Hyams Beach, Jervis Bay Walk through the dense tangle of bushland in Jervis Bay to get to the crystalline waters of Hyams Beach. The beach less than three hours drive from Sydney is known for its sugar-white sands and is just one of many beautiful beaches in Jervis Bay. This pristine pocket of the NSW South Coast has some of the best scuba diving, snorkelling and surfing in the state. Bunker down in the Paperbark Camp, which is home to The Gunyah, a romantic treetop dining room.

Chuck a few shakas at the surfers that strut and brag in the car park that provides the closest access to Killalea Beach, known locally as ‘The Farm’ on the NSW South Coast. Switch off your phone in order to see the world with new clarity at this beach where the famed break was named a National Surfing Reserve in 2009. Picnic with the family, stroll to Mystics, and take a dip in the Minnamurra River. Stay at Big4 Easts Beach Holiday Park nearby.

Make sure you purchase a pass for Booderee National Park at the visitor’s centre before heading into Murrays Beach. Murrays Beach is protected by Bowen Island and perfect for swimming and snorkelling alongside the resident turtles and blue gropers. The shallow waters of Murrays Beach are also ideal for a peaceful dip after completing the Munyunga waraga dhugan walk. Pitch your tent at nearby Cave Beach, one of best places to camp in NSW. Booderee National Park is managed by the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community and the federal director of National Parks.

Guillotines is one of the best-known breaks on the NSW South Coast, famed for shallow barrels that break onto the rocks that bracelet the southern headland. Stand on the headland at Bawley Point to check the swell, which ripples off Surf Beach like a wrinkled fold of blue fabric. Only then can you get a perspective on this pristine stretch of coastline. Spot resident stingrays at Bawley Point. And bunker down at Bannisters Mollymook.

Spend the day fishing with your family before cooking up your catch at the BBQ picnic area at Pretty Beach. Watch an unforgettable sunset from here, where the dipping sun coats the mountains backdropping the beach in a coppery light. Pretty Beach and Pebbly Beach are Insta famous thanks to the kangaroos that come here to graze and surf (yes, surf). Stay at Pebbly Beach or Pretty Beach campgrounds, two of the best spring camping spots in NSW.

Seven Mile Beach is well suited for brisk beach walks and early-morning swims. Pick up some polished sea glass for your collection, then walk through the tangle of bush backdropping the beach in Seven Mile Beach National Park. Base yourself at Bangalay Luxury Villas, which has onsite restaurant Bangalay Dining, and offers direct access to the pristine sands of Seven Mile Beach. Spot whales from May to November.

The best beach for non-surfers in Narooma is Bar Beach South. From above, the colour palette around the pristine waters of Narooma is a swirling mix of greens and blues in every tone and shade. It’s a top spot for spotting seals and dolphins and has a breakwall that keeps the waters as smooth as silk. It’s just minutes from town which you can explore on an e-bike tour with Southbound Escapes. Stay at Surf Beach Holiday Park or Black Bream Point Cottages.

Denhams Beach – hidden away near the peaceful seaside village of Batemans Bay – makes for an idyllic getaway on the NSW South Coast. Slip out of your room at The Isla when the sun is a mere speck on the horizon to watch the dawn light up the sky. Pop in to The Oyster Shed on Wray St to procure some just-shucked oysters. Or detour to Cupitt’s Estate, which has helped establish the NSW South Coast as one of the best regions for eating and drinking in Australia.

Depot Beach is a hidden gem within Murramarang National Park. It has a jewel-like swimming hole and provides habitat for abundant native wildlife. Have a swim or a surf and then trek through the rainforest on paths that are knitted together through the national park. Depot Beach is on Yuin Country and backs onto the dinky two-street town of Depot Beach.

Research ‘best places for oysters on the NSW South Coast’ and the town of Narooma will likely top the list. It’s the place to ‘sea’ and do. Pick up a dozen Sydney rocks after spending the morning on the picturesque beach looking out to Montague Island. Pick up some sea glass for your collection. Go for a swim or a surf. Or wander up the windswept beach to see the spectacular Glasshouse Rocks. Sit at the Quarterdeck close enough to eavesdrop on locals whispering about the latest Narooma rumour.