Walking and Hiking in Jervis Bay, Australia

An ideal introduction to Booderee National Park, this 5.4km (3.4mi) loop (also known as Murrays Trail) is a self-guided tour of the park’s plants, animals, culture and history – there are 14 informative signs placed along the route. Beginning at Murrays Beach car park, the trail takes around 2.5hr, with the possibility to extend it to check out the ruins of Cape St George Lighthouse, built in 1860 and abandoned in the early 20th century.

Starting at Greenfield Beach picnic area, these interconnected walking tracks loop through beautiful Jervis Bay National Park. The White Sands Walk heads south along Jervis Bay, passing Chinamans Beach. The return leg along the Scribbly Gum Track leads you away from the coast, through a lush wooded area, and finishes up where you started. Along the walk, you may see animals such as possums and gliders.

Encompassing the Beecroft Headland east of Currarong, Abraham’s Bosom Reserve is laced with excellent walking trails of various lengths. Looping around the headland, Coomies Walk (9km/6mi) is the main circuit, but one of the most popular detours is the Wreck Walk, a 2.5km (1.6mi) walk to the wreck of the SS Merimbula, which ran aground near Whale Point in 1928. Both trails begin at Abraham’s Bosom Beach.

Arguably Jervis Bay’s most accessible walking trail, Round the Bay Walk is a fully paved walking track from Callala Bay to Plantation Point in Vincentia, 11km (7mi) to the south, including a short ferry trip across Currambene Creek. Perfect for prams, wheelchairs and little ones on bikes, the shared path traces the beautiful Jervis Bay coastline, with plenty of places to stop for a swim or a snack en route.

Starting at the northern end of Green Patch car park, this easy, circular 2.4km (1.5mi) walk in Booderee National Park curls inland, passing through tall eucalypt forest, fern-lined creeks and swamps, as well as woodland and heath, with plenty of signs describing the vegetation along the way. Allow an hour to complete the loop, unless you plan to rest on the seats along the way to admire the spring wildflowers, which attract abundant birdlife.

Also known as the Bird Spotter’s walk, the 2km (1.2mi) Hyams Beach Trail begins at the end of Lister Crescent at the southern end of Hyams Beach Village and makes a short arc through Jervis Bay National Park before popping out on the beach. Birdwatchers will enjoy trying to spot eastern rosellas, crimson rosellas, new holland honeyeaters and eastern spinebills.