Tomaree National Park

Tomaree National Park conserves coastal bushland, sand dunes, heathland, forest areas and over 20 kilometres of rocky coastline and beaches. It is 50 kilometres north of Newcastle, fringing the towns and villages of Nelson Bay, Shoal Bay, Boat Harbour and Anna Bay.

This park is 50 km north of Newcastle or 3 km north-east of Nelson Bay. Access is via Shoal Bay or Gan Gan Road.

Take extreme care if you're swimming or rock fishing as strong rips and undercurrents, as well as dangerous surf conditions, can occur along this part of the coast. The beaches are not patrolled, however there is a patrolled swimming area at Fingal Bay in front of the Surf Life Saving Club.


Walking tracks: Wreck Beach is a pleasant 1 km walk along trails from Lionel Avenue or Verona Road. Kingsley Beach can be accessed from a car park off Kingsley Drive.

If you're interested in Australian military history, make sure you take the short walk along Fort Tomaree walk to Tomaree Head. The headland, part of Fort Tomaree, played an important role in Australia's east coast defence system during World War II. Fort Tomaree included search light stations, a radar tower, torpedo tubes and barracks, where around 500 army, navy and air force personnel served. Most of the Fort's buildings and guns have been removed; however the historic gun emplacements remain, a visual reminder of Australia's military history. It's easy to see why this location was chosen - the headland features panoramic views of Port Stephens and the coast.

Driving in the park: Both Zenith and Box beaches can be accessed by car and the car parks are only a short walk from the beach.



Picnics and barbecues: There are picnic facilities at Anna Bay and at the rear of Zenith Beach and public toilets near the boat ramp at the eastern end of Shoal Bay Beach.

Lookouts: The walk to the top of Tomaree Head and around historic World War II gun emplacements provides panoramic views over Port Stephens, up and down the coast, and out to Boondalbah, Cabbage Tree and Broughton islands, all of which are nature reserves.


Other attractions: The sand spit or 'tombolo' out to Point Stephens is a spectacular feature of the park. The spit is sometimes exposed during low tides, making it possible to walk out to Point Stephens and inspect the lighthouse and ruins of the lighthouse keeper's cottage complex, built in 1862.

This park contains rocky healdlands and several white sandy beaches backed by anpophora and melaleuca forest and heath with lots of wildflowers in spring.

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