Cave Beach Jervis Bay: The Complete Visitor’s Guide

Cave Beach Jervis Bay is the wild and rugged jewel of Booderee National Park. Gone are the sheltered inlets of Iluka and Greenpatch Beaches. Instead, breathtaking expanses of open sea and crashing waves await. Flanked by tea tree forests and coastal bush, the high-ground approach to Cave Beach will leave you seriously impressed. As too will the opportunity to spend the night at this small patch of paradise, with Cave Beach camping beaconing any outdoor lover in Jervis Bay.

Whether you have a couple of hours or a couple of days to spend at Cave Beach Jervis Bay, there’s plenty to keep you occupied, including exploring the wonderful sea caves the beach is named after. So, below we’ll tell you everything you need to know about visiting one of Booderee’s most cherished coastlines.

Read Jervis Bay Walks: 13 Easy Hikes Not To Miss

About Cave Beach Jervis Bay

Cave Beach is a beautiful white sand beach in the south of Booderee National Park in Jervis Bay. The turquoise waters enjoy epic swells that attract keen surfers all year round. For those of us more land-based, there’s more to Cave Beach Jervis Bay than just laying out on a towel and reading a book. And yes, the clue is in the name.

To the western side of the beach is a jagged headland concealing wonderful sea caves. One in particular is deep and intriguing. The views within as well as looking back out across Cave Beach Jervis Bay are spectacular. Of course, accessing the caves requires a little planning. That’s because reaching them is tide-dependent and you really won’t want to miss out. You can check the tide times for Cave Beach Jervis Bay here.

If the beguiling beauty of Cave Beach Jervis Beach has you yearning to stick around a little longer, then you can book yourself a night or two at the Cave Beach Campground. This peaceful camping spot is a mere stone’s throw from the beach, meaning a sunrise or sunset at Cave Beach Jervis Bay should be high on your to-do list. Additionally, the friendly ‘roo’s you’ll be sharing the campground with offer their own form of entertainment. It’s certainly a treat.

So, let’s take a look at the top six attractions at Cave Beach Jervis Bay in Booderee National Park.

6 Wonderful Things to Do at Cave Beach Jervis Bay

1. Head to Cave Beach Lookout

As you approach the beach, look out for the signing to the left directing you to the Cave Beach Lookout. The short boardwalk leads to a wonderful viewpoint providing extensive views across the entire bay. It’s the perfect spot to snap a picture or two.

2. Explore the Caves

For most visitors making a quick stop at Cave Beach Jervis Bay, the main attraction is, of course, checking out the coastal caves. Once you arrive on Cave Beach, head right and towards the nearby cliff face. Here, you’ll find two wonderful sea caves on the beachfront, offering picture-perfect views and thoughtfully framing the charming Cave Beach Jervis Bay.

The first cave you come to is the most shallow in depth but invites a little scrambling up its jagged interior. The second cave, just around the corner, is the deepest and more impressive of the two. Dripping water off the cliff opening might shower you as you pass through from the beach to the dark cavern beyond. Looking back out to the beach is a beautifully captured view of this fantastic Booderee National Park beach.

3. Go Surfing at Cave Beach Jervis Bay

Certainly, one of the main draws of Cave Beach Jervis Bay is its excellent swell and continuous crashing waves. So, you can expect to find many a surfer at Cave Beach, taking advantage of the playful conditions. And, if you’re not a surfer, then you can just watch from a nice peaceful spot of white sand, likely without a crowd in sight.

4. Cave Beach Jervis Bay Swimming

Cave Beach Jervis Bay is often unpatrolled, so you should exercise caution if heading out for a swim. Dan and I also saw plenty of jellyfish washed up on the beach. But, we did enjoy a paddle and splash around in the epic waves crashing ashore.

Over the headland where the caves are located is Bherwerre Beach. This is a better beach for swimming and is just a short walk to reach by taking the Bherwerre Track or Ryans Swamp Walking Track next to the campground. Additionally, you can find more good surf at Bherwerre Beach.

5. Check Out the Kangaroos

Cave Beach Jervis Bay has become one of the best locations at Booderee National Park to spot kangaroos. Although, generally speaking, if you’re around the national park at dawn and dusk, you’ll likely spot them everywhere. Dan and I saw plenty in the national park after arriving at 7am, when the park opened.

Also, the Cave Beach camping area is a kangaroo’s favourite hangout. So, be sure to have a quick look as you pass by on your way to the beach.

6. Cave Beach Jervis Bay Camping

Booderee National Park is full of some of the most picturesque coastal camp spots you’ll find anywhere in NSW. But, for a slice of something a little more remote and certainly quiet, you should head to Cave Beach Campground.

The campsite is walk-in only, so you’ll need to carry all your gear with you. That’s why Cave Beach Jervis Bay makes for a wonderful lightweight camping experience. But, don’t worry, you’re only 300m from the car park, so it’s not the end of the world if you leave something in the car or van.

Amenities include toilets and cold showers. There are BBQ facilities (gas and wood fire pits) as well as access to fresh water. Bookings must be made in advance. Don’t expect to simply rock up and pitch your tent. Rangers frequently patrol the campgrounds in Booderee National Park.

And of course, it’s not just your fellow campers you’ll be sharing the campground with. Expect to wake up to countless kangaroos enjoying their grassy breakfast outside your tent. Check out Booderee National Parks’s website, here, for more information on camping.

Read more: A Quick Guide To Booderee National Park Camping

Where Is Cave Beach Jervis Bay?

Cave Beach is located at the southern end of Booderee National Park in Jervis Bay. The stunning stretch of coastline sits between Wreck Bay Village and Five Mile Beach, meeting Sussex Inlet.

Booderee National Park is located along the South Coast of New South Wales (NSW) and is often thought to be part of the state of NSW. But, Jervis Bay Territory is part of the ACT, as a way to offer the territory access to the sea.

Feel free to click on the interactive map below to plan your journey.

How to Get to Cave Beach Jervis Bay

The simplest way to get to Cave Beach Jervis Bay is by driving. Take Naval College Road through Jervis Bay to the entrance and visitor centre of Booderee National Park. From there, follow Jervis Bay Road for a short while, before branching right onto Cave Beach Road. Then, follow this road to the Cave Beach Car Park at the end.

Please note: you need a Parks Pass to visit Booderee National Park. The pass costs $13 and can be purchased online before you arrive, at the entrance gates or using the QR codes dotted around the national park once you’ve arrived. If you’re camping, the Parks Pass is included in the camping fee. The pass lasts for two days. You can find more information here.

Cave Beach Jervis Bay Parking

Cave Beach Car Park is fairly spacious with room for plenty of vehicles. The car park operates a one-way system with parking bays on either side of the access road.

As Cave Beach Jervis Bay is a popular surf spot as well as a camping location, the car park can become busy on the weekends and public/school holidays. Still, given the ease of seeing the cave attractions, there’s a decent turnaround of visitors. So, hopefully, you’ll have no trouble finding a park.

Sydney to Jervis Bay

Travelling from Sydney to Jervis Bay is very straightforward and takes just 2–3 hours. The easiest way to get to Jervis Bay is to drive there yourself. This is especially useful for getting around Booderee National Park as your only other options for exploring the area are by bicycle or boat. Although, Booderee National Park’s website does say it’s possible to explore by walking. But, you’re looking at some long coastal walks and sections of inland road walking if you do. Certainly, having a car is the most convenient.

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

Read more: How To Get From Sydney To Jervis Bay

Public Transport

If you don’t have your own vehicle and don’t want to hire one, then it’s possible to take public transport to Jervis Bay. But, be warned, with a total journey time of just over five hours and three changes, it’s not a quick trip. Still, if you can take your bicycle and plan on cycling around Booderee National Park, then it might be an option to consider.

You’ll first take the train from Sydney to Kiama. At Kiama, you’ll take the Bomaderry bus to Bomaderry. Then from Bomaderry, take the #103 bus to Hyams Beach. From Hyams Beach, you’ll need to walk (or cycle) almost 4km to the Booderee National Park entrance.

You can check public transport options here.

Other Things to Do at Booderee National Park

Booderee National Park is jam-packed full of natural attractions and beautiful camp spots. Below are some of our favourites. Additionally, be sure to head into the Booderee National Park Visitor Centre when you arrive for any extra information on wildlife, walks and attractions.

• Iluka Beach: a narrow strip of white sand perfect for swimming and bathing. Also, Iluka is a great place to spot Jervis Bay’s bioluminescence. 
• Green Patch Beach: fab campground, beautiful beach and a wonderful place to enjoy sunset and sunrise.
• Murrays Beach: one of our favourite beaches in Booderee National Park and there’s even a sea cave to explore.
• Scottish Rocks: interesting rock formations found at the end of a beautiful forest trail.
• Hole in the Wall: it’s more like a half a hole these days but it’s still a beautiful rock formation between Bristol Point and Murrays Beach.
• Steamers Beach: enjoy a 2km trail to this secluded beach. Check out Brooks Lookout too.
• Cape St. George Lighthouse: on the eastern edge of the national park are the ruins of a 19th century lighthouse.
• Booderee Botanic Gardens: check out the local flora of the area.

Read more: Booderee National Park: 12 Must-See Attractions

Gear Essentials

Below are our top gear essentials for visiting Cave Beach Jervis Bay and the wider Booderee National Park. Of course, you should also pack swimmers and a towel. Aqua shoes might also come in handy in some areas of Booderee.

To find out more about all of the gear that we use and recommend, read our guides about our favourite hiking gear, travel gear and camera gear. Otherwise, read our comprehensive travel packing checklist.

Bonus Tips

• Facilities: there are toilets at the Cave Beach Car Park.
• Accessibility: access to the Cave Beach Lookout follows along a paved road section before turning onto a boardwalk. This is deemed wheelchair and pram-friendly. However, access to the beach is not.
• Best time to visit: visiting at sunrise or sunset is particularly nice for photography. Additionally, weekdays and outside of school holidays are quieter times to visit. You should also remember to check tidal times for access to the caves.
• Other water activities: Cave Beach Jervis Bay is also pretty good for fishing and snorkelling.
• Dogs: no dogs are allowed in Booderee National Park.
• Cave Beach Camping alternatives in Jervis Bay: not campers? No problem! Below are some of our top accommodation picks in Jervis Bay.

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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.