St Georges Basin Guide: Paddling, Fishing And Foreshore Walks
Most visitors to this corner of the South Coast drive straight past St Georges Basin on their way to the white sand of Jervis Bay. Stay in Sanctuary Point and the Basin becomes the centre of the trip instead: a huge, shallow, sheltered lake with sandy reserves, a foreshore walk, calm paddling water, famous flathead and quiet creek country around Wandandian Creek. This guide covers how the lake works, where to get on it, where to walk beside it and how to plan spring days around it.
Key Takeaway
St Georges Basin is a 40.9 square kilometre coastal lake with an average depth of about 5.3 metres, linked to the ocean through Sussex Inlet. From Sanctuary Point you can walk the foreshore between Paradise Beach and Palm Beach, launch a kayak, fish for dusky flathead, picnic at waterfront reserves and reach the creek walks of Corramy Regional Park, all away from the busiest Jervis Bay beaches.
Before You Head To The Water
The Basin is sheltered, but it is still open water. Three checks make every lake day safer and easier.
1Wind: Check the forecast. Mornings are often the calmest time to paddle a large open lake.
2Rain: Shoalhaven Council advises avoiding swimming in lakes, estuaries and creeks for at least three days after heavy rain.
3Licence: Adults fishing in NSW need a recreational fishing fee receipt, which starts at $7 for three days.
Three Ways To Use The Basin
You do not need a boat to enjoy St Georges Basin. Choose the pace that suits the group each day.
1On foot: Walk the Basin Foreshore Walk between Paradise Beach and Palm Beach reserves.
2On the water: Hire a kayak delivered to the shore, or bring your own and launch from a local ramp.
3Beside the water: Fish from the shore, picnic at a reserve or take the creek tracks at Corramy Regional Park.
What St Georges Basin Actually Is
St Georges Basin is often described as a lake, but it is really a large coastal lagoon. Shoalhaven's tourism body describes it as a large but shallow lagoon about 27 kilometres south of Nowra, with a tree-covered shoreline. It covers roughly 40.9 square kilometres, has an average depth of about 5.3 metres and drains a catchment of around 316 square kilometres.
Fresh water arrives mainly through Wandandian Creek and Tomerong Creek. Salt water comes and goes through Sussex Inlet in the south, a long channel that links the Basin to the Tasman Sea. That mix of fresh and tidal water is why the Basin holds so many estuary fish, and why its edges change character as you move around it: sandy swimming reserves on the Sanctuary Point side, creek mouths and wetland around Wandandian Creek, canals and boating at Sussex Inlet.
Several villages sit around the shoreline: Sanctuary Point, St Georges Basin village, Basin View (the gateway to Corramy Regional Park), and Erowal Bay and Wrights Beach on the shallow north-eastern shoreline next to Booderee National Park. Sussex Inlet, which the local tourism body calls the largest village on the Basin, is at the southern end.
Think of the Basin as the calm side of the trip: sheltered water, small reserves and short walks that fit around everything else.
A Short History Of The Basin And Sanctuary Point
Long before surveyors mapped it, this water was Aboriginal Country. The recorded Aboriginal name for the Basin is Bherwherree (also written Bherwherrae), and Shoalhaven Tourism describes the surrounding area as home to the Dhurga people. Treat the shoreline as a cultural place as well as a scenic one, and leave anything you find on the foreshore where it lies.
The European name came from surveyor Thomas Florance, who named St Georges Basin on 29 November 1827 while working between Jervis Bay and Lake Conjola. The villages that ring the water today grew much later, and several of them still have the low-key, residential feel of places built around fishing, boating and weekends by the water.
Sanctuary Point itself has a more recent name than many people expect. The suburb was originally known as Redhead Point and was officially named Sanctuary Point on 24 December 1969. Red Head is still a named spot along the foreshore walk. It is now a residential town of close to 7,900 people (2021 census), with a lived-in feel rather than a strip of holiday shops.
Why Spring Suits The Basin
Late September through November is a good window for St Georges Basin. Days are longer, birdlife is active around the shoreline, and the lake is quieter than it will be in the January peak. NSW public school spring holidays for the eastern division run from Monday 28 September to Friday 9 October 2026, so expect a little more activity at reserves and ramps in those two weeks and a calmer lake again from mid-October.
The water is still warming in spring. Paddling, walking, fishing and picnics tend to lead the plan in October, with swimming becoming more inviting as November progresses and the shallow sandy edges heat up on still, sunny days.
Spring weather on the South Coast can swing quickly. Plan the on-water parts of the day early, keep the afternoon flexible and check the Bureau of Meteorology forecast before committing to a long paddle.
Paradise Beach Reserve: The Local Starting Point
For most people staying in Sanctuary Point, Paradise Beach Reserve is the first stop. It sits on the Basin shore with access from Walmer Avenue, and Shoalhaven Tourism lists Paradise Beach, Palm Beach and John Williams Reserve as waterfront parks with accessible toilets. Local walking guides also note parking and picnic facilities at the reserve.
The reserve works as a base for short, low-effort outings. Bring coffee down in the morning and watch the light change over the water, let children dig on the sandy edge, launch a kayak, or start the foreshore walk towards Palm Beach.
Paradise Beach is lake beach rather than surf beach. The water is usually flat, but no surf patrols were listed for the Basin reserves when checked, so treat any swim as unpatrolled.
The Basin Foreshore Walk: Paradise Beach To Palm Beach
The Basin Foreshore Walk follows the St Georges Basin shoreline between Paradise Beach and Palm Beach. Local walking guides put it at around 40 minutes each way at an easy pace, with access points at Walmer Avenue (Paradise Beach Reserve) and Greville Avenue (Palm Beach Reserve and Macleans Point). Both end reserves have parking, picnic facilities and toilets.
It is not a wilderness trail. The route passes small beaches, points and stretches of bush between houses and the water, and the pleasure is in the constant lake views and the chance to stop wherever you like. There are plenty of places along the way to pause for an hour for a swim on a warm day, a cast from the shore or simply sitting on the sand.
It is easy to shorten: walk one way while someone drives round to collect the group, or turn back at Red Head.
Walking with a dogLocal guides describe the foreshore walk as on-lead only, and say dogs must avoid Palm Beach and Red Head. Shoalhaven Council publishes a separate dog map for Sanctuary Point; check it before you go, because rules and boundaries can change.
Palm Beach And John Williams Reserve For Families
At the southern end of the foreshore walk, Palm Beach is the reserve locals tend to recommend for younger children. A local Jervis Bay visitor site describes it as a child-friendly beach with a playground and barbecue and picnic areas, and Shoalhaven Tourism lists it among the Sanctuary Point waterfront parks with accessible toilets. Access is from Greville Avenue.
The combination of shallow lake water, a playground and picnic space makes it easy to build a relaxed half-day. On a warm spring afternoon it can be the easiest outing of the trip.
Paradise Beach Reserve
Access from Walmer Avenue. Waterfront park with accessible toilets, parking and picnic space. The natural start of the foreshore walk.
Palm Beach Reserve
Access from Greville Avenue near Macleans Point. Described locally as child-friendly, with a playground and barbecue and picnic areas.
John Williams Reserve
Listed by Shoalhaven Tourism as a Sanctuary Point waterfront park with accessible toilets. A good quieter option on busy days.
Swimming In St Georges Basin: What To Expect
The Basin's sandy edges are some of the gentlest swimming spots on this part of the coast. Shoalhaven Tourism lists swimming, sailing, water-skiing, kayaking and snorkelling among the activities around Sanctuary Point, and the shallow reserves suit paddling toddlers and confident swimmers alike on calm days.
It still pays to treat the lake with respect. These are not patrolled surf beaches, so do not expect flags or lifesavers. Boats, water-skiers and personal watercraft use the open water, especially on warm weekends, so swim close to shore and stay visible. Children should always be actively supervised.
Rain affects lakes for longer than the open ocean. Shoalhaven Council's Beachwatch advice is to avoid swimming during heavy rain and for at least one day afterwards at ocean beaches, and for at least three days at lakes, estuaries and creeks. It also advises staying away from stormwater drains and any water that looks or smells polluted.
The council's weekly summer Beachwatch sampling covers ten ocean beaches in the Shoalhaven, including Collingwood Beach at Vincentia, but none of the Basin reserves, so there is no published water-quality result to check for Paradise or Palm Beach. Use the rain rule, your own eyes and common sense.
The three-day rain ruleIf there has been heavy rain in the past three days, skip the Basin swim and choose a walk, a paddle without getting in, or an ocean beach once one day has passed. Check Shoalhaven Council's Beachwatch page for current advice.
Paddling The Basin: Kayaks, Delivery And Calm Mornings
Kayaking is one of the best ways to understand the scale of St Georges Basin. From the water you see how the shoreline breaks into small bays and points, and how quickly the lake opens out.
If you do not bring your own boat, Sea Kayak Jervis Bay runs kayak hire from Huskisson and also operates on St Georges Basin, with delivery to waterside accommodation. When checked in September 2026, its hire page listed a single sit-on-top kayak at $80 per day, a double sit-on-top at $100 per day, a single sea kayak at $95 per day and a double sea kayak at $140 per day, with hire open from 7am to 7pm. Hire includes a personal flotation device and a dry bag, you must be able to swim to hire a kayak, and the operator asks that hired kayaks are not shared. Confirm current prices, delivery areas and conditions directly before booking.
Wind is the main risk on a big shallow lakeA light morning can become a stiff afternoon breeze that makes the return leg hard work. Check the forecast, paddle into the wind first so the trip home is easier, and wear the PFD.
Fishing The Basin: Flathead, Bream And The Artificial Reefs
St Georges Basin has a strong fishing reputation. The NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development describes it as famous for its giant dusky flathead, with plenty of other estuary sportfish, and notes that its calm, reasonably protected water can be fished year-round. It names numerous shallow sandy beaches, coves, bays, headlands and creeks, and says the Basin suits both land-based and boat or kayak anglers. Wandandian Creek is singled out for bream.
The department has also installed artificial reefs in the Basin, funded through the Recreational Fishing Trust, to provide habitat for key recreational species. Published descriptions of the Basin record six artificial reefs.
For visitors, the simplest option is land-based fishing from the Sanctuary Point reserves and points along the foreshore walk. Soft plastics or bait worked across the sandy flats and weed edges are a classic way to target flathead. A kayak opens up more water, and a boat lets you reach the reefs and the far side of the lake.
Fishing fee
NSW recreational fishing fee as listed in September 2026: $7 for three days, $14 for one month, $35 for one year or $85 for three years.
Who is exempt
People under 18 are exempt, as is an adult helping a child to fish with a single rod or catch prawns with a single dip or scoop net. Some concession cards also qualify.
Rules to check
Bag and size limits, closures and spearfishing rules are set by NSW Fisheries and can change. Check the current rules before keeping any fish.
Boat Ramps Around The Basin
Boaters and kayakers have several launch points around St Georges Basin. Shoalhaven Tourism names the Island Point Boat Ramp at St Georges Basin village, and notes a boat ramp at Erowal Bay on the quieter north-eastern shoreline. NSW National Parks lists a boat ramp at the Wandandian Creek picnic area in Corramy Regional Park, which suits kayaks and small craft heading into the creek. Paddling guides also list a Sanctuary Point boat ramp and a Basin View boat ramp.
Island Point suits boaters and has a waterfront cafe beside it; Wandandian Creek is the choice for a sheltered creek paddle.
If you are bringing a boat, check the current Transport for NSW boating rules and maps for St Georges Basin before you arrive, including speed zones, any water-skiing areas and lifejacket requirements. Ramps can be busy early on fine weekend mornings, so have the boat ready before you back down.
Corramy Regional Park: Creek Walks Near Basin View
For a different side of the Basin, head round to Corramy Regional Park near Basin View. Created in 2010 and covering 292 hectares, the park protects forest, wetland and foreshore along Wandandian Creek, including habitat for threatened species such as glossy black cockatoos.
Both walks start from the Wandandian Creek picnic area, which NSW National Parks lists with picnic tables, pump-out toilets and a boat ramp.
Anabranch Loop Track
1 km loop, 30 minutes to 1 hour, grade 2 and the easiest walk in the park. Spotted gum forest, wetland and a boardwalk section beside Wandandian Creek. Several steps, which can be slippery after heavy rain.
Delta Track
1.5 km one way, 1 to 1.5 hours. Follows the foreshore past two small beaches through eucalypts and scrub. Look for long-nosed bandicoot diggings along the track.
NSW National Parks notes that mobile reception is limited, drinking water is not reliably available, weekend parking at the picnic area can be limited, and the park may close in poor weather or high fire danger. It also warns of strong currents and submerged hazards in the creek, so supervise children closely near the water. Check the park's current alerts before you go, and confirm dog rules with NSW National Parks before bringing a dog.
Bring binoculars: pelicans work the open water, and a quiet crunching overhead in the she-oaks may be glossy black cockatoos feeding. Do not feed wildlife, and give shorebirds room on sandy spits in spring.
Coffee, Lunch And A Club Night Near The Water
The waterfront cafe beside the Island Point boat ramp at 4 Island Point Road, St Georges Basin, is the obvious lake-view stop. It has traded under different names over time, including The Pelican Waterfront Cafe, Waggy's Waterfront Cafe and, on one recent dining listing, Basin Breeze Pavilion, which showed daytime hours for breakfast and lunch. Because names and hours at this site have changed, check its current listing before you drive over.
The Country Club at St Georges Basin is the local club. Its website lists hours of 9:30am to 11pm, seven days, with golf, bowls and barefoot bowls, bistro dining and a courtesy bus, plus a regular calendar of live music, raffles and themed meal nights. It is a practical option for a relaxed group dinner without anyone needing to drive. Check the club's current events calendar and visitor sign-in rules before you go.
When The Wind Or Rain Arrives: A Basin Backup Plan
Lakes are at their best on still days, and spring will deliver a few that are not. When a strong wind whips up whitecaps across the Basin, or heavy rain triggers the three-day swimming rule, change the plan rather than forcing the paddle.
The Bay and Basin Leisure Centre on The Wool Road at Vincentia is the obvious indoor swap. Shoalhaven Tourism lists a 25-metre indoor heated pool, a heated leisure pool with beach entry, a heated toddler pool, a spa and a 40-metre water slide, plus a gym, cafe and creche, with entry from $5.20. Check current opening hours and session times with the centre before you go.
Wind is often less of a problem on foot than on the water. The Anabranch Loop at Corramy is sheltered by forest, and a short walk along the foreshore can still be enjoyable in a breeze. In heavy rain, avoid creek crossings and slippery steps and follow any official warnings.
Sussex Inlet And Jervis Bay As Add-On Days
The Basin can fill a whole stay, but two nearby add-ons round it out well. Sussex Inlet, at the southern end of the Basin, is built around tidal canals and the inlet channel that carries the lake to the sea. Shoalhaven Tourism mentions boat hire there for exploring the canals, plus access to ocean beaches such as Cudmirrah and Berrara.
Jervis Bay is the other obvious pairing. Shoalhaven Tourism describes Sanctuary Point as a short drive from Booderee National Park, the White Sands coast and the towns of Huskisson and Vincentia. Save the ocean-beach day for the warmest, calmest forecast and keep the Basin for everything else.
Let Jervis Bay be the big day out and the Basin be the everyday.
Why Luna's Sanctuary Suits A St Georges Basin Stay
Luna's Sanctuary is a four-bedroom, two-bathroom house in Sanctuary Point for up to eight guests, and its listing describes it as a few minutes' walk from the St Georges Basin waterfront. That is the single most useful thing about it for this kind of trip: the lake is close enough to visit several times a day, for a morning paddle, a picnic lunch and a sunset walk, without packing the car each time.
The outdoor setup suits lake days. The listing describes a spacious covered deck with a barbecue and seating and dining for eight, extending to ten, and a fully usable fenced backyard. After a morning of fishing or paddling, the barbecue and deck make it easy to cook the day's catch or an easy dinner while children play on the lawn.
When the wind picks up, the house carries the day. There are two living areas with TVs, sofas, books and board games, and a converted-garage games room with table tennis, darts and fitness equipment. The upstairs kitchen has an island bench, gas cooktop and dishwasher for proper group meals, and the listing notes a first aid kit in the cupboard above the fridge.
Pets are welcome with prior approval, for up to two pets, under house rules that include keeping pets off bedding and furniture, not leaving them locked inside while the house is unattended and cleaning up after them. Self check-in, free parking on the premises and high-speed wifi round out the practical side.
About this stay
Where Luna's Sanctuary fits a St Georges Basin stay
Luna's Sanctuary is a few minutes' walk from the St Georges Basin waterfront, so a morning paddle, a picnic at Paradise Beach and a sunset walk can all happen without packing the car.
Back at the house, the covered deck with barbecue seats up to ten, the fenced backyard suits kids and approved pets, and the games room and two living areas carry the group through windy afternoons.
Picture a typical Basin day for a family or group of friends. The early risers walk down to the water for coffee and a first look at the wind, while others sleep in. If the lake is calm, the paddlers head out and the anglers take the foreshore; if not, the walkers take the foreshore track instead.
By late morning the group regroups at the house. The front balcony off the first-floor living area is a good spot to plan the afternoon, and the bunk bedroom with two single bunks suits children. Keep water shoes, a dry bag, a spray jacket and binoculars by the door for these days.
Afternoons can split easily. Some head to Palm Beach for the playground and a swim if conditions allow, others use the games room or gym equipment, and someone starts the barbecue. With seating for up to ten on the deck, the evening meal can stretch into the long spring twilight.
For dog owners, the fenced backyard is a real advantage between on-lead walks. Remember the house rules and plan for someone to stay with pets, or take them along, when the whole group heads out.
A Three-Day St Georges Basin Itinerary
Day One: Learn Your Stretch Of Shoreline
Arrive, settle in and walk down to Paradise Beach Reserve. Take the Basin Foreshore Walk towards Palm Beach, noting good swimming, fishing and launching spots. Pick up supplies at the Sanctuary Point shops and finish with a barbecue on the deck.
Day Two: On The Water
Check the wind forecast at breakfast. If it is calm, have kayaks delivered or launch your own for a morning paddle along the shoreline. Anglers can work the flats for flathead. After lunch, move to Palm Beach for a relaxed afternoon, then consider dinner at The Country Club.
Day Three: Corramy Creek Walks Or Jervis Bay
Drive round to Corramy Regional Park for the Anabranch Loop and a picnic at Wandandian Creek, or paddle up the creek from the ramp. If the forecast is warm and still, swap in a Jervis Bay beach day instead. Finish with a sunset walk to the water before packing up.
Before Leaving Home: Your Basin Check
1Forecast: Check the Bureau of Meteorology forecast for wind and rain for the Jervis Bay area.
2Rain rule: If there has been heavy rain, avoid swimming in the Basin for at least three days, per Shoalhaven Council advice.
3Fishing: Buy the NSW recreational fishing fee receipt and check current bag and size limits.
4Hire: Book kayak delivery ahead and confirm current prices and conditions with the operator.
5Parks: Check NSW National Parks alerts for Corramy Regional Park before driving over.
6Dogs: Confirm pet approval with the house and check Shoalhaven Council's Sanctuary Point dog map.
FAQs About St Georges Basin And Staying In Sanctuary Point
Can you swim in St Georges Basin?
Yes. The sandy reserves at Sanctuary Point, including Paradise Beach and Palm Beach, are popular for swimming on calm days. They are not patrolled, so supervise children closely, stay near the shore away from boats, and avoid swimming for at least three days after heavy rain, as Shoalhaven Council advises for lakes and estuaries.
How big is St Georges Basin?
St Georges Basin covers about 40.9 square kilometres with an average depth of around 5.3 metres. It drains a catchment of roughly 316 square kilometres and connects to the ocean through Sussex Inlet.
Where can I hire a kayak on St Georges Basin?
Sea Kayak Jervis Bay offers kayak hire on St Georges Basin and delivery to waterside accommodation. In September 2026 its prices started at $80 per day for a single sit-on-top kayak. Confirm current prices, delivery areas and hire conditions with the operator.
What fish can you catch in St Georges Basin?
The Basin is best known for dusky flathead, and NSW Fisheries says it holds many other estuary sportfish. Wandandian Creek is noted for bream. Artificial reefs installed by the department add extra habitat.
Do I need a fishing licence at St Georges Basin?
Adults need to pay the NSW recreational fishing fee, which was listed at $7 for three days, $14 for a month and $35 for a year in September 2026. People under 18 are exempt, as is an adult helping a child fish with a single rod.
How long is the Basin Foreshore Walk at Sanctuary Point?
Local walking guides describe it as around 40 minutes each way between Paradise Beach Reserve (Walmer Avenue) and Palm Beach Reserve (Greville Avenue). It is an easy foreshore walk with toilets and picnic facilities at each end.
Are dogs allowed on the Sanctuary Point foreshore?
Local guides describe the foreshore walk as on-lead, with dogs to avoid Palm Beach and Red Head. Shoalhaven Council publishes a detailed dog map for Sanctuary Point, so check the current version before walking with a dog.
What are the walks at Corramy Regional Park?
Two walks start at the Wandandian Creek picnic area: the Anabranch Loop Track, a 1 km loop taking 30 minutes to an hour, and the Delta Track, 1.5 km one way along the foreshore past two small beaches, taking 1 to 1.5 hours.
How far is Luna's Sanctuary from St Georges Basin?
The listing describes Luna's Sanctuary as a few minutes' walk from the St Georges Basin waterfront in Sanctuary Point, making it easy to visit the lake several times a day.
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