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When To Go · Destination Guide

Jervis Bay Australia

White sand beaches above, temperate reefs and grey nurse shark dives below

Updated Jan 23, 2026 • 19 sources

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When To Go

Season planner for Jervis Bay

Jervis Bay is a four-season temperate destination. Summer is prime for beach days, with average air temperatures around 17°C to 24°C. Winter cools down to roughly 10°C to 17°C, but brings excellent whale watching from cliffs and boats. Autumn and spring are often the sweet spot for mixed dive-and-hike trips: fewer crowds than mid-summer and comfortable daytime weather for coastal walks.

At A Glance Heatmap

ActivityJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Overall
Scuba
Freedive
Snorkel
Topside

Activity Drilldowns

PrimeShoulderPlan Carefully
Overall
March to May & September to November·Crowd:Seasonal (High In Dec-Jan Holidays)·Cost:Moderate To Premium
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Ideal: Comfortable temperatures for beach walks and road trips, with fewer crowds than mid-summer.

Plan Carefully: Cooler air and more frequent swell on the open coast, but strong whale watching potential from shore.

NSW school holidays and long weekends can book out quickly.

Scuba
March to May & September to November·Crowd:Moderate (High In Summer Holidays)·Cost:Moderate To Premium
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Ideal: Often stable weather for boat diving and coastal visibility, with manageable crowds.

If you want opencoast caves and gutters, keep a weather buffer day.

Freedive
November to April·Crowd:Low To Moderate·Cost:Value To Moderate
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Ideal: Warmest water for long breath-hold sessions and relaxed surface intervals.

Plan Carefully: Cooler conditions and more frequent swell on exposed headlands. Choose sheltered coves and shorten session length.

Bring a surface float and plan around boat traffic.

Snorkel
December to March·Crowd:High In Summer Holidays·Cost:Moderate To Premium
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Ideal: Warmest water and the most comfortable surface swimming.

Plan Carefully: Cooler water and more variable weather. Pick sheltered coves and consider a thicker wetsuit.

Early mornings are usually the calmest for water clarity and surface conditions.

Topside
September to November & March to May·Crowd:Seasonal·Cost:Value To Premium
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Ideal: Great temperatures for coastal walks, cycling and beach-hopping without peak-summer crowds.

If Hyams Beach is on your list, arrive early in summer to secure parking.

Seasonal Callouts Timeline

  • Humpback whale migration

    JanJan
    FebFeb
    MarMar
    AprApr
    MayMay
    JunJun
    JulJul
    AugAug
    SepSep
    OctOct
    NovNov
    DecDec

    Humpback whales migrate past the Jervis Bay coastline in winter and spring. Look from headlands on calm days or book a whale cruise from Huskisson.

  • Dolphins in the bay

    JanJan
    FebFeb
    MarMar
    AprApr
    MayMay
    JunJun
    JulJul
    AugAug
    SepSep
    OctOct
    NovNov
    DecDec

    Dolphins are commonly seen in Jervis Bay year-round, both from shore and on cruises out of Huskisson.

  • Grey nurse shark season (site dependent)

    JanJan
    FebFeb
    MarMar
    AprApr
    MayMay
    JunJun
    JulJul
    AugAug
    SepSep
    OctOct
    NovNov
    DecDec

    Grey nurse sharks can be encountered around suitable open-coast sites. Treat encounters as a privilege and follow the national code of conduct: no touching, no chasing, and do not crowd caves or gutters.

  • NSW summer school holiday peak

    JanJan
    FebFeb
    MarMar
    AprApr
    MayMay
    JunJun
    JulJul
    AugAug
    SepSep
    OctOct
    NovNov
    DecDec

    Expect the highest crowd levels, busiest beaches and premium accommodation pricing during NSW summer school holidays. Book boats, campsites and key tours well ahead.