The bones were found at Pyree, east of Nowra and at Basin View late in the afternoon.

Police were called to Pyree just before 6pm, when a man mud crabbing, found bones in bushland off Culburra Road.

Police said the Callala Beach man was checking mud crab traps in the Crookhaven River, about 1.5km east of the Mayfield Road intersection when he made the discovery.

He had apparently walked about five metres into the mangroves to check his traps and as he returned, noticed an area of clay and saw a number of bones.

Police from Shoalhaven Local Area Command were called to the location and a crime scene established.

Specialist forensic officers examined the site, with the bones transferred to the Department of Forensic Medicine in Glebe for analysis.

The bones were found in a tidal area, which created problems for officers, as they attempted to record the scene as the tide rose.

Around the same time police were also called to Basin View, where a separate set of bones were discovered near a boat ramp.

Around 6.30pm, a Basin View woman found a number of bones on the shoreline near the boat launching area off Mathie Street.

The bones were secured by police and members of the Forensic Services Group attended the scene.

Police said at this stage it was unclear whether either set of bones were human or animal and further analysis was required to determine their origin.

It could take between a week and three weeks to determine what the bones are.

Police are urging anyone with information in relation to the incidents to call Nowra police on 4421 9699 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333000.