Jervis Bay map | A closer look at Jervis Bay’s top coastal spots
Jervis Bay is a 102-square-kilometre oceanic bay and coastal village tucked along the South Coast of New South Wales. Technically part of the Jervis Bay Territory, it’s best known for its impossibly white sand with Hyams Beach often claimed to be the whitest in the world.
But this isn’t just a pretty shoreline. It’s a protected marine and national park haven, home to dolphins, seals, little penguins, sea dragons, kangaroos, and migrating whales from June to November. Whale-watching cruises here usually explore the bay itself before heading slightly offshore into the open Pacific. To help you get your bearings, we’ve curated a simple map of the area so that you’ll know exactly where you’re going and what to look out for.
Main areas within the Jervis Bay
Huskisson wharf
This is the Jervis Bay Wild’s cruise terminal. It’s a bustling village on Currambene Creek lined with cafés, marine shops, and a laid-back coastal atmosphere. It’s perfect for a pre-cruise coffee or post-adventure meal.
Hyams Beach
Famous for its dazzling white sand, actually the finest in the world, Hyams Beach lies along the bay’s western shore. From the water, its luminous shoreline provides a refreshing, scenic backdrop for whale sightings.
Booderee coastline
This stretch of rugged headlands, sea cliffs, and park fringes under Booderee National Park lies on Jervis Bay’s southwestern arc. The dramatic scenery makes an excellent stage for cruising whales.
Murrays Beach
A serene sandy pocket on the southeast curvature of the bay, Murrays Beach is tucked behind coastal dunes. It’s an ideal calm water territory for humpbacks and calves to surface.
Bowen Island
A small, tree-covered islet near the bay entrance, Bowen Island marks where cruises often go offshore into deeper waters. Whales pass nearby, making it a subtle yet noteworthy waypoint.
Point Perpendicular Lighthouse
Perched on towering sandstone cliffs at the bay mouth, the lighthouse is a legendary vantage point. Whales often pass under its gaze when skirting the bay’s rocky edges.
Plantation Point
Tucked between Vincentia and Hyam’s Beach, Plantation Point is a quiet headland fringed by bush trails, grassy picnic spots, and calm waters just inside the bay. It’s a favourite stop on dolphin cruises, with reef-lined shores where bottlenose dolphins often gather to feed and play.
Jervis Bay map
Frequently asked questions about Jervis Bay map
Not exactly. These cruises are designed to follow the whales. But you'll pass key spots like Hyams Beach, Bowen Island, and the Booderee Coastline, with live commentary pointing them out as you go.
Bowen Island marks the transition from the calm waters of Jervis Bay to the open Pacific. It’s where vessels often veer slightly offshore to catch more active whale behaviour and it’s also a known little penguin habitat, so keep an eye out!
Many of them, like Point Perpendicular Lighthouse, Plantation Point, and Murrays Beach, are accessible by car and offer great views even off the water.
Dolphin cruises usually stay well within the bay, focusing around Plantation Point and Callala Bay. Whale cruises travel further out, hugging the Booderee coastline before heading offshore past Bowen Island where sightings are more likely.
Not rigidly. The route can vary slightly depending on sea conditions and where whales or dolphins have recently been spotted. Captains often adjust the path in real time for the best chances of a sighting.
