Thu Yen

With its dazzling white beaches, Australia’s Jervis Bay is the perfect place to escape winter’s chill

While many countries in the northern hemisphere are covered in ice and snow, Australia is enjoying its sunny summer. This is the ideal time to visit this country’s fantastic beaches.

Australia boasts thousands of beaches and bays. Just 200km from Sydney, Jervis Bay is set in a stunning national park that is just a two to three-hour drive from the city. Here, nature- lovers are free to explore diverse landscapes home to the unique flora and fauna of Southeastern Australia, discover aboriginal cultures and relax on heavenly beaches.

Known as one of the finest bays in the world, Jervis Bay poses a unique blend of sea and mountains with long beaches and a magnificent network of caves and cliffs. Visitors come here to rock climb, trek, dive and sail. Many visitors spend four or five days here to take advantage of the many activities on offer.

Jervis Bay is best known for its white sand beaches that stand out from the azure sea. Hyams Beach is said to have the whitest sand in the world. Visitors come to enjoy the soft white sand and clear water, and to visit local fishing villages. They might even catch sight of some adorable koala bears playing on the beach. Good swimming beaches include Nelsons, Collingwood, Greenfields, Murray, and Blenheim. After swimming and sunbathing, visitors can enjoy meals of freshly-caught seafood.

To the south of Jervis Bay lies Booderee National Park. In the local aboriginal language, Booderee means “fish abundance”. This wildlife reserve is a haven for many rare endemic marine creatures, birds and reptiles. Having long been home to aboriginal communities who fish and grow traditional herbs, the park offers venues that teach visitors about the local culture and history.

A visit to Jervis Bay should include a stop in the bustling town of Huskisson, which is home to many hotels, motels and delightful tourist attractions. A maritime museum offers deeper insight into the evolution of Australia’s shipbuilding industry. Art galleries and handicras centres introduce local arts, particularly those of the local aboriginal people. Huskisson is also a good base for offshore sightseeing trips or activities such as fishing, diving, kayaking and surfing. Lucky visitors might even catch a glimpse of passing pods of dolphins or whales, playing in the otherworldly waves.