Jervis Bay accommodation for a serene waterfront retreat

With an affordable range of holiday homes spanning one, two or three bedrooms, the private villas at Bella Villas of Jervis Bay make for an idyllic family retreat. Airy, open-plan living spaces and multiple bedroom options accommodate groups of up to six people. Though it provides space in droves, Bella Villas never loses its cosy and inviting feel. Small details like patterned bedding, art prints on the walls and carved wooden furniture add a sense of homegrown charm. With a fully equipped kitchen and dining area, preparing and hosting group meals – be they simple beans on toast or extravagant roasts – is easy.

All villas have an outdoor veranda and seating, plus a BBQ area for cooking up family feasts alfresco. End an action-packed day by firing up the grill at sunset, or use the daylight hours to spend a peaceful afternoon basking in the glorious Australian sunshine.

It’s a seven-minute walk to Jervis Bay Bike Hire for active days of cycling around the beach. An hour on the bike can take you to three national parks – Jerrawangala National Park, Parma Creek Nature Reserve and Conjola National Park – and a 10-minute walk will get you to the beach, the golf course and local shops.

With a range of room options only a short stroll to the whitest sands in the world, you’ll feel right at home at Jervis Bay Dolphin Shores. The interiors match the beach-cottage exterior: rooms are decorated with warm cream walls and exposed brick that complements the mixture of darker furniture, creating a classic and welcoming atmosphere.

Families with young kids can opt for the Self Contained Rooms, where a fold-out sofa next to the parents’ king-size bed keeps little ones within reach. The Two-Storey Loft Apartments offer a bit more privacy – in addition to the three beds (a queen and two singles) in the open-plan bedroom on the upstairs floor, the downstairs lounge has a sofa that can unfold into a bed – ideal for a group escape from the city lights.

Larger houses can accommodate six to eight guests. As well as an additional bedroom, both have a bathroom with a corner spa and a lounge room with big sofas that can fold out to become a queen-sized bed. Full kitchens combined with sunlit rear courtyards or balconies equipped with a BBQ offer functional spaces for hosting your own gatherings and taking meals alfresco.

To finish off a day in the sun, plunge into the shared pond-style spa pool or lie back with a book under the sweet perfume of flowering hibiscus. For days out that are close-to-home, the hotel is a five-minute walk to Collingwood Beach and Vincentia Shopping Village.

The relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere at Dungowan Waterfront Accommodation matches the tranquillity of the location. Apartments and cottages suit groups of friends and families looking for a peaceful stay, and even the family pooch is welcome here.

With uninterrupted views down to St Georges Basin, you’ll take in the pastel beauty of a sunrise reflected on glassy waters while your morning coffee brews in the kitchen. The facilities here match the views, too: picture a shiny kitchen to prepare homemade meals and a spacious open-plan lounge and dining room for family sit-downs. White walls, classic wooden floors and neutral-toned furniture create an airy and peaceful atmosphere, and colourful scatterings of modern art prints and patterned cushions inject cheerful charm.

These holiday homes range from two-bedroom apartments to cosy waterfront cottages to a four-bedroom family home that sleeps up to eight. Right next door is a purpose-built boat ramp and jetty where you can launch your boat for a day of fishing or dolphin watching. Enjoy the outside by making use of the BBQ facilities and outdoor picnic areas, or ease into the luxurious outdoor hot tub with views of the Basin.

Dungowan is a five-minute drive from Booderee National Park, a coastal wilderness full of Aboriginal heritage, wetlands and rich biodiversity. Similarly, it’s a seven-minute drive to Hyams Beach, which won a Guinness World Record for the whitest sand on the planet. For even more options, pedal boat hires and dolphin cruises are available nearby.

Bright, well lit and pet-friendly, Sandy Toes Beach House is an accommodation experience that feels like a true ‘home away from home’. Boasting three bedrooms and two bathrooms, the apartment provides plenty of space for up to nine guests. Polished wooden floors and neutral walls maximise the sense of space to create the optimum beach house feel. With pops of colour from quirky furnishings adding a touch of lived-in charm, you’ll never want to leave.

Gather in the evenings around an assortment of board games to battle and bond over. Cooking essentials like oil, salt and pepper can be found in the fully equipped kitchen, making it easy to prepare your own meals. There’s also a Pod coffee machine for morning brews, and the adjoining dining room’s sturdy timber table can seat six. A sun-dappled pergola features a BBQ and table seating for shared family suppers, and kids and pets can have free rein of the generous enclosed garden.

From your quiet residential street, a two-minute walk will take you straight to Callala Beach. Being inside the bay means there are no strong currents; kids can play happily in gentle waves that lap peacefully at the shore.

Trimmed in a white picket fence, classic window shutters and large leafy bushes, Maria’s Beach House provides idyllic accommodation straight out of a family storybook. At a roomy 100 square metres, each individual holiday home boasts three bedrooms and two bathrooms to accommodate up to nine guests.

Inside, exposed brickwork walls are complemented by home comforts (think decorative pottery and a rack of spare blankets) and cosy furnishings – hello, quilted beds! Gather around in the spacious dining area and enjoy a delicious meal prepared in your own country cottage-style kitchen. After days out chasing adventures, take a quiet night snuggled up on the sofa to watch TV or play some of the provided board games.

The crowning glory of this accommodation is its outside space. Each house has a large backyard complete with a covered outdoor area, BBQ facilities and a picnic-style dining set. Lounge around on comfy sofas or curl up with a book in a hanging wicker chair as the sun sets on the generous garden. There’s also a swing set for kids and a cold water outdoor shower for cleaning sandy feet after a trip down to the beach.

For conveniences, you’ll find parking for three cars, plus additional street parking available. You’re a two-minute walk to the scenic and secluded Callala Beach, and food, golf, fitness classes and lawn bowling can be found at the nearby Club Callala. The house is pet-friendly, with the occasional kangaroo visitor!

With an array of welcoming villas accommodating five to eight people, Jervis Bay Holiday Park is perfect for larger parties. White timber waterfront houses are raised on high-tech stilts for authentic riverside living with a modern edge. Enjoy unparalleled water views from the privacy of your porch while lunch grills on your personal BBQ. In more traditional villas, take in a different view of the leafy garden from your light timber veranda, or make a splash in the solar-heated outdoor pool.

For those planning to come with their caravan, the park offers both powered and unpowered sites serviced by a newly renovated bathroom block and camp kitchen. In the evenings, gather around the communal campfire to toast gooey marshmallows and swap stories with other guests.

For an unforgettable experience, forgo the roof over your head and sleep under the (figurative) stars in a safari-style glamping tent. These state-of-the-art, two-bedroom tents come fitted with a kitchenette, bathroom, lounge, dining area and TV. Relax on the front porch and roll up the tarpaulin windows to catch the sunlight. You and your family can be surrounded by nature without having to compromise on the comfy amenities of a house. Nearby, you’ll find kayaks and paddleboards for hire and a private boat ramp and floating pontoon to launch your boat, canoe or kayak.