Things to do in Hawks Nest: the short, honest list
Written by the owners of Tilly and Annies Place and Seacrest 7, Hawks Nest. Last reviewed October 2026.
Hawks Nest is a small town on a spit of sand with the Myall River on one side and the Pacific on the other. People often ask us about things to do in Hawks Nest, usually in a slightly worried voice, because they have looked at a map and noticed there is not much town. The answer is that there is plenty, but almost none of it is the kind of thing you book. Most of it is walking out the door.
In short: The main things to do in Hawks Nest are swimming at Bennetts Beach or Jimmys Beach, walking towards Yacaaba Headland, crossing the Singing Bridge to Tea Gardens, taking the ferry to Nelson Bay and driving into Myall Lakes National Park. Almost none of it needs booking, and most of it starts on foot. A weekend covers the beaches and the bridge; four nights adds the national park.
At a glance
Yacaaba Headland track: 7 km return, open to a viewing point only
Myall Lakes entry: $8 per vehicle per day
Ferry to Nelson Bay: about an hour each way
Bennetts Beach patrols: October to April
In this article
This is the list we give guests at Tilly and Annies Place and Seacrest 7. It is ordered roughly by how often people end up doing each thing, not by how impressive it sounds.
Swim at Bennetts Beach
Bennetts is the main Hawks Nest beach, on the ocean side. It runs north from Yacaaba Headland most of the way to Dark Point, a long, open stretch, so even on a long weekend you can walk five minutes and have a stretch to yourself. The southern end near the surf club is the patrolled part. The Tea Gardens Hawks Nest Surf Life Saving Club and MidCoast Council lifeguards patrol it during the October to April season: volunteers on weekends and public holidays, lifeguards through the school holidays. Swim between the flags. There are rips either side of the flagged area most days and they are not always obvious from the sand.
Time: as long as you like. Most people do an early swim and a late one and avoid the middle of the day in summer.
Swim at Jimmys Beach instead, if you have small kids
Jimmys is on the river side of town, facing across the water to Nelson Bay. It is flat, shallow a long way out, and there is no surf to speak of. With children under about eight it is the better beach, full stop. Bring an umbrella. There is some shade at the eastern end but it goes early.
We wrote more about this in Jimmys Beach for families.
Walk towards Yacaaba Headland
The headland at the southern end of Bennetts is the big one on the skyline. The full Yacaaba Headland walking track is 7 kilometres return, graded 4, and NSW National Parks suggest two and a half to three and a half hours. Since October 2024, though, the track has been open only to a viewing point, with the section beyond closed for visitor safety, so check the alerts before you go. The beach walk along the spit towards it is open, flat and the better summer option; we cover it in Winda Woppa and Yacaaba Spit. Start early in summer, carry water, and wear real shoes on the track. People do it in thongs and regret it.
In winter and spring you can sometimes see whales off the headland. We do not promise it.
Cross the Singing Bridge to Tea Gardens
The bridge over the Myall River between Hawks Nest and Tea Gardens hums in a strong wind, which is where the name comes from. Walk it rather than drive it. On the Tea Gardens side there are cafés along Marine Drive, a bakery, a small supermarket and the ferry wharf. Pelicans sit on the pylons and the jetty most mornings. It is a 20-minute round trip on foot, longer if the pelicans are being interesting.
Take the ferry to Nelson Bay
The Port Stephens Ferry Service runs between Tea Gardens and Nelson Bay daily, weather permitting. It is about an hour each way on an old timber boat, and the company says dolphins turn up on most crossings. Nelson Bay has more shops, more restaurants and the Tomaree Head summit walk. If you want more things to do in Port Stephens, the other side of the bay is where they are. Check the current timetable before you plan the day around it, because it changes with the season.
Drive into Myall Lakes National Park
Mungo Brush Road leaves the northern end of Hawks Nest and runs up into Myall Lakes National Park. Entry is $8 per vehicle per day, paid at the machine at Mungo Brush or through the Park'nPay app. Within 20 minutes of the houses you have the Dark Point dunes, the Mungo Brush rainforest loop and the lakes themselves. On a hot day the lake at Mungo Brush is a calm, brackish alternative to the surf.
We have a longer piece on this in Myall Lakes from Hawks Nest.
Have dinner at the golf club
The Hawks Nest Golf Club is on Sanderling Avenue, a short walk from both houses. It is an 18-hole course with a restaurant, Sando's, that welcomes visitors. Kangaroos graze on the fairways in the late afternoon and are not bothered by people. You do not need to play golf to eat there, and most of our guests do not.
Fish, paddle or just sit by the river
The Myall River is tidal here and there is always someone fishing off the breakwall or the jetties. Kayaks can be hired in Tea Gardens in the warmer months. If you have your own, the river above the bridge is sheltered and slow.
Look up
Hawks Nest has a known koala population, listed as endangered, and they are in the trees around town, not just in the national park. The Myall Koala and Environment Group keeps a sightings register. Black cockatoos come through in groups and make a lot of noise about it. Kookaburras sit on the fence at Tilly and Annies Place most mornings and have opinions about breakfast.
What there is not
There is no nightlife to speak of. There is no shopping centre. The supermarket in Hawks Nest is small and the one in Tea Gardens is slightly bigger; for a big shop, do it at Raymond Terrace or Medowie on the way up. Phone reception is fine in town and patchy in the park. If that list sounds like a problem, this may not be the right town. If it sounds like the point, you will be fine.
Things to do in Hawks Nest, by length of stay
A weekend covers Bennetts, Jimmys, the bridge and the golf club. Four nights adds Yacaaba and the national park properly. A week is when people stop looking at their phones. Live availability and prices for both houses are on our pages for Tilly and Annies Place and Seacrest 7, and the busy dates go first.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to do in Hawks Nest?
Swim at Bennetts Beach or Jimmys Beach, walk towards Yacaaba Headland, cross the Singing Bridge to Tea Gardens, take the ferry to Nelson Bay and drive into Myall Lakes National Park. Almost none of it needs booking, and most of it starts on foot.
How many days do you need in Hawks Nest?
A weekend covers Bennetts Beach, Jimmys Beach, the Singing Bridge and dinner at the golf club. Four nights adds Yacaaba Headland and Myall Lakes National Park properly. A week is when people stop looking at their phones.
Which Hawks Nest beach is best for young children?
Jimmys Beach, on the river side of town. It is flat, shallow a long way out and has no surf to speak of, which makes it the better beach for children under about eight. Bring an umbrella, as the shade at the eastern end goes early.
Plan your stay
Two Waters has two places to stay in Hawks Nest, each sleeping six. Tilly and Annies Place is a three-bedroom townhouse near calm Jimmys Beach. Seacrest 7 is a two-bedroom apartment with a pool, across the road from Bennetts Beach. Pick your dates on either live calendar to see the best direct rate.
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