Jervis Bay: Where you can have the coastal lifestyle without the bustle of crowds

Jervis Bay is synonymous with its white, sandy jewel: Hyams Beach. It dazzles, bringing crowds that dive into the gentle (and often icy) lake-like water, or that simply stare. And while the bushy surrounds and retro beach shacks have retained much of Hyams’ small-town charm, there are many ways to lean into the finer things in life.

Cooked Goose on Hyams is an ideal place to start your day. The long-standing spot – once Hyams Beach General Store – is just back from the waves, keeping it fresh with homemade classics like build-your-own brekkies and bacon-topped French toast. Later in the day the team is plating fish’n’chips, burgers and salads. It’s perfect for a morning meal or a frosty afternoon beer, either before or after a dip.

The best seat at Huskisson Hotel, lovingly known as the Husky Pub, is on the deck overlooking the harbour, with a drink in hand. The breezy verandah at Flamin Galah Brewing Co is another go-to if you want locally made, award-winning beers, like the citrusy Pacific Ale and earthy South Coaster IPA.

For something special, take a trip north around the coastline to Jim Wild’s Oysters. The charming family-run riverfront operation is a must for just-out-of-the-ocean bivalves, shucked to order and served simply with lemon or Tabasco. There are plump prawns too, along with daily specials; BYO bubbles (and glasses) for an exceptional pit stop.

There’s one venue that’s a cut above the rest. Whether you’re visiting or looking for a quick getaway from everyday life, check in to a luxuriously appointed tent at Paperbark Camp.

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“Camping” is a stretch: these aren’t your average outdoor designs. While the walls are canvas, the spacious lodgings have glossy hardwood floors, wraparound decks, lush bathtubs inside open-air ensuite bathrooms and four-poster king beds complete with a canopy. It’s luxury in the wild among shooting eucalyptus and paperbark trees.

On-site restaurant The Gunyah – meaning “meeting place” in Dharuk, the language of the Gadigal people – is a treetop dining room perched on the Paperbark campgrounds. A three-course brekkie before you head out for the day? A post-beach Margarita on the deck at sunset? Maybe the three-course set menu by candlelit dinner, where artful plates are powered by local produce and indigenous flavours, like kangaroo carpaccio with horseradish and onion compote? Or go for pepperberry sorbet, sweetened with strawberry then topped with finger-lime jewels. You don’t need to be a guest to enjoy breakfast, afternoon cocktails or dinner here.

There’s also Pasta Buoy in Huskisson for takeaway bowls of outstanding house-made paccheri and squid-ink spaghetti. Eat it with a view over a world-class sandy strip.

Beyond Hyams, the beaches here are delightfully quiet. Glimpse a supremely Aussie scene at Murrays Beach, a picturesque stretch that looks to Bowen Island. Keep an eye out for wallabies bouncing down the sand. Or rock-hop around the coastline to spot dolphins and other marine life cruising through blue waters. You might also see eagles overhead and sooty oystercatchers diving for fish. It’s the kind of coastal lifestyle you can enjoy without the bustle of crowds, where life moves at a slower pace yet keeps Sydney and Canberra within easy reach when needed.

Agent lens

with Craig McIntosh from The Holidays Collection.

Who typically purchases in this suburb?

Hyams Beach is dominated by Sydney buyers. They are attracted to the pristine and safe waters of Jervis Bay, with beaches and views as good as the Maldives on a sunny day. Hyams Beach is also blue-chip for resales and holiday rentals, so families can own a highly sought-after beach house and also garner great holiday rental income.

For sale in Jervis Bay region

Contact Agent

1 Tulip Street, Hyams Beach NSW 2540

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Just 100 metres from Chinamans Beach, this beautifully renovated coastal retreat is surrounded by native gardens and multiple al fresco lounging areas, including a firepit and an open-air shower. Converted garages function as versatile indoor-outdoor living spaces, while stylish interiors and a wraparound balcony with water views add a relaxed charm upstairs.