Blenheim Beach: A Top Alternative To Hyams Beach, Jervis Bay

If you’re considering hot-footing it down the South Coast of New South Wales for some quality r ‘n’ r on the beach, the likelihood is you’re thinking about Jervis Bay. And quite rightly so. The drool-worthy pictures of Hyams Beach have been calling, and you’re ready to answer. But, Hyams isn’t the only stellar beach at Jervis Bay. In fact, we don’t even think it’s the best beach in Jervis Bay. But, Blenheim Beach, well, this Jervis Bay beach could take the title.

Certainly, if it’s the remote beauty of a tropical island-like beach you’re after, with much fewer people than popular Hyams Beach, then it’s Blenheim you should be making a beeline for. So, in this guide, we’ll tell you everything you need to know to get the most out of your visit to Blenheim Beach, including things to do, how to get there, parking and what features and facilities you can find.

Read Jervis Bay Walks: 13 Easy Hikes Not To Miss

About Blenheim Beach, NSW

Look, we’re not saying not to visit Hyams Beach. Not at all, it’s stunning. But, we just want to point you in the direction of some equally beautiful beaches, with a fraction of the visitors. And, Blenheim Beach is one such beach, and we know you won’t be sorry you visited.

Located on the southern outskirts of Vincentia on the South Coast of New South Wales, Blenheim Beach occupies a small patch of the sublime Jervis Bay. Nestled between the much larger Nelson Beach to the north, and the equally bijoux Greenfield Beach to the south, this small beach enjoys a sheltered and somewhat secluded location.

Towering bluffs, densely covered in coastal bush, surround Blenheim Beach, which creates a leafy amphitheatre. This dense sloping bushland trails into the white sand, merging quite perfectly. Turquoise waves crash on the powdery sand, leaving you in little doubt you’ve well and truly left the hustle and bustle of city life behind, and have entered paradise.

Blenheim Beach falls within Jervis Bay National Park, with its turquoise waters forming part of the Hyams Beach Sanctuary Zone. Much of the sea surrounding Jervis Bay is protected, meaning you’ll get to experience thriving marine life if you head out for a snorkel.

Blenheim Beach Features & Facilities

Blenheim Beach might be less popular and busy than Hyams Beach in Jervis Bay, but it still has plenty to offer. Below, we’ll list a selection of the key features to expect when you visit. These include the following facilities.

• Picnic area
• BBQs
• Recreational ground
• Playground
• Toilets
• Beach showers
• Coastal walks
• Swimming and snorkelling
• Parking

Also, please note, that Blenheim Beach is an unpatrolled beach in Jervis Bay.

Things to Do at Blenheim Beach, Jervis Bay

Below, we’ll briefly cover some of the things to do at Blenheim Beach in Jervis Bay. From swimming and snorkelling, to firing up the barbie and whale watching, there’s plenty to keep you entertained. Let’s take a look.

Swimming and Snorkelling

Blenheim Beach is naturally sheltered and protected. Because of this, the sparkling turquoise waters are perfect for swimming, especially for families and children, and those less confident with open water swimming. The mostly gentle waves are perfect for jumping, diving beneath or even perfecting those bodyboarding skills.

For the snorkellers out there, Blenheim Beach is well regarded as one of the best places to spot marine life in Jervis Bay. Swimming around the rockier outcrops at either end of the beach will likely result in spotting some colourful fish, starfish, octopus and crabs. The super lucky might see dolphins and occasionally Port Jackson Sharks.

Blenheim Beach Reserve

Back at the Blenheim Beach Reserve are several useful facilities. These include a toilet block and a beach shower. There are also BBQ and picnic facilities, for when hunger strikes. For those visiting with families or children, there’s a small playground too.

The Blenheim Beach Reserve is almost entirely sheltered by tree cover. It’s a perfect place to come and relax and shelter from the sun, as well as take a break from the sand. The trees are often awash with birdlife, so remember to look up.

Blenheim Beach Viewing Platform

At the northern end of the Blenheim Beach Reserve is a small viewing platform. Although standing on this platform doesn’t afford any views of the beach itself, it does provide an elevated viewpoint out to sea. This is perfect for whale watching. During whale migration season (May to November), you might spot whales as they journey up and down the coast of NSW.

Also, this is a great place to spot dolphins, which often frequent the pristine waters of Jervis Bay.

Sunrise at Blenheim Beach

As Blenheim Beach faces east across Jervis Bay, it’s the perfect place to come and watch the sunrise during your trip. Arrive early and enjoy the pastel colours light up the sky. Truly, what a wonderful way to welcome a new day.

In addition, dawn, and dusk for that matter, are also great times of the day to spot wildlife, so keep your eyes peeled.

Blenheim Beach Bioluminescence

If you’re more of a night owl than an early bird, then you’ll be pleased to know Blenheim Beach offers quite the spectacle after dark. Along with Callala Bay, Barfluer Beach and Iluka Beach, the famous Jervis Bay bioluminescence has also been seen at Blenheim Beach.

Of course, there’s never a guarantee you’ll see this phenomenon during your visit. But, it’s always worth a shot.

White Sands Walk

For those that get a little restless on a beach trip (yep, that’s us too), then the White Sands Walk is the perfect antidote. The White Sands Walk is a wonderfully gentle coastal walk that stretches between Plantation Point and Hyams Beach.

Blenheim Beach forms part of the walk and falls around the midway part of the trail. So, it’s certainly possible to pick up the walk and continue in either direction. The beauty of the White Sands Walk is that it beach hops to all the other splendid beaches along this stretch of coastline. But, of course, to truly appreciate the White Sands Walk, you should consider hiking the full trail.

Read more: White Sands Walk Jervis Bay

Where Is Blenheim Beach, Jervis Bay?

Blenheim Beach is located south of Vincentia in Jervis Bay, within the region of Shoalhaven. It’s nestled between Nelsons Beach and Greenfield Beach along the White Sands Walk. Feel free to click on the interactive map below to help plan your journey.

How to Get to Blenheim Beach: Directions

The main way to get to Blenheim Beach is via the reserve car park. Here, a stepped trail leads down to the northern end of the beach. The views as you descend are quite superb. Once in Vincentia, you’ll follow Elizabeth Drive south, before turning left onto Frederick Street. At the bottom of this small road is the Blenheim Beach Reserve.

Alternatively, you can access the beach from its southern end, by accessing Captain Street.

Getting to the Blenheim Beach Reserve is certainly easiest with your own set of wheels and is very popular to visit as a day trip, or as part of a weekend trip or extended holiday from Sydney.

Sydney to Jervis Bay is a very straightforward drive, taking just 2–3 hours. You’ll follow the M1 south down to Bomaderry, before picking up the A1 Jervis Bay Road. Continue onto Naval College Road, before heading left at Vincentia onto The Wool Road. Join Elizabeth Drive and follow south until you reach Frederick Street.

If the drive feels long, or you simply want to break up the road trip with some other awesome locations on the South Coast of New South Wales, then we recommend stopping at Killalea Regional Park, Kiama and Huskisson.

Also, we recommend hiring a vehicle if you don’t have one for your road trip to Jervis Bay.

To find out more about renting a car with Discover Cars, read our Discover Cars review and Discover Cars Insurance review.

Blenheim Beach Parking

The Blenheim Beach Reserve features a large car park with public toilets, beach showers, BBQs and a playground. You can either take the steps to the beach from there, or, follow the White Sands Walk from the reserve and access the beach from its southern end.

Alternatively, at the southern end of Blenheim Beach, you might find some parking along Captain Street, just off Elizabeth Drive.

If for some reason you find the parking around Blenheim Beach to be full, then consider leaving the car at Greenfield Beach or Nelsons Beach, and use the White Sands Walking track to access Blenheim Beach.

Public Transport

Of course, if you don’t have a vehicle and don’t want to hire one, then it’s possible to take public transport to Jervis Bay from Sydney. But, be warned, with a total journey time of just over five hours and a few changes, it’s not a quick trip.

First, take the train from Sydney to Kiama. At Kiama, take the bus to Bomaderry. Then, from Bomaderry, take the #102 bus to Vincentia, and alight at this bus stop next to Nelsons Beach. Then, from Nelsons Beach, it makes sense to pick up the White Sands Walk to access Blenheim Beach.

You can check public transport options at Transport NSW.

Read more: How To Get From Sydney To Jervis Bay

Blenheim Beach Accommodation

As much as day-tripping Jervis Bay is more than doable, staying a night or two is hard to beat. For proximity to Blenheim Beach, it makes sense to stay in Vincentia. Accommodation in Vincentia typically means staying in a holiday let and renting the entire property.

There’s a wealth of accommodation options close to Blenheim Beach which certainly makes enjoying sunrise that bit easier. Below, we’ve hand-picked our favourite accommodation options close to Blenheim Beach.

Blenheim Beach Camping

If camping is more of your thing, then head to Jervis Bay Holiday Park or Holiday Haven White Sands in Huskisson. For more basic camping nestled on the Jervis Bay coastline, head to Booderee National Park.

FAQs

Below, we’ll answer a couple of the most frequently asked questions about visiting Blenheim Beach in Jervis Bay.

Is Blenheim Beach Dog Friendly?

Dogs aren’t allowed at Blenheim Beach because it is a sanctuary zone. Dogs are permitted at Nelsons Beach (next to Blenheim Beach), Callala Beach and Huskisson Beach at certain times of the day only.

Can You Camp at Blenheim Beach?

No, you can’t camp at Blenheim beach. See the Blenheim Beach Camping section for ideas on camping close to the beach.

More Beaches in Jervis Bay

• Greenfield Beach: next door to Blenheim Beach is another great alternative to Hyams Beach.
• Hyams Beach: you have to experience the beauty of this beach at least once.
• Iluka Beach: head into Booderee National Park for this truly dreamy beach.
• Murrays Beach: our favourite beach in Booderee National Park.
• Green Patch Beach: beautiful beach and fabulous camping location.
• Cave Beach: beach caves and surf breaks in Booderee.
• Steamers Beach: this excellent beach requires a short hike, which is well worth it.
• Honeymoon Bay: a well-known half-moon-shaped bay on the Beecroft Weapons Range.

Read more: Best Beaches In Jervis Bay

Other Things to Do Nearby

There’s plenty to keep you entertained on a trip down to Jervis Bay. Below are some of our top picks.

• Booderee National Park: explore one of the most beautiful coastal national parks along the South Coast of NSW (although Booderee is technically ACT), full of more picturesque beaches and awesome coastal walks.
• Gosangs Tunnel & Mermaid Inlet: awesome tunnel and cave view out across the South Pacific Ocean.
• Granite Falls: the perfect wet weather activity when visiting Jervis Bay.
• Tianjara Falls: another incredible waterfall in Morton National Park and just outside of Jervis Bay.
• Visit Huskisson: a popular hub in Jervis Bay and an excellent town for cute cafes, boat trips and of course, the famous Husky pub.

Bonus Tips

• When to visit: although much quieter than Hyams Beach, school and public holidays can still be busier times of year. For optimal tranquility, try to visit in the week or during the shoulder seasons. If you’re not too bothered about a swim, then winter is a wonderful time to head to Jervis Bay.
• Accessibility: the beach isn’t wheelchair accessible.
• Blenheim Beach fishing: Blenheim Beach falls within the Hyams Beach Sanctuary Zone, meaning it isn’t permitted to fish there.

More on the South Coast NSW

• 13 Best Wollongong Lookouts Including Lesser-Known Viewpoints
• 10 Epic Kiama Beaches (With Parking, Surfing & Patrol Details)
• Killalea Regional Park: The 8 Best Things to Do
• The 23 BEST Southern Highlands Waterfalls Near Kangaroo Valley
• Kiama Coastal Walk: Everything You Need to Know
• Beowa National Park (Formerly Ben Boyd National Park) Guide

Do you think Blenheim Beach is better than Hyams Beach in Jervis Bay? Have your say in the comments below.

We acknowledge and respect the First Nations people as the Traditional Custodians of the land/water that we visited and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.