Tea Gardens: what to see, where to stay and how to get around
Tea Gardens sits on the west bank of the Myall River and Hawks Nest on the strip of sand between the river and the ocean; one bridge joins them. On the Hawks Nest side, in a few minutes you go from river to bay to surf, and the walk ends on the headland that guards the entrance to Port Stephens. A day on foot and bike, or a half day with the car between stops; the Yacaaba climb is steep and has no shade, so start it in the morning.
The ten best sights in Tea Gardens
1Singing BridgeThe only road link between the two towns; walk across for the river views
2Myall River foreshoreBoardwalk, boat hire and the visitor centre on the Tea Gardens bank
3Yacaaba HeadA steep climb to the summit; the view takes in both heads of Port Stephens
4Jimmys BeachCalm bay water facing Port Stephens; the safe swim for children
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5Bennetts Beach
The surf side of Hawks Nest; swim between the flags
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6Winda Woppa
A quiet sand spit at the river mouth, good for pelicans and fishing
7Myall Lakes National ParkLakes, dunes and a long empty beach starting just north of town
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8Mungo Brush
Rainforest walk and lakeside picnic tables; watch for dingoes
9Bombah Point ferryA small car ferry across the lakes; a short crossing and a shortcut to Bulahdelah
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10Port Stephens Koalas
A koala hospital and sanctuary on the way to Nelson Bay
Scan with your phone camera to open the map there
What is an audio walk?
Tours in Tea Gardens →A guide in your headphones: open the walk on our site, walk from stop to stop, and at each one your phone tells its story. No guide, no group, and free. This is the first walk in Tea Gardens:
Free walking tours in Tea Gardens
Two towns and one river
Tea Gardens sits on the west bank of the Myall River and Hawks Nest on the strip of sand between the river and the ocean; one bridge joins them. On the Hawks Nest side, in a few minutes you go from river to bay to surf, and the walk ends on the headland that guards the entrance to Port Stephens. A day on foot and bike, or a half day with the car between stops; the Yacaaba climb is steep and has no shade, so start it in the morning.
- Myall River foreshore · Tea Gardens began as a timber town: logs cut in the Myall forests were floated down to the river and shipped out from here. The waterfront is still the centre of town.
- Singing Bridge · The bridge opened in 1974, replacing the ferry between the two towns. It got its nickname from the hum its railings made when a strong wind blew across them.
- Winda Woppa · This spit of sand marks where the Myall River runs into Port Stephens. The channel shifts with the tides, and sandbanks appear and vanish within a few hours.
- Jimmys Beach · Jimmys Beach faces into Port Stephens, a drowned river valley, so it gets almost no surf. The bay's resident bottlenose dolphins are often seen from the sand.
- Bennetts Beach · On the ocean side, Bennetts Beach runs north for kilometres into the Myall Lakes National Park. Offshore you can see Broughton Island, which is also part of the park.
- Yacaaba Head · Yacaaba is the northern of the two volcanic headlands that guard the entrance to Port Stephens; Tomaree is the southern one, across the water. The land here is the country of the Worimi people.
Into the Myall Lakes
North of Hawks Nest a single road runs up the sand barrier between the ocean and the Myall Lakes, one of the largest coastal lake systems in NSW. It passes rainforest pockets, campgrounds on the water and a car ferry, and comes out at the old mining town of Bulahdelah. A day by car, about 1.5 hours of driving; there is no fuel and almost no phone signal in the park, so fill up in town.
- Myall Lakes National Park · The lakes are listed as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. Behind the beach, some of the dunes are thousands of years old and covered in forest.
- Mungo Brush · A small patch of littoral rainforest survives here between the lake and the dunes, with strangler figs and palms. Dingoes live wild in this part of the park, so food stays in the car.
- Bombah Point ferry · The road across the lakes is not a bridge but a cable ferry at Bombah Point, which carries a handful of cars at a time. It saves the long way round through the Pacific Highway.
- Myall Lake · Myall Lake is the largest of the lakes, broad and shallow, with fresh to brackish water far from the sea entrance. Houseboats can be hired to cruise it.
- Seal Rocks · The rocks offshore are a critical habitat for the grey nurse shark, an endangered species that gathers in the gutters around them. On the headland stands the Sugarloaf Point lighthouse, first lit in 1875.
- Alum Mountain · The mountain above Bulahdelah held alunite, a mineral used to make alum, and it was quarried here for decades from the late 19th century. The old workings are now a reserve with walking tracks.
Across the bay of dolphins
Port Stephens is a bay larger than Sydney Harbour, and the towns on its south shore are visible from Hawks Nest but an hour's drive away round the head of the bay. This loop goes round through Karuah to the koalas, the marina, the southern headland and the great dunes, the side of the bay most visitors know. A full day by car; book a dolphin cruise from Nelson Bay ahead in summer.
- Karuah · Karuah sits where the Karuah River enters Port Stephens, and its estuary is oyster country: Sydney rock oysters are farmed on racks in the river.
- Port Stephens Koalas · The sanctuary combines a koala hospital with open habitat, and injured koalas are treated here before being released. Koalas in the area are threatened by road traffic and dogs.
- Nelson Bay Marina · A resident population of bottlenose dolphins lives in Port Stephens all year, which is why almost every cruise from here sees them. Between about May and November the boats also go out for humpback whales.
- Tomaree Head · During the Second World War gun batteries were built on the headland to defend the bay, which was used to train troops for landings. The concrete emplacements are still there beside the path.
- Point Stephens Lighthouse · The lighthouse on Fingal Island was first lit in 1862. At low tide a sand spit seems to link the island to the beach, but rips and rising water have drowned people crossing it.
- Stockton Bight dunes · The Stockton Bight dunes are the largest moving coastal sand mass in the Southern Hemisphere, running about 32 km along the beach. The land is co-managed by the Worimi people, its traditional owners.
Getting to Tea Gardens and getting around
- Newcastle Airport · About 40 minutes south, with domestic flights; it shares the runway with an air force base
- Tea Gardens coach stop · Coaches to Newcastle stop here; there are only a few a day
Cheap eats in Tea Gardens
Tea Gardens and Hawks Nest are small, and quick food means fish and chips, a bakery pie or coffee by the river. Oysters come from the next estuaries, Port Stephens and the Karuah River, and are sold freshly opened. Prices are in Australian dollars; many places close by mid-afternoon outside the summer holidays.
- Hook'n Cook · Fish and chips takeaway, about A$15-25
- Hawks Nest Takeaway · Burgers and fish in Hawks Nest, about A$12-20
- Hawks Nest BakeHouse · Pies and pastries for the national park, about A$6-12
- Tea Gardens Ice Cream Shack · Ice cream by the river, about A$5-9
- Mangrove Cafe · Coffee and breakfast, about A$12-25
- Tillermans Cafe - Restaurant · Café on the river, about A$15-25
Nature and day trips near Tea Gardens
- Myall Lakes National Park · Lakes, dunes and empty beaches; fuel up first
- Yacaaba Head · Steep summit walk with views over Port Stephens
- Mungo Brush · Short rainforest loop beside the lake
- Tomaree Head · Summit walk and WWII gun sites
- Stockton Bight dunes · Sandboarding and 4WD tours; permits needed to drive
- Broughton Island · Offshore island in the national park; reached by boat tours
Things to do in Tea Gardens with kids
- Jimmys Beach · Calm water, no surf
- Port Stephens Koalas · Koala hospital and walkways; about an hour away
- Nelson Bay Marina · Dolphin cruises all year
- Bennetts Beach · Patrolled surf beach in summer
- Winda Woppa · Shallow sandbanks to explore at low tide
Museums in Tea Gardens
- Point Stephens Lighthouse · Seen from Fingal Beach; do not try the spit crossing
- Tomaree Head fortifications · WWII gun sites along the summit path
- Alum Mountain · Old mine site and lookout at Bulahdelah
- Tea Gardens Visitor Centre · Maps, boat hire info and local history on the river
Where to eat in Tea Gardens
- Tea Gardens Hotel · The riverside pub; pub meals about A$25-35
- Waterfront Restaurant & Bistro · Dinner on the river in Tea Gardens; mains about A$30-45
- Hawks Nest Golf Club Bistro · Club bistro in Hawks Nest; meals about A$25-35
- Mumm's Seafood · Seafood dinner; mains about A$30-45
- Moon Garden · Asian restaurant; mains about A$20-30
- Benchmark on Booner · Dinner in Hawks Nest; mains about A$30-40
Frequently asked questions about Tea Gardens
What is there to see in Tea Gardens?
The top sights in Tea Gardens are Singing Bridge, Myall River foreshore and Yacaaba Head. The full list on this page has 10 sights, each with a photo and a short note.
How many days do you need in Tea Gardens?
Three to four days are enough to see the best of Tea Gardens without rushing, including at least one walking tour.
Is there a free walking tour in Tea Gardens?
Yes. sleepntrip has 3 free audio walks in Tea Gardens, with no guide and no group: your phone tells the story at every stop. The first one: Two towns and one river.
How do you get to Tea Gardens and get around?
The main ways are Newcastle Airport and Tea Gardens coach stop. Full details are in the transport section on this page.
Where to stay in Tea Gardens, and for how much?
sleepntrip shows only rooms in Tea Gardens that meet nine conditions: a good location, high guest scores, cleanliness, and a price of up to $80 a night for two. Pick your dates and see what is free.
Looking for a hotel in Tea Gardens for your dates?
Only rooms that meet nine conditions, up to $80 a night.