Myall Lakes National Park

Use this charming heritage cottage as a base to explore the natural splendour of Myall Lakes National Park. With absolute water frontage, gaze across tranquil Two Mile Lake from Cutlers Cottage. It’s a great holiday option for a family or group of friends who love a nature getaway with some of the comforts of home.

Take in the beautiful bush setting as you sip your morning coffee from the outdoor setting and plan your day. With a private jetty, you can launch your own small boat/trailer sailer or canoe to explore the waterways.

Fill your days with walking and swimming, and as the sun sinks, gather together for a sunset drink on the spacious wrap-around verandah. Enjoy a meal of fresh fish at the spacious dining table and then settle in for the evening and a serenade by the local bush orchestra.

The rocky headland of Dark Point, north of Hawks Nest and in the southern area of Myall Lakes National Park, was declared an Aboriginal Site of significance in 2002. This area has a rich cultural history and has been a gathering place for the Worimi people for over 4000 years, making it well worth a visit.

Walk along Dark Point walking track to the headland and take in the fresh coastal breezes. Observing the sweeping scenic views across to Broughton Island, you can imagine why it was a popular spot for so long.

The Worimi people would gather here in clan groups, or nuras, to feast on the abundant seafood. Traditional burial sites, as well as middens, have been found in this area.

For a holiday that combines the best of both worlds, gather up your friends and family and head to Stewart and Lloyds campground in the southern reaches of Myall Lakes National Park. Nestled between the lower Myall River and the sandy southern beaches, it’s the ideal location for adventurous nature lovers, who like to get amongst it.

Pitch the tent or park the trailer in this delightful campsite fringed with smooth barked angophoras. You'll find a beach known for its great fishijng after a 500m walk through the park’s extensive sand dunes. Explore the hinterland along Mungo walking track by foot or bring your mountain bike for a cycling adventure.

When evening falls, settle in around the campfire and cook up a barbecue featuring your catch of the day. With all the fresh air and exercise, it won’t be long until you’re lulled to sleep by the distant waves.

Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse stands on a dramatic headland east of Seal Rocks village. Completed in 1875, it is the first lighthouse designed by colonial architect James Barnet and one of only two towers in Australia with an external stairway. Built to guide ships along the rocky coastline; the second most easterly point of Australia, after a number of incidents, including the shipwrecking of the SS Catterthun and the Rainbow. Despite the coast being illuminated by the lighthouse, 20 wrecks have occurred since the lighthouse was built.

Below the lighthouse are the Lighthouse Keepers’ quarters and outbuildings that have been refurbished to offer holiday accommodation for visitors. On the grassy slopes next to the lookout point and cliff edge, you’ll see three memorials dedicated to people associated with the lighthouse.

Sugarloaf Point is a top spot for watching whales as they migrate on their journey along the coast. You might also be lucky enough to see dolphins, down on lighthouse beach.

The award-winning Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse Keepers’ Cottages at Seal Rocks are the ultimate weekend getaway. Built in 1875 and carefully refurbished, these historic cottages offer self-contained heritage accommodation in a truly spectacular location.

Each cottage features an outdoor area from which you can enjoy breathtaking panoramas, cook up a barbecue feast or enjoy a meal with a view.

Aside from being an idyllic place to spend a weekend, the cottages are also a great base to explore the coastal town of Seal Rocks and the walking tracks and beaches of Myall Lakes National Park.

This short stroll packs quite a punch with breathtaking coastal views leading to culturally significant Dark Point Aboriginal Place, near Hawks Nest on the central coast. Also known as Little Gibber, Dark Point walking track starts near Mungo Brush Road leading to the headland overlooking Broughton Island. It’s a great spot to take in the unique history of the area, while on a camping holiday in Myall Lakes National Park.

Following this medium track through the coastal dunes behind the beach, stop and take in the refreshing breeze off the ocean. Passing by historic middens, this moderate path leads to Dark Point, an area rich with cultural and historical significance for the Worimi people.

If you’re keen to explore this unique region, make tracks to Mungo Brush campground.

Find out more about the Aboriginal heritage of Dark Point.

This short stroll packs quite a punch with breathtaking coastal views leading to culturally significant Dark Point Aboriginal Place, near Hawks Nest on the central coast. Also known as Little Gibber, Dark Point walking track starts near Mungo Brush Road leading to the headland overlooking Broughton Island. It’s a great spot to take in the unique history of the area, while on a camping holiday in Myall Lakes National Park.

Following this medium track through the coastal dunes behind the beach, stop and take in the refreshing breeze off the ocean. Passing by historic middens, this moderate path leads to Dark Point, an area rich with cultural and historical significance for the Worimi people.

If you’re keen to explore this unique region, make tracks to Mungo Brush campground.

Find out more about the Aboriginal heritage of Dark Point.

This easy loop walk takes you on a short trip through rare coastal rainforest, almost like the enchanted forest. The lush environment features ancient trees, plum pine, mock olive, coogera and brush bloodwood.

Children and adults can have great fun looking out for the colourful birds that live in the rainforest, including golden whistlers, figbirds, rufous fantails, and satin and regent bowerbirds. You’re also likely to see brush turkeys scratching in the undergrowth; look for their distinctive red head.

The walks starts from the Mungo Brush campground, about 30mins from Bulahdelah.

You can download a map of the route [PDF 106KB]. 

Fascinating Mungo walking track, in Myall Lakes National Park, is a feast for the body, mind, and senses. A delightful collection of walks combine to create this absorbing track from Hawks Nest to Mungo Brush campground on the shores of Bombah Broadwater. It’s a long yet easy walk, taking in some important Aboriginal and post-colonial heritage sites, landforms, and diverse vegetation.

Meandering along old sand dunes on historic mining routes, you’ll pass a part of the track between Dark Point Aboriginal Place and Brambles Green campground which is known for its splendid display of colourful wildflowers. Following Myall River along Tamboi walking track, you’ll arrive at historic Tamboi village.

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can do it all in one day, or else break it into smaller sections, savour the delights and camp overnight. Alternatively, it’s a great track for mountain biking with a refreshing lake swim at Mungo Brush to round off your cycle.

Fascinating Mungo walking track, in Myall Lakes National Park, is a feast for the body, mind, and senses. A delightful collection of walks combine to create this absorbing track from Hawks Nest to Mungo Brush campground on the shores of Bombah Broadwater. It’s a long yet easy walk, taking in some important Aboriginal and post-colonial heritage sites, landforms, and diverse vegetation.

Meandering along old sand dunes on historic mining routes, you’ll pass a part of the track between Dark Point Aboriginal Place and Brambles Green campground which is known for its splendid display of colourful wildflowers. Following Myall River along Tamboi walking track, you’ll arrive at historic Tamboi village.

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can do it all in one day, or else break it into smaller sections, savour the delights and camp overnight. Alternatively, it’s a great track for mountain biking with a refreshing lake swim at Mungo Brush to round off your cycle.

Neranie Headland walking track, near the eastern edge of Myall Lakes National Park, has breathtaking views over tree-lined waterways and wetlands teeming with wildlife. Starting in a clearing that was once a part of the historic Neranie timber mill village, the track leads past an old cemetery where you’ll find gravestones dating back to the nineteenth century.

Ascending the track to Neranie Headland, stop for a breather and take in the beauty of Myall Lakes fringed with swamp oak and paperbark. Birds flock to the wetlands and if you time your visit well, the chorus of the feisty friar birds and rainbow lorikeets will be almost deafening. Passing through a stand of towering black butt near the end of the track, finish off your adventure at nearby Hearts Point picnic area.

You can download a map of the route [PDF 150KB].

An ideal path for walking or cycling, this easy track traces the edge of Bombah Broadwater in the southern section of Myall Lakes National Park, just to the north of Port Stephens. The medium length easy grade path leads to the historic fishing village of Tamboi, which is situated across the river.

Tamboi walking track passes through tall swamp forests, where you’ll see cabbage palms and paperbarks as well as swamp mahogany. Look for the startling swamp lilies with their spray of leaves and magnificent white flowers in early summer.

Myall Lakes National Park protects a diversity of forests and lake systems which attracts masses of migratory birds, so bring your binoculars for some excellent birdwatching. Spine tailed swifts are often seen in the skies above in summer, however they rarely land. You might also see white egrets, grebes and kingfishers.

Treachery Headland walking track is a short walk that offers impressive views of Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse, the rocky headland and the coastline.

It’s an easy walk, taking you on a journey through the park’s coastal rainforest. You’ll pass a giant fig tree with intricate buttress roots before reaching the grassy headland where stunning views await.

A sidetrack off the main one will take you down to the white sands of the secluded Treachery Beach. It’s a great spot for fishing and surfing.