and bird-watching at Lake Wollumboola near Culburra Beach.

Valley Outdoors Canoeing, Kangaroo Valley

Stargaze with an expert

As the sun sets, join an astrophysicist to see the wonders of outer space during a 90-minute astronomy session with Jervis Bay Stargazing. Hear the stories behind constellations and learn about distant galaxies as you admire the night sky through state-of-the-art telescopes and binoculars.