Vincentia Guide: The Quiet Side of Jervis Bay
The Village That Lets You Breathe
If Huskisson is the social hub of Jervis Bay — the restaurants, the wharf, the boat tours, the buzz — then Vincentia is its quieter, more contemplative sibling.
Vincentia sits on the southern shore of the bay, just a few minutes’ drive from Huskisson but a world away in atmosphere. Where Husky has a main street full of cafes and a busy waterfront, Vincentia has a modest shopping village, wide residential streets lined with eucalyptus, and some of the most beautiful beaches in the region — beaches that, even in peak summer, rarely feel crowded.
People who choose Vincentia as their base tend to be after a particular kind of holiday. Slower. Quieter. More about long walks on empty sand than pub meals and gelato runs. More about watching the sunset from a beach where you can count the other people on one hand.
It’s not for everyone. If you want buzz and nightlife, Huskisson is your town. But if you want peace, beauty, and the feeling of having discovered somewhere special before the rest of the world catches on — Vincentia is extraordinary.
Getting to Vincentia
Vincentia is approximately 185 kilometres south of Sydney, about 2.5 to 3 hours by car. Follow the same route as for Huskisson — Princes Motorway south, then east at Nowra on the Jervis Bay Road. Vincentia is signposted from the main road, just a few kilometres past the Huskisson turnoff.
From Huskisson, it’s a 5-minute drive south along the coast road, or a pleasant 30-minute walk along the Bay to Bay walking track if you’re feeling energetic.
From Canberra, it’s roughly 2.5 hours via Braidwood and the coast road, or via the Princes Highway.
Like everywhere in Jervis Bay, a car is highly recommended. There’s no meaningful public transport.
The Village Centre
Vincentia’s commercial heart is a small shopping village on Burton Street. It’s compact — you can walk the whole thing in five minutes — but it has what you need.
There’s a supermarket for self-catering supplies, a couple of cafes, a bakery, a bottle shop, a pharmacy, and a handful of other shops. It’s not a destination in itself like Huskisson’s Owen Street, but it’s functional and friendly.
The village has a community feel. Locals greet each other by name. The cafe staff remember your coffee order by day two. Dogs are tied up outside the bakery while their owners chat on the footpath. It’s village life as it’s supposed to be.
For a wider selection of restaurants and shops, Huskisson is just five minutes up the road. Many Vincentia visitors adopt a routine of quiet days on their local beaches and evening trips to Husky for dinner — the best of both worlds.
Beaches
The beaches are Vincentia’s crown jewels. They’re why people come, and they’re why people come back.
Collingwood Beach
The main beach and one of the finest on the bay. Collingwood is a long, gently curving stretch of white sand facing north-east across Jervis Bay. The sand is fine and soft, the water is crystal clear and calm (it’s inside the bay, so there’s no surf), and the beach stretches for roughly 1.5 kilometres from Plantation Point in the north to the rocks at the southern end.
On a calm morning, Collingwood Beach is one of those places that makes you stop and stare. The water shades from pale turquoise in the shallows to deep blue further out. Dolphins cruise past close to shore. The sand is so white it hurts your eyes without sunglasses.
Behind the beach, a grassy reserve with Norfolk pines and picnic facilities runs the full length. There’s a paved path along the reserve that’s popular with walkers and joggers, and it’s one of the best beaches in Jervis Bay for families — the calm, shallow water is safe for young children.
Swimming is excellent. The water is clean and clear, the bottom is sandy and gradually deepening, and the bay provides shelter from ocean swells. Lifeguards patrol during peak summer periods.
Nelsons Beach
South of Collingwood, past a rocky headland, Nelsons Beach is smaller, more secluded, and arguably even more beautiful. It’s a compact crescent of white sand backed by bush, with a car park and short walking track providing access from above.
Nelsons Beach has a wilder, more natural feeling than Collingwood. There are no grassy reserves or picnic tables — just sand, water, and bush. The snorkelling around the rocks at either end is excellent, with plenty of fish and clear visibility.
Because it requires a slightly steeper walk to access, Nelsons Beach is quieter than Collingwood. On weekdays outside of summer, you might have it entirely to yourself.
Blenheim Beach
Further south again, Blenheim Beach is the last beach before the land transitions into Booderee National Park territory. It’s another sheltered bay beach with beautiful sand and clear water, slightly less visited than Nelsons.
The southern end of Blenheim Beach connects to walking tracks that lead into the national park area — a lovely way to combine beach time with a bushwalk.
Walks and Nature
Plantation Point Walk
A short, easy loop walk around Plantation Point — the headland at the northern end of Collingwood Beach. The walk takes about 30 minutes and offers panoramic views across the bay to Huskisson, the Beecroft Peninsula, and Point Perpendicular.
The path is well-maintained and mostly flat. It’s a perfect morning or sunset walk, and one of the best sunset spots in the area — the views west across the bay as the sun drops behind the hills are stunning.
At the point, there’s a grassy picnic area with benches. In whale season (June to November), this is an excellent land-based spot for watching migrating humpbacks as they pass along the coast.
Bay to Bay Walking Track
This track connects Vincentia to Huskisson via a scenic coastal route that passes through bushland and along the shoreline. It’s roughly 3 kilometres each way and takes about 45 minutes to an hour.
The track is mostly flat with a few gentle rises, and passes through spotted gum forest with glimpses of the bay. It’s a lovely way to walk between the two villages instead of driving, and it’s especially nice in the early morning or late afternoon light.
Scribbly Gum Track
A short nature walk through coastal bushland behind Vincentia, named for the distinctive scribbly gum trees whose bark is covered with the scribbled patterns of moth larvae. The track is well-signed and easy, taking about 30 to 45 minutes.
It’s particularly good for birdwatching — look for honeyeaters, rosellas, and kookaburras in the canopy.
Access to Booderee National Park
Vincentia is the gateway to Booderee National Park, which lies immediately to the south. The park entrance is just a few minutes’ drive from the village centre.
This proximity is a major advantage for Vincentia visitors. You can be on the stunning beaches of Booderee — Hyams Beach, Greenfield Beach, Murrays Beach, Cave Beach — within minutes. The park’s walking tracks, campgrounds, and the botanic gardens are all easily accessible for day trips.
Where to Eat
Vincentia’s dining scene is modest but growing. In the village itself, there are a few solid options:
Cafes and breakfast. The village has a couple of cafes that do good coffee, toasties, and all-day breakfast. Nothing fancy, but reliable and welcoming. The bakery is popular for pies and pastries.
Takeaway. Fish and chips, pizza, and Chinese takeaway are available in the village. The fish and chips are excellent — fresh local fish, battered or grilled, eaten on the beach with a view of the bay.
Restaurants. A small number of restaurants operate in and near Vincentia, ranging from casual bistro fare to more refined modern Australian cooking.
For a wider selection, Huskisson’s restaurant scene is just five minutes away. The combination of self-catering in Vincentia (the supermarket is well-stocked) and occasional meals out in Huskisson is a common and comfortable pattern.
Where to Stay
Vincentia has an excellent range of accommodation, skewed more toward self-contained holiday houses and apartments than hotels or motels.
Holiday Houses
This is the dominant accommodation type. Vincentia’s residential streets are full of holiday rental properties — from modest fibro cottages to architecturally designed beach houses with bay views. Many are family-owned and well-maintained.
Holiday houses work particularly well for families and groups. You get space, privacy, a kitchen for self-catering, and usually a garden or deck. Prices range from $150 per night for a simple two-bedroom cottage to $500 or more for premium properties with water views.
Apartments and Units
Several small apartment complexes offer self-contained units with one or two bedrooms. These are a good mid-range option for couples or small families, with the convenience of a kitchen and laundry.
Caravan Parks
The Vincentia area has holiday parks offering cabins, powered sites, and camping. These are often the most affordable option and have the advantage of shared facilities like pools, playgrounds, and camp kitchens.
Proximity Premium
Properties within walking distance of Collingwood Beach command higher prices, and they’re worth it. Being able to walk to the beach in your bathers without starting the car is a genuine quality-of-life upgrade on a beach holiday.
Vincentia vs Huskisson: Which Should You Choose?
This is the question every first-time Jervis Bay visitor asks. Here’s the honest answer:
Choose Huskisson if: you want walkable restaurants and pubs, a lively waterfront, easy access to boat tours from the wharf, and don’t mind a bit of bustle.
Choose Vincentia if: you want quieter beaches, more space, a self-contained holiday house, proximity to Booderee National Park, and you’re happy to drive five minutes for restaurants.
Choose both if: you’ve got time. Base yourself in one and visit the other regularly. They complement each other perfectly.
Many repeat visitors to Jervis Bay who started in Huskisson eventually migrate to Vincentia. The beaches win them over. The quiet wins them over. The feeling of waking up, walking to Collingwood Beach, and having a kilometre of white sand to yourself at 7am — that wins them over completely.
Practical Information
- Fuel: There’s a petrol station on the Jervis Bay Road between Vincentia and Huskisson
- Medical: The nearest medical centre is in Huskisson. The hospital is in Nowra, 25 minutes away
- Mobile coverage: Generally good throughout Vincentia with all major carriers
- ATM: Available at the shopping village
- Markets: The area’s local markets rotate between villages — check dates for your visit
The Vincentia Experience
Vincentia doesn’t try to be something it’s not. It’s not a foodie destination. It’s not a nightlife hub. It’s not Instagram-polished.
What it is, is a genuinely beautiful coastal village with world-class beaches, easy access to one of Australia’s best national parks, and a pace of life that makes you wonder why you ever agreed to live the way you do the other 50 weeks of the year.
Come to Vincentia. Walk the beach. Swim in water so clear you can see your shadow on the sandy bottom. Watch the dolphins from the shore. Read a book on the deck of a holiday house. Drive five minutes to Husky for dinner. Drive five minutes back. Sleep with the windows open to the sound of the ocean.
Repeat until you don’t want to leave. Which, fair warning, happens faster than you’d expect.