The incredible New South Wales beach you have to visit in 2026 

Do you love beaches where the sand is so perfect that you pause to take it all in? There aren’t many that make you stop and think about how unreal it looks, but Chinamans Beach in Jervis Bay is one of them.

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Transfers: Welcome Pickups
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As a loyal, proud Queenslander, I had always boasted about how incredible the beaches in my home state are. There is no way I thought New South Wales could put up even one beach that would come close to some of my favourite spots at home. Turns out, New South Wales has been sitting on one hell of a secret… they have one of the most incredible beaches I’ve ever visited, and you can find it at Jervis Bay.

It’s about a 2-hour 45-minute drive south from Sydney, and slightly less from Canberra. The route winds through small towns and bushland before opening up onto one of the most beautiful stretches of sand in New South Wales. Compared with nearby Hyams Beach, Chinamans feels calmer and more secluded, letting you slide straight from the car into serenity.

Hiring a car? We recommend booking it here

Jervis Bay is incredible. It’s home to sand so white, you can’t quite believe it’s real. The white sand sets off perfectly against the sparkling, brilliant blue water of the ocean. Together with the gorgeous warm sunshine overhead, it becomes a haven and the kind of place you can easily see yourself spending a few days, or even a week, just relaxing, swimming and napping.

Two popular beaches are Hyams Beach and Seven Mile Beach, but after a tip from a Berry local, we decided to check out Chinamans Beach instead. The tip was right. We found ourselves on a beautiful, relatively secluded corner of the Bay, with views out to Bowen Island and the Headland. The Bay is protected from gusty winds, so the water rolls into shore gently, making it the perfect spot to paddle around and just… be happy.

I highly recommend visiting Jervis Bay and Chinamans Beach. We only had an hour or so to spend, and I really wish it could have been longer. The perfect white sand was so soft and welcoming, the cool water perfect for a dip. I could easily have seen myself spending a long time here with a good book. If you’re planning a trip to Sydney, Canberra, or somewhere else nearby, be sure to include Jervis Bay in your itinerary. It’s amazing!

Book a 2 hour Cruise of the stunning Jervis Bay here

We found the beach quite easily, following the signs to Hyams Beach that led us into town, then turning left and following the road to the end. There we found a spot surrounded by bushland, with places to park. A set of stairs led us down to the beach.

There are plenty of holiday homes available for rent, so I’d recommend you jump online and find one you love and settle in for a few days or a week of seaside relaxation. The town is home to great cafes and restaurants, and you can always take a daytrip to places like Berry if you feel like it. Other things to do in the area include snorkelling and diving, kayaking and stand-up paddle-boarding as well as dolphin and whale-watching cruises.

Book a stay at the incredible Mt Hay Retreat here

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