FRIDAY 3 JULY: The seaside villages around Jervis Bay are extending their operating hours for the next couple of weeks to make sure we are all maxxing our Vitamin D while making the most of our leisure time. Here’s the guide you need.
Things to Do Right Now
Listen to our first JBW podcast! Each week, we will interview the people in our community who make Jervis Bay one of the most dynamic regions in NSW—the chefs and producers, the musicians and artists, festival organisers and business innovators doing incredible things right here. Thank you to our very first guests, Chef Angie Prendergast-Sceats from The Valley Table, improv musician and sound artist Scott Gillespie and historian and author Dr Rose Searby.
Buy an $18 show ticket until midnight tonight celebrating the 18th birthday of the Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre. There are four shows offering these tickets by using the promo code SEC18! when selecting your seats, Sydney Dance Company Engine, Brooke & Adam featuring Liam Maihi, James Blundell with Patsy and Dave, and Wolfgang in the stars.
Sign up for a working bee at the Vincentia golf course precinct to support the new club, Jervis Bay Community & Sports Club, which is making great progress to become the new custodians of the precinct. If you can weed, prune and bag up invasive vegetation, email your interest to volunteer@jbcsc.com.au. Read the latest details about the new club’s bid for the precinct, set to take place at the end of this month. If you want to help out without getting your hands dirty, check out this fundraising event coming up in August.
What Else is Happening Around Jervis Bay
Saturday 4 July, Local Markets: The Jervis Bay Maritime Museum Markets are on by the pond from 10am-2pm with musician Annaliese Szota entertaining from 11am-1pm and a Filipino bbq food truck and coffee van on-site. Further south it’s the Milton Village Showground market day from 8.30am-1.30pm with dozens of stalls offering fresh produce and baked goods, homewares and fashion, plants, handcrafts and more.
Saturday 4 July, New Currarong Art Trail Map: A big handful of artists will have their studios open from 1oam-2pm this Saturday around the seaside village of Currarong. See who is open and the newly revised map and support artists directly.
Saturday 4 July, Husky Ferry School Holiday Hours: Captain Dave will be operating the Husky Ferry throughout the school holidays, on the hour between 11am-4pm at Myola and on Saturdays from 10am-7pm. Hop aboard for $15/$5 return fare.
Saturday 4 July, Taproom School Holiday Hours: Jervis Bay Brewing Co and their on-site food truck by 5 Little Pigs will trade every day of the school holidays, open at 12 midday.
Saturday 4-Sunday 5 July, Bric-a-brac Sale at Club JB: Head to the bottom staff carpark from 10am each day where Club Jervis Bay will be selling excess crockery, cutlery, pots and pans, tables and chairs, with bargains from $1, in Huskisson.
Sunday 5 July, Beach Cleanup at Murrays: The dive tour operators, Woebegone are organising a community cleanup starting at 10am at Murrays Boat Ramp in Booderee National Park. Collect debris along the shoreline or those who are able, snorkel or dive for submerged rubbish. Bring gloves and a bag to help remove the rubbish from the site.
Sunday 5 July, First Nations Films in KV: As part of NAIDOC Week this year, a special screening of three films by First Nations storytellers, including the recently produced The Rock by Luke McLeod Ebsworth, is on at Kangaroo Valley Hall, from 3pm. You can read about the making of The Rock in our story from last week, and find out more about the films on the program, and buy tickets $20 online, from Reconciliation Allies Kangaroo Valley and Shoalhaven First Nations Film Festival.
Sunday 5 July, Bonsai and Brews in Woollamia: Bonsai master Mason Keene is bringing the art—and the rootstock—to Jervis Bay Brewing Co for a morning of manipulation. Follow Mason’s advice to wire up your tiny tree while sipping on a beverage of your choice. From 11am, $140 provides everything you need to take home a potted plant.
Monday 6 July, Hospo Industry Event: Add your voice to an industry discussion about hospitality in our region, hosted by the Shoalhaven Business Chamber. Insights from the discussion will help the Chamber to represent the hospitality sector at all levels of government. RSVP today to Shoalhaven Business Chamber for the event which starts at 4pm in Nowra this Monday.
Monday 6 July-Friday 17 July, Sailing Lessons: Feel the wind in your sails this school holidays with the Vincentia Sailing Club offering sailing lessons. There are limited slots for new and intermediate sailors to improve their skills, so book now. From one-on-one instruction to a family session, let the crew at the Club know what you prefer via their online form.
Monday 6 July-Thursday 27 August, Melaleuca Exhibition: Randall Sinnamon has created a new series of large-scale works detailing the diversity and intricacy of the landscape around Jervis Bay, which will be exhibited in the new venue, Melaleuca at Worrowing Farm. The exhibition will be open weekdays, 10am-2pm.
Tuesday 7 July (and other dates), Kids Cookies: Husky Bakery knows how to keep the kinds entertained this holidays with cookie decorating in-store at Currambene Street Huskisson, $15. Reserve a spot in-store or DM to book, for one of these 45 minute sessions on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays in the school holidays from 9.30am.
Tuesday 7 July, Gardening at Riversdale: The Bundanon property known as Riversdale is seeking volunteers for a working bee do help with weeding, from 9am-12pm. Find out about how to volunteer and apply to join the team with an online form.
Saturday 11 July, Jazz at Old Salt: The South Nowra distillery turns into a sultry jazz club for one night only featuring Pearl Noire. Your $30 cover charge includes a drink and canapé on arrival. (Book online to transport yourself to a basement in Chicago via the south coast.
Saturday 11 July + Sunday 12 July, Flame to Plate in Woollamia: A crackling fire, a long table and a menu of local produce cooked over the flames awaits diners at the Bay & Bush nature retreat, a 27-acre bushland property just minutes from Huskisson. For $176, you can choose from an evening event starting before sunset, at 4.30pm on the Saturday or a lunch time event from 11.30am on the Sunday. Book online for this delicious winter experience created by chef Alexia Brown. Read more about this event in our story by hospitality editor, Narrell Tabone.
Saturday 11 July, It’s Xmas in Sussex: Nobody does Christmas in July better than Sussex Inlet, where the annual Santa-fest is on Jacobs Drive (near the park and church) from 3.30pm-7pm. Expect the jolly red fellow to appear with his reindeer alongside circus acts, kids activities including a free movie in the cinema, live music, food trucks and of course, Christmas lights.
Saturday 11 July, Dahlia Workshop: Get your hands dirty at the Tomerong farm of Petal & Bee for a Dahlia Dig & Divide workshop where you will learn the essentials for growing these showy blooms. From 9.30am spend a few hours with your hands in the soil and on the tubers, then take home some tubers, tools and know-how back to your own patch, $250.
Saturday 11 July, Line Dancing in Tomerong: Revival Line Dancing is holding a beginner-friendly line dancing night at Tomerong Hall from 6pm. Join in for $20 as the experts walk through the routines and even take requests. A great way to warm up on a cool winter’s night.
Saturday 11 July, Platypus Spotting: Join members of Shoalhaven Landcare at the Hampden Bridge in Kangaroo Valley for some platypus spotting along the river. Wear something warm and bring your camera. Meet at 4pm and stay as long as you like.
Sunday 12 July, Paint in the Paddock: The low winter morning light provides the perfect conditions for an outdoor painting adventure at Worrowing, the 250-acre bushland property along the Wool Road where artist Amy Kinzett will guide a small group of painters on a three-hour workshop from 9.30am. Start with some sketching for composition and move onto oil painting under the tutelage of Amy, who assures this is suitable for all skill levels. For $70 the workshop includes art materials, a warm drink and a snack.
Monday 13 July, Nature Talk: Find out why tree hollows are so important for our wildlife at this free talk at Nowra Library. Reserve your seat online, starts at 5.30pm.
Tuesday 14 July, Women’s Health Talk: Perimenopause & Beyond is the topic of a free information session at Nowra Library, from 5.30pm. A representative from the Illawarra Shoalhaven Menopause Service will unpack what menopause really is, what happens during perimenopause, and what to expect in the years beyond. Register now to attend this talk designed to support women with practical, evidence‑based information to help make sense of changes during midlife.
Saturday 18 July, Xmas with Marine Rescue JB: La Vespa Italian Restaurant and Marine Rescue Jervis Bay are teaming up for a buon natale in Vincentia. For $45 per person, get in the Christmas spirit with three courses and a visit from Santa. Funds raised from a raffle and silent auction will go towards maintaining the rescue craft that keep our waters safe.
Thursday 23 July, Skylarking at the Museum: For anyone who has visited Cape St George and the ruined lighthouse, there remains a sense of unease around the tragic events that are noted on the visitor information signs. For author Kate Mildenhall, they became a novel (Skylarking) and now, a decade later, a real-life epilogue to the story. For one night only, Kate will talk more about this intriguing chapter in Jervis Bay’s history, in conversation with Dr Rose Searby at the Jervis Bay Maritime Museum, $20 includes a drink and refreshments, doors open 5.30pm.
Thursday 23 July, Planet Film at Sussex: See the documentary, How to Poison a Planet, for $20 at Sussex Inlet Cinema including wine & cheese and a meet-and-greet session, a great way to be a part of our community caring for the environment. Reserve your seat online, doors open 5pm and the screening starts at 6pm.
Saturday 25-Sunday 26 July, Berry in Bloom: A flower show like no other, the camellias will be put in force at Berry School of Arts hosting the national as well as local camellia competitive show. $7 entry with plants and refreshments available to purchase.
Sunday 25 July, Seafood Celebration: A dozen top chefs and seafood producers from across the south coast are collaborating on an odyssey of seafood sustainability and seafood preparation, and you are invited to witness the techniques, hear about the producing and taste the bounty. From 4pm till 10pm, seafood will be centre stage at Worrowing, the 250-acre estate in Jervis Bay, with tickets priced from $266.
Plan Ahead—Diary-worthy events coming up on the South Coast
Friday 31 July–Sunday 2 August, Citrus Fest Kangaroo Valley: Workshops, dinners, tours and high tea are all on the program at Kangaroo Valley’s inaugural Citrus Fest, a celebration of all things zesty at the peak of the season. Learn how to grow and care for your trees, or how to preserve the fruit in so many delicious ways. Discover zesty cocktail ideas and join a long table dinner in the KV Hall. There are activities designed for kids as well.
Saturday 8 August, Walk for Women’s Safety: The 10th annual SASSI 30 fundraising walk along the Jervis Bay coastline is raising funds for domestic violence survivors in the Shoalhaven and women and children at SASSI’s crisis accommodation sites. Gather at 8am in White Sands Park for a photo-worthy mass start, then choose your distance along the route to Hyams Beach. Register now and help make our community a safer place.
27-30 August, Arts Muster Festival in Huskisson: Now on sale, there are 12 two-day workshops on offer at this year’s annual Arts Muster Festival in Huskisson, $350. Each class is taught by an accomplished and generous artist, in small groups of 10 students. Try your hand at making a cloth doll or discover fleeting beauty in ephemeral art, enjoy the immediacy of pen and wash or the ancient art of shibori. See the full program of events including art-after-dark immersive cultural experiences and a community movie night to raise funds for high school student scholarships to Arts Muster workshops.
