Iluka Beach, Jervis Bay: 7 Wonderful Reasons To Visit

Iluka Beach is easily one of the most stunning beaches in Jervis Bay. Powdery white sand is gently lapped by dazzling turquoise waters. The blue hues of Jervis Bay are ridiculously enticing, and, given the sheltered nature of Iluka Beach, swimming is calm and pleasant.

The unspoilt coastal bushland hugging the shoreline elevates the serene and natural feel of Iluka Beach. Feeling far removed from civilisation and immersed in nature, Iluka Beach is a wonderful location in Jervis Bay to come away and switch off for a few hours.

In this guide, we’ll detail seven reasons you must visit Iluka Beach in Jervis Bay.

Read Jervis Bay Walks: 13 Easy Hikes Not To Miss

7 Reasons To Visit Iluka Beach, Jervis Bay

Located in Booderee National Park, Iluka Beach should certainly be considered as your first stop. That’s because it’s one of the first beaches you’ll pass after you’ve entered into the national park. Dan and I headed there after we’d first arrived, and we enjoyed this small patch of paradise all to ourselves. And it was magical.

Given the wealth of glorious beaches packed into the relatively small area of Booderee, choosing where to spend your time can be tricky. If we were being perfectly honest, we’d say visit them all! But, time isn’t always a luxury. Dan and I think Iluka Beach is a must-see beach in Jervis Bay. Below, we’ll briefly overview seven reasons why we think Iluka Beach in Jervis Bay should be on your Booderee National Park itinerary.

1. Swimming at Iluka Beach, Jervis Bay

With its sheltered location on Jervis Bay, Iluka Beach is a wonderful spot for some relaxed and family-friendly swimming. The water is crystal clear and more than a little inviting. You’ll find gentle waves and mostly calm conditions.

Additionally, the beach itself is sublime. The white sand easily rivals the famous Hyams Beach. And, given the shallow nature of the beach, it isn’t far to leave the gear unattended whilst enjoying some time in the water.

Bear in mind, that no beaches in Booderee National Park are patrolled, so swimming is at your own risk.

2. Picnics at Iluka Beach, Jervis Bay

If you work up an appetite and don’t fancy a beach picnic, then simply return towards the car park and pitch up at one of the many picnic tables in the reserve. The tree-covered park is a great sheltered spot offering some respite from the sun and is a lovely alternative to the beach for relaxing.

Also, this is where you’ll find toilets and changing blocks. It’s very convenient indeed.

3. Sunrise at Iluka Beach, Jervis Bay

Given Iluka Beach faces east across Jervis Bay, sunrise here is particularly wonderful. With uninterrupted views, you can enjoy watching the sun pop up over the horizon line with Bowen Island and Point Perpendicular in the distance.

4. Wildlife at Iluka Beach, Jervis Bay

The coastal bushland and forest that trim the edges of Iluka Beach are awash with birdlife. In fact, Iluka Beach and neighbouring Green Patch Beach are excellent locations to view many of the incredible birds that call this part of Jervis Bay home. These include rosellas, lorikeets and kookaburras.

Also, if travelling around dawn and dusk, be sure to keep an eye out for kangaroos and swamp wallabies. Dan and I arrived at Booderee National Park just after 7am and headed straight for Iluka Beach. We passed plenty of kangaroos along Iluka Road as we headed to the car park at the far end.

5. Short Walks From Iluka Beach, Jervis Bay

If you get a little restless at Iluka Beach in Jervis Bay, then taking a short walk might be right up your street. If you head south along the beach, you’ll enter Green Patch Beach, which is another sublime beach in Booderee National Park.

Alternatively, head north and you’ll reach Captains Beach. Here, you can also access Jervis Bay Village. You can also join the Iluka Track from the car park and walk to Jervis Bay Village along the road. The walk into Jervis Bay Village from Iluka Beach takes around 30 minutes.

6. Iluka Beach, Jervis Bay After Dark

One of the main reasons visitors come to spend the night in Jervis Bay is to catch a glimpse of the bioluminescence. Bioluminescence, also known as ‘sea sparkle’, is often the result of an algae bloom of plankton generating light through a chemical reaction. When disturbed by a wave or even a splash, light is emitted and the water appears to glow blue. It’s quite incredible.

Although Dan and I personally weren’t around to witness this at Iluka Beach, we have it on good authority (rangers in the Booderee Visitor Centre) that Iluka is a great place in Jervis Bay to see this phenomenon.

Now, if you do your research on Jervis Bay bioluminescence, you’ll see it’s hard to predict when or where you might see it. So, that doesn’t mean heading to Iluka Beach is a concrete bet. But, it’s certainly worth a shot.

Be sure to ask the knowledgeable staff at the visitor centre when you arrive at Booderee National Park for any updates on recent sightings.

7. Camping at Iluka Beach, Jervis Bay

Despite being such a dreamy location to spend the night, Iluka Beach in Jervis Bay does not have its own campground. But, fear not, you don’t need to travel far to find an alternative. Green Patch, the next beach over, has a wonderful campground. Given you can just stroll along the beach from Green Patch to Iluka Beach, it’s basically the same as staying there.

To book a campsite at Green Patch Campground, check Parks Australia.

Read more: A Quick Guide To Booderee National Park Camping

Where Is Iluka Beach, Jervis Bay?

Iluka Beach is located on the northern edge of Booderee National Park in Jervis Bay. Feel free to click on the interactive map below to help plan your journey.

How to Get to Iluka Beach, Jervis Bay

To access Iluka Beach, you’ll first need to enter Booderee National Park, at the southern end of Jervis Bay. The easiest way to get there is to drive. Driving is especially useful if you plan to explore more of the national park. As you enter Booderee National Park, follow the main Jervis Bay Road before turning left onto Iluka Road. Follow this road to the end, where you’ll find the Iluka Beach Car Park.

From the Iluka Beach Car Park, there’s a short walk through the coastal bush to reach the beach, passing through the picnic area.

Please note: you need a Parks Pass to visit Booderee National Park. The two-day 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. Additionally, the national park is free to enter for walkers and cyclists. You can find more information on the Parks Australia website.

Iluka Beach Parking

The main parking area for Iluka Beach is of moderate size. There’s room for maybe 50 or so vehicles at Iluka Beach Car Park. If this main car park is full, you can find additional parking back up Iluka Road at this location. This car park here is more lay-by style, with room for perhaps a dozen vehicles. There is access to Iluka Beach directly across the road.

As a popular beach in Booderee National Park, the car park can fill quickly on weekends and during school holidays. If you happen to struggle for a space, consider parking at Green Patch Beach Day Visitor Car Park. This car park is much larger and you can simply walk along Green Patch Beach to Iluka, enjoying both of these incredible Jervis Bay beaches.

Additionally, the Iluka Beach Car Park has toilets and picnic facilities.

Getting to Jervis Bay

Heading to Jervis Bay from Sydney is very popular. It’s also very straightforward and takes just 2–3 hours to drive. You’ll follow the M1 south down to Bomaderry, before picking up the A1 Jervis Bay Road. Follow this directly to Booderee National Park. If you want to break up the journey and make a longer trip itinerary out of heading down to Jervis Bay, then we recommend stopping at Killalea Regional Park, Kiama and Huskisson.

As mentioned, having a car is very convenient, especially for getting around and exploring more of Booderee National Park. That’s because there is no public transport in Booderee National Park and your only options for exploring the area are by car, bicycle or boat.

Booderee National Park’s website does say it’s possible to explore by walking. But, you’re looking at some long 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 a vehicle and don’t want to hire one, then it’s possible to take public transport to Jervis Bay from Sydney, New South Wales. But, be warned, with a total journey time of just over five hours and three changes, it’s not a quick trip.

You’ll first take the train from Sydney to Kiama. At Kiama, you’ll take the 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. And then, you’ll need to walk to Iluka Beach, Jervis Bay.

You can check public transport options at TransportNSW.

Other Things to Do at Booderee National Park

Booderee National Park is jam-packed full of natural attractions and beautiful beaches. 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 about wildlife, walks and attractions.

• Green Patch Beach: tropical island-style beach with wonderful snorkelling and camping.
• Murrays Beach: a popular beach complete with a cave, lookout and coastal walks.
• Cave Beach: wild and rugged, this spectacular beach is home to an incredible sea cave.
• 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. Also, while you’re at it, check out Brooks Lookout.
• 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 Booderee.

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

Be sure to bookmark or save this post so you’re ready for your trip to Booderee National Park.

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.