The Beaches
Tea Gardens is a river town so to access the two main beaches you have to go to Hawks Nest. In Hawks Nes the two main beaches are Bennett’s Beach (an ocean-side beach popular with surfers and swimmers alike) and Jimmy’s Beach (a port-side beach that offers the calmer waters of Port Stephens).
North of Hawks Nest the beaches stretch as far as Seal Rocks and beyond. However, these beaches are isolated and unpatrolled and people should take extreme care in this area.
Hawks Nest beach is a 25 minute stroll from the Tea Gardens shops while Jimmy’s beach is a 30 minute walk.
The Rivers
The river is a wonderful place for outdoor activities such as fishing, boating, river tours, canoeing and camping. If you have your own boat, there are boat ramps in Tea Gardens and Hawks Nest.
The Myall River Camp is a popular campground because of its isolation and rugged bush setting. The bush camp is located a few kilometres north of Hawks Nest, along a road accessible by conventional vehicles. The campgrounds are set on a large grassy expanse beside the Myall River. There is no power and limited facilities and amenities. This is considered a budget-priced wilderness camp suitable for self-sufficient travellers and those who like to live in nature.
There are a number of businesses offering tours of the river. Most of these moor their boats along Marine Drive. You will find contact details at most moorings. Also check our directory for river cruises.
The Lakes
The Myall Lakes – a coastal lake system – is one of the few in New South Wales that remains relatively untouched. There are over 600 species of plants and a complex variety of habitats.
The Myall Lakes are an internationally recognised area listed as a Ramsar Wetlands site.
We are fortunate enough to have a series of campgrounds in the area that are open to the public. These are in the Myall Lakes National Park. For more information see:
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/NationalParks/default.aspx.
