This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel. We share our insider knowledge of tips, tricks and important things to look out for in Jervis Bay.
Jervis Bay is a part of Booderee National Park, which was declared a territory after the New South Wales government surrendered the land to the Commonwealth of Australia. Hostels in Jervis Bay are in the national park; you will need a car not only to get to the park, but to get into the park to your hostel. Given that the accommodation is within the park, you will also need to pay national park fees to the gate at the front.
Directly to the left after entering the park is the tourist information center; you can get information about all of the spectacular beaches, geological formations of interest, whale watching, and shipwrecks around the area. It is also rich with native aboriginal history and many of the people who work in the park are of aboriginal descent, so ask them lots of questions -- they are happy to share the stories of their ancestors and how they used the land before the European settlers arrived in this area. They can also give you information on the best walks to do within the area, such as to the old abandoned lighthouse.
After entering Booderee National Park, the drive to Jervis Bay is approximately thirty minutes. The town of Jervis Bay itself has stores where you can get food, groceries, organized tours for the area, and most of your basic requirements for staying. The beach here is renowned for having some of the clearest waters and whitest sand in the world. There is such a large amount of activities here to do and places to explore that if you have the time to spare, spend at least a couple of days.
Written by local enthusiast for Jervis Bay hostels
Globetrotter