School’s out from the end of this week until 11 October, and Jervis Bay Weekend is taking the load off with some great ideas for food and entertainment for parents and grandparents who want to make the most of time with their junior family members.
Go Wild with Whales
It’s peak whale time as the magnificent humpbacks migrate back to the Southern Ocean, sometimes with new babies in tow. Occasionally a mother and baby will enter Jervis Bay for a rest – think of it as a five-star marine resort – but more usually they are out past the heads, travelling close to the coastline. Head out on a cruise with Jervis Bay Wild to catch a glimpse of these majestic giants of the sea, with 3-hour tours leaving daily from the Huskisson wharf.
For a slightly less wild cruise, take the dolphin boat that stays within the confines of the Bay for a fascinating 1.5-hour trip, or perhaps the Jervis Bay Passage cruise where you can peek into the small caves along the cliffs and other delights.
There’s also a sunset river cruise, taking in the calm waters of Currambene Creek and its ecosystem. BYO drinks and nibbles to enjoy as the twilight begins to twinkle on the surface of the water.
Bookings for all these options can be made online or at the ticket office inside the Fisherman’s Wharf café in Huskisson. Check their socials for videos and the latest count of this season’s whales.
Nature Scavenger Hunt, Sensory Garden & Café
A scavenger hunt with neat tools like a leaf finder and rewards for completion is a fantastic way to entertain the kids outside this holidays, thanks to the clever people at Schutz Landscape and Garden Supplies. Also on the grounds is a sensory garden designed by a childhood educator for kids to feel, smell, touch and play. Parents and grandparents can relax with a coffee and snack from Coffee on the Double aka the big red bus. There’s plenty of table seating and the lush lawn is a great spot for a BYO rug.
Boardwalk through the Mangroves
Just in time for these holidays, the wonderful nature walk behind the Jervis Bay Maritime Museum is reopened. The 1.4km timber boardwalk through the mangroves of Currambene Creek is a great way to explore the complex ecosystem without getting your feet wet. Get up close to a special part of our marine sanctuary during low tide, you might see a few crabs darting about, or at high tide you might even spot a stingray.
The beautiful grounds of the museum are perfect for a picnic – pick up some takeaway fish & chips, burgers or a hamper from one of the many Owen Street cafes on your way.
Night Snorkelling
See the ocean come alive at night, on a snorkel tour with local freedive experts, Woebegone Freedive Tours. This magical adventure might include bioluminescence, nocturnal sea creatures and special dive sites. Book your place for either 4 or 11 October online, includes the use of torches, and wet suits are available for hire. Perfect for all ages, $75/$140 (with full gear). The exact location will be sent to you the day before, according to the weather conditions.
Rainy Day Ideas
Inside the Jervis Bay Maritime Museum, there’s plenty to see in the permanent collections and exhibitions by local artists. Keep this one up your sleeve for a rainy day. The Lady Denman ferry – built in Huskisson before servicing the Sydney Harbour routes till the 1970s – is the star attraction and always a hit with families. Your kids can test their detective skills with the free children’s treasure hunt inside the museum. Kids who find all the ‘treasure’ hidden around the museum get a prize! Under 16s enter free with a paying adult ($12.50).
Husky Pictures is a popular wet-weather choice for everyone. Buy tickets at the box office in the foyer of the charming picture theatre and settle in with some popcorn or a classic choc-top. Trace the origins of Optimus Prime in the new Transformers movie, or introduce a new generation to the crazy quirkiness of Betelgeuse. Check their website for start times and other movies.
Burn off excess energy with Climbing and Mini-golf
Instead of climbing the walls at home, try the specially designed walls at Indoor Climb South Coast, located in the Huskisson industrial zone. Choose a top-rope route with a harness or try bouldering on the low walls where you can land on crash mats as you work on your sequences. Check out their new Caving System! Fun for big kids too, and lessons are available.
If you prefer to stay at ground-level, pay a visit to the finest mini golf facilities on the South Coast, an 18-hole course next to the bowling club at Husky Sports (next to the soccer fields). For $12/$10, pit the big kids against the little kids in a fair competition, then treat yourselves to lunch and a drink in the club.
Creative Kids
If your junior family members have a creative streak, there are plenty of art and craft classes around these holidays.
Start with the Shoalhaven Regional Gallery in Nowra, which is offering a range of creative workshops for kids of all ages, from toddlers to tweenies. Check the program and book online for kids sculpture, mixed media art and more.
The Art Hub Studio is an expert at kids art classes, and this holidays they are offering an exciting range of options including sculpture, bonsai and block printing. Check their program online and enrol your budding artist, from $65.
Park Yourself Somewhere
We have an abundance of beautiful spaces that are just perfect for a picnic, including many well-maintained outdoor BBQs and picnic tables, or bring a blanket and spread out.
Voyager Memorial Park on Owen Street Huskisson is down by the marina in front of the Club Jervis Bay The Huskisson Hotel. This beautiful park has some seating and a children’s play area. The memorial adds a sense of history and importance to the park. The Huskisson sea pool is free and open every day except Thursdays.
White Sands Park on Hawke Street has a few public BBQs, some picnic tables and plenty of lawn to spread out on, plus convenient public toilets. Home to the popular giant spider web for kids to climb on, it’s also very handy to a couple of restaurants, the new AK Dragon Malaysian restaurant and Sandbar, which has a great cocktail menu for happy hour.
Moona Moona Creek Reserve is a great spot to set up on the lawn and take the young ones swimming. There’s parking, toilet and picnicking facilities, including shelters and BBQs. There’s an adjoining lagoon with clean sand and shallow water, which is a haven for young families.
Plantation Point Reserve in Vincentia is a magical part of Jervis bay and only 10 mins drive from Huskisson. In this one spot, you have the advantage of two beaches, BarFleur which is great for toddlers and young ones where the waters are calm, and Nelsons Beach on the other side of the Point, which is a great spot to catch some waves – and occasionally see a pod of dolphins following the bait fish close to the shore. The beautiful parklands between these beaches has recently upgraded facilities including toilets and showers, a playground and outdoor gym, some public BBQs and sheltered picnic tables, a water bottle filling station, and some parking. It’s home to the Vincentia Sailing Club.
Greenfields Beach, which is part of Jervis Bay National Park, is a 5-minute drive from Vincentia’s Burton Street shopping village, and is a picturesque secluded spot with a BBQ area and walking trails which are perfect for bird watching. Bring your binoculars.
Clifton Park, Sanctuary Point has a learn-to-ride area for kids and their bikes, plus a community food garden, a Men’s Shed and a gated dog park. The Learn to Ride area was created to help local kids learn safe riding skills while boosting their fitness in a fun, secure environment.
