A weekend in Hawks Nest with kids
Updated: Oct 6
Written by the owners of Tilly and Annies Place and Seacrest 7, Hawks Nest. Last reviewed October 2026.
Hawks Nest works with small children for one reason: you don't have to drive anywhere once you arrive.
In short: With small children, base yourself in Hawks Nest and skip the car: Jimmys Beach for flat, shallow water, Bennetts at low tide for rock pools, the Singing Bridge for pelicans, and kangaroos on the drive in, just before Tea Gardens.
At a glance
Under-eights: Jimmys Beach, usually flat and shallow, and not patrolled
Rock pools: northern end of Bennetts at low tide
Rainy day: Tea Gardens, five minutes away
Best house for families: Tilly and Annies Place, sleeps six
In this article
Jimmys Beach first, then Bennetts
Everyone points visitors at Bennetts, and it's the better beach if you want surf. With kids under about eight, go to Jimmys instead. It sits on the river side, the water is usually flat and shallow a long way out, and you can see everyone at once. It is not patrolled, so stay in the water with the little ones. There's shade near the eastern end if you get there early enough to claim it.
Bennetts is worth a walk at low tide, when the sand goes hard and firm and the rock pools at the northern end fill up. Check the tide and the swell first, stay off the rocks if waves are reaching them, and keep hold of small hands. Bring a bucket. Ghost crabs come out at dusk and they're faster than any child, which is entertaining for about forty minutes.
The bridge is an event
The Singing Bridge over the Myall gets its name from the noise the wind makes through the railings. Walk it rather than drive it. Pelicans sit on the pylons most mornings and they're much bigger up close than kids expect.
Jimmys faces back into Port Stephens and sits in a sheltered bay, so it is shallow, usually flat and warms earlier in the season than the ocean side. It runs about five kilometres from the Myall River mouth around to Yacaaba Headland, so there is always a stretch with nobody on it. Full guide to Jimmys Beach.
Bennetts is the ocean beach, two or three minutes away, and it is the patrolled one through the summer season. The rule we give every family who asks is simple: Jimmys for the toddler, Bennetts between the flags for anyone confident in surf. More on beach safety here.
When it rains
Tea Gardens is five minutes away and has cafés, a bakery and the ferry wharf. The ferry across to Nelson Bay is a proper outing, about half an hour each way, and dolphins turn up often enough to be worth mentioning but not often enough to promise.
Kangaroos on the way in
There are no kangaroos in Hawks Nest itself, but keep an eye out on the drive in. They are often near the road just before Tea Gardens, so slow down and let the kids spot them from the car.
A note on the houses
Tilly and Annies Place is the better fit for families. Three bedrooms, sleeps six, an enclosed yard, and a deck at the back where the adults can sit while the kids wear themselves out on the lawn. Bring your own linen and towels or hire them from the agency office when you book.
What to bring with small children
A shade tent or a big umbrella. There is very little natural shade on either beach
Rash shirts. Easier than reapplying sunscreen to a wet child every half hour
A bucket and a spade. Hours of it. Both houses have some but bring your own if yours are attached to them
Something for a wet afternoon. A pack of cards, a jigsaw, a film. It rains here like anywhere else
Their own pillow, if that is a thing in your house. It usually is
Both houses sleep six and both have a laundry, which with small children is less boring than it sounds. Compare them here.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best beach in Hawks Nest for young kids?
Jimmys Beach, on the river side. The water is flat and shallow a long way out and you can see everyone at once. There is shade near the eastern end if you arrive early enough to claim it.
What can kids do in Hawks Nest when it rains?
Head to Tea Gardens, five minutes away, for cafés, a bakery and the ferry wharf. The ferry across to Nelson Bay is a proper outing, and dolphins turn up often enough to be worth watching for.
Where can kids see kangaroos near Hawks Nest?
Not in Hawks Nest itself. Keep an eye out on the drive in, just before Tea Gardens, where they are often near the road.
A weekend that actually works
Friday night: arrive, unpack, eat something you brought. Do not try to shop or cook properly on day one
Saturday morning: Jimmys Beach while the water is flat and the sand is empty
Saturday afternoon: the bridge, the river, and an ice cream. Low effort, high return
Saturday night: the bowling club. Nobody minds noise and nobody has to cook
Sunday morning: Bennetts for a proper beach walk, or back to Jimmys if the ocean is up
Sunday afternoon: home before the traffic. It is about two and a half hours to Sydney
The thing that makes this work is having both beaches within a few minutes of each other. You pick conditions on the morning instead of committing the night before.
This is general information based on our own experience. Conditions change. Check Beachsafe, SharkSmart and NSW National Parks alerts before you go, and follow lifesavers' directions on the day.
Plan your stay
Tilly and Annies Place sleeps six across three bedrooms and two bathrooms, a short walk from Jimmys Beach. Pick your dates on the live calendar. Prefer the surf side? Seacrest 7 sits across the road from Bennetts Beach.
Comments