Top 5 Walks in Port Stephens

Tomaree Head Summit Walk: -
This beautiful walk is a short but challenging 2.2km hike with stunning ocean views across Port Stephens. It is probably the most well known walk in the area. The track is steep and has quite a few steps but only takes about 45 minuters to reach the peak 161 metres above the port’s entrance to the Tasman Sea. When you arrive, you’ll be rewarded with stunning panoramic views over the town and along the coastline from the two viewing platforms. From the south platform you can spy Fingal Island and the lighthouse, while from the north platform you’ll be able to see Yacaaba Headland, Cabbage Tree and Broughton Island.

2. Gan Gan Hill Lookout

The Gan Gan Hill Lookout is a close second to the Tomaree Headland walk At 160 metres, It’s one of the highest lookouts in the region with views of the bay and the headlands, Tomaree National Park and up as far as Hawks Nest.There are beautiful assortment of plants at the top too especially in Spring. The walk is around 40 minutes each way and is easily accessible from the carpark so good for less mobile people. There are almost 360 degree views and it’s a very pretty area to look at.

Pefect spot to watch the sunset.

3. Wreck Beach Walking Trail

Wreck Beach trail is a short 2km return walk and will take you between 30 minutes to an hour. The trail leads to a small cove and it’s one of the beaches that you can see from Tomaree Headland walk. This easy walk to Wreck Beach, through a lush coastal forest, leads onto a small cove with beautiful sand and open views of the ocean.

The short trail is crosses the first section of Tomaree Coastal Walk - Zenith Beach to Fingal Bay. After around 300m mark from the start of the trail you will see trails to both Zenith Beach (1.2km long ) and Box Beach (1km) The walk ncludes short steep sections and some narrow pathways leading down to a small cove. This is an perfect spot for whale watching (May to November) and dolphin watching. as well as a wonderful picnic spot.

Nearby Box Beach which is a beter option for a swim.

4. Worimi Forest Walk

Worimi National Park is one of the most beautiful parts of the Port Stephens region. The end of the Worimi Forest walk ends at the 32km Stockton Beach which is the longest beach in NSW and the enormous sand dunes are perfect for quad biking and sandboarding.

Worimi Forest Walk begins at the car park on the Fern Bay Access Trail. It’s an easy 1.4-kilometre stroll through the Worimi Conservation Lands and will take about 45 minutes. Along the way expect to see lots of native greenery, including coastal blackbutt trees, swamp mahogany paperbark trees and old banksias. You come out at the southern end of Stockton Beach, an area full of Aboriginal history.

5. Tomaree Headland Walk to Fingal Bay.

This amazing walk is an 8.4 km out and back walk from Zenith Beach to Fingal Bay. It’s a mix of fire trails, sand hills, walking on the beach and bike paths. It’s the start of the Tomaree Coastal Walk and you can do it starting in either direction. The walk links with the start of the Fingal Bay to Big Rocky section.

The walk takes between 2.5 hours and 3.5 hours return and starts and ends in the Tomaree National Park. It can be completed as an out and back hike or a one way ending in Fingal Bay. The trailhead is located near Zenith Beach.

This is a fantastic walk with amazing views. Make sure you take the side trips to Zenith, Wreck and Box Beaches for spectacular views of the coastline and Tomaree Headland. You can take either the Forest track to Fingal Bay which has the best scenery, coming out at Fingal Spit, then follow the beach along to the Beach Club. Alternatively you can take the cycleway pathway if you prefer.