Tucked inside Jervis Bay's northern reaches, Nelsons Beach curves in a gentle arc where the water stays calm even when the ocean beyond churns white. You spread your towel on sand that compresses with a distinctive squeak—the hallmark of the silica-rich beaches that make this bay legendary—and wade into shallows so clear you count pebbles at your ankles. Families cluster near the northern end where the depth stays forgiving for hours, while the occasional dugong glides past offshore, drawn by seagrass beds that carpet the bay floor.
“Protected waters within Booderee National Park deliver the rare combination of calm swimming conditions and untouched bushland backdrop.”
Credit: FlickrNelson Victoria. The estuary of the Glenelg River where it meets the Southern Ocean.
The beach sits within Booderee National Park, which means the backdrop stays wonderfully uncluttered: no high-rises, no beach clubs, just coastal heath giving way to scribbly gums and the occasional picnic shelter. You grill sausages on the free barbecues while sulfur-crested cockatoos eye your lunch with brazen interest. The eastern headland rewards a short scramble with views across the bay to Hyams Beach, the white sand gleaming like a mirage in the midday sun.
When the afternoon northeasterly picks up, you retreat to the shade of banksias and watch sailboats tack across the entrance. The water temperature hovers around 20°C year-round—brisk in July, perfect by December—and the absence of rips or strong currents means you swim without constantly checking over your shoulder. As the sun drops, the sand cools quickly beneath your feet, still squeaking its silica song with every step back to the car.
