The Raritan Bayshore region of New Jersey is a subregion of the larger Jersey Shore. It is the area around Raritan Bay from The Brunswicks to Sandy Hook, in Monmouth and Middlesex counties, including the towns of New Brunswick, home of Rutgers University, Edison, Perth Amboy, Keyport, "Pearl of the Bayshore", Keansburg, and Highlands, New Jersey. It is the northernmost part of the Jersey Shore, located just south of New York City. At Keansburg is a traditional amusement park while at Sandy Hook are found ocean beaches. The Sadowski Parkway beach area in Perth Amboy, which lies at the mouth of the Raritan River, was deemed the " of New Jersey" by local government. In the last years many of the beaches on the Bayshore area have been rediscovered and upgraded as the quality of the water continues to improve.
In September 1609, the Halve Maen, anchored along the shores of the Raritan Bay, and remained for five days to explore the estuary and establish contact with local Lenape people (who later become known as the Navesink and Raritan). Four his crew were sent up the Arthur Kill and to Newark Bay. Upon their return they were attacked and one of them, John Colman was fatally shot by arrow. Taken ashore to be buried, the spot was christened Coleman's Point. The location Keansburg still bears the name.