If you're looking for a peaceful spot to soak up the serene marine splendour of Port Stephens, take this short walk to Wreck Beach - tucked away behind the houses at Shoal Bay and visible from the majestic lookout at Tomaree Head summit.
From Verona Road, follow the track uphill and onto the fire trail which eventually takes you onto Wreck Beach walk. Walking through this lush coastal angophora forest leads onto a small cove, with beautiful sand and open views of the ocean, which is perfect for seasonal whale watching. You might even spot a bottlenose dolphin frolicking with their calf in summer.
Enjoy a walk barefoot along the beach as the water laps at your feet. When you're finished, settle down in a relaxing picnic spot and enjoy the solitude of one Port Stephens' best kept secrets. If you feel like getting in the water then your best option is to drive five minutes over to Box Beach; a better swimming spot with great facilities.
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Remember to take your binoculars if you want to whale watch.
Visit NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service for more information on this trail.
The longitude and latitude of the start and end points are approximately only and should not be used for navigation purposes. Please contact me if you know the correct coordinates.
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To Tomaree Head carpark. Wreck Beach is near Shoal Bay in Tomaree National Park. To get there:Follow Shoal Bay Road around from Nelson BayTurn right onto Tomaree RoadTurn left onto Verona Road and follow it to the end, where the walk begins. Park entry points Tomaree Head carpark See on map Parking Limited on-street parking is available on Verona Road, Shoal Bay. Please avoid parking in front of the access gate on Verona Road because NSW National Park staff and emergency services teams use this access gate in the case of emergencies.
It’s a good idea to let someone know where you’re going. Fill in a trip intention form to send important details about your trip to your emergency contact. If you are lost or require help and have phone reception, call 000 and ask for police. The international standard emergency number is 112, if you dial this number in Australia you will be treated exactly the same as a 000 call. If you believe your life is at risk, activate your personal locator beacon (PLB), then make your position visible to rescue teams and keep warm and dry.
Tomaree National Park, jointly managed with Hunter Water Corporation, provides a magnificent backdrop to the coastal towns and villages of Nelson Bay, Shoal Bay, Boat Harbour and Anna Bay. It’s the only place in NSW where you can see outcrops of the acid volcanic rock rhyodacite.
It’s an excellent spot for whale watching and offers a range of scenic walks, including the short Wreck Beach walk through coastal angophora forest and the longer Morna Point walk that comes alive with spring wildflowers. Keep your eyes out for koalas dozing high in the trees.
The park’s beaches are pretty places for a family barbecue and there are picnic facilities around Anna Bay and Fishermans Bay - enjoy a swim or snorkel or head to One Mile Beach for some surfing. There are some good places for fishing, though you’ll need to check the marine park zoning before setting out.
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Myall Lakes National Park
Myall Lakes National Park
Myall Lakes National Park
