Things to Do in Hawks Nest

Discover Hawks Nest: Your ultimate things to do guide

Hawks Nest, less than a few hours' drive from Sydney on the Mid-Coast of NSW, is renowned for its laidback coastal lifestyle, beautiful beaches and swathes of native bushland that’s home to a huge array of birdlife.

There are so many things to do in Hawks Nest for families, adventurers and lovers of fresh local produce, with most of the activities based around the great outdoors.

Visitors to Hawks Nest pass through the charming sister town of Tea Gardens and cross the famous Singing Bridge. When the bridge was built in the 1960s, the engineers installed metal gates for the bridge’s road, which transformed it into a giant musical instrument.

You know you’re in Hawks Nest when you hear that thrumming melody and see the shimmering blue of the Myall River flowing beneath it.

Outdoor activities

For those who love being out on the water, Hawks Nest is a dream destination. It’s also a fishing haven, with both beach and estuary fishing.

Fishing

The beautiful Yacaaba Headland has great rock fishing for tailor, snapper and jewfish, and in the estuary, you might snag yourself a leatherjacket, bream or luderick.

Beaches

It’s common to see people fishing from Bennetts Beach in Hawks Nest, which is also a popular beach for swimming and 4WDriving (you must obtain a permit). There are also boat ramps in Tea Gardens and Hawks Nest.

At the Moira Parade boat ramp in Hawks Nest, you’ll find a handy four-person fish cleaning table, and at Winda Woppa Reserve, you’ll find a boat ramp on the lakeside.

Bennett's Beach is also known as Hawks Nest Beach, and it’s a sweeping 14-kilometre-long golden-sand beach that runs from Seal Rocks to the north and Yacaaba Headland to the south.

At the southern end of the beach is The Dolphins Playground – named due to the regular sighting of dolphins – and it’s also a top spot for bodyboarding and surfing.

Jimmy’s is a sheltered beach at the mouth of the Karuah River, and it’s an awesome spot to swim, kayak, and windsurf. In fact, it’s a great place to have a picnic and watch the windsurfers and kitesurfers in action.

A kilometre down the boulevard, you’ll find Winda Woppa Reserve, which is a tranquil (albeit windy!) spot with access to Myall Lakes on one side, and the ocean on the other. The picnic shelters, BBQs, public toilets and playground on the beach side make it an ideal place for families and groups of friends to kick back and enjoy a day by the water.

Bennetts and Jimmy’s are patrolled during warmer months, making them safe for everyone.

Walking and hiking in Hawks Nest

For those who love a great nature walk, there’s a trail for every level of fitness in Hawks Nest.

If you’re after a challenge, the Yacaaba Headland Walk is a three-hour walk starting at Bennetts Beach and traversing the stunning coastline. You’ll be rewarded by views across the southern-most point of the Barrington Coast, the Tomaree Head and Seal Rocks.

Yacaaba Headland is the highest point in Hawks Nest, with amazing views of the surrounding area, including Myall River and Port Stephens.

For something less challenging and to be completely immersed in nature, hit the Mungo Walking Track in Myall Lakes National Park, which is a series of interconnected walks, with many important Aboriginal sites.

[1/0] Myall Lakes Picnic area - Myall Lakes

At the sacred Dark Point Aboriginal Place you’ll be greeted with an incredible display of colourful wildflowers. It has been a gathering place for the Worimi people for over 4,000 years.

Local attractions

Hawks Nest Golf Club

If you’re up for a round in nature, Hawks Nest Golf Club is just minutes from Reflections Hawks Nest. This 18-hole championship course winds through beautiful bushland and offers ocean views, tricky greens, and a relaxed clubhouse with a bar, café, restaurant, and courtesy bus. You can walk there from the park or take a quick two-minute drive.

Myall Lakes National Park – a natural wonderland near Hawks Nest

The Myall River flows from the Kyle Range near the town of Stroud, under the Singing Bridge, joining Hawks Nest and Tea Gardens. It connects to the larger Myall Lakes system, a perfect place for boating, paddle boarding, kayaking, fishing, swimming and scenic cruises. It’s also home to a diverse range of wildlife, including a plethora of birds, bandicoots, frogs, and many soaring sea eagles.

Myall Lakes National Park is less than an hour’s drive from Hawks Nest, and it is home to a series of pretty lakes, including the largest – Myall Lake.

There’s an abundance of walking trails in the national park, with a great one for families being the Mungo Rainforest Walk, which is an easy loop that takes walkers through rare coastal rainforest where you’ll find ancient trees, plum pine, mock olive and brush bloodwood.

The Dark Point Walking Track (also known as Little Gibber) starts at the carpark on Mungo Brush Road and takes walkers to a gorgeous headland overlooking Broughton Island. It’s a refreshing way to absorb the history of the area while enjoying a Hawks Nest camping adventure.

Hawks Nest’s precious Cabbage Tree Island

Also known as John Gould Nature Reserve, Cabbage Tree Island is 1.4 kilometres off the coast of Hawks Nest, and it is home to the only known breeding colony of the threatened Gould’s petrel bird, which is Australia’s rarest endemic seabird.

Visitors aren’t allowed on the island, but you can kayak around it, or cruise around it. It’s an idyllic place for diving and snorkelling, as there’s an abundance of marine life to meet off the island’s shores.

Dining and nightlife in Hawks Nest

Cafes & coffee

It might seem like a sleepy coastal hamlet when you first arrive, but then you’ll quickly realise that there are plenty of buzzing Hawks Nest restaurants, cafes and pubs to enjoy a great meal and a beverage.

Locals and visitors flock to Kelly’s Famous Bakehouse for great coffee and freshly baked bread.

Restaurants and dinner options

Tea Gardens favourites

• Tillermans Cafe – Waterfront restaurant on Marine Drive with excellent modern Australian cuisine and scenic river views, perfect for a relaxed dinner with local seafood and wine.
• Mumm's on the Myall – Seasonal menu with fresh local produce and seafood, located right on the water at Tea Gardens, great for family dinners or special nights out.
• Thai House – Casual Thai spot in town for those after bold, flavour-packed dishes.

Hawks Nest dining

• Moongarden Restaurant – Asian-inspired meals in Hawks Nest, ideal for a laid-back dinner out.
• Sando’s at Hawks Nest Golf Club – Clubhouse dining with hearty meals and relaxed surroundings for dinner after a day of exploring.
• Benchmark on Boomer - is the only pub in Hawks Nest, and it has great pizza, lip-smackingly good cocktails and a simple kid's menu. It's also dog-friendly outside.

Markets

The Tea Gardens Fish Markets are well worth a visit and open every day except Mondays, usually until about 2pm. Pick up fresh local produce to enjoy back at Reflections Hawks Nest.

Seasonal events and activities

Even the events in and around Hawks Nest are based around the great outdoors!

The Lakes Trail Festival in early July is a running festival traversing the Great Lakes, including running through Myall Lakes National Park’s forests.

Just 45 minutes up the road will have you in Stroud, which has been running its Stroud Brick Throwing and Rolling Pin Competition since 1962. It’s a fun family festival of markets, entertainment and brick, rolling pin, and rubber chicken throwing.