Tomaree Coastal Walk: The Ultimate Guide

If you're looking for the perfect adventure, you need to add the Tomaree Coastal Walk to your bucket list!

The 27-kilometre walking track spans the rugged coastline of Tomaree National Park between Shoal Bay and Birubi Beach at Anna Bay, offering spectacular scenery at every turn.

The Tomaree Coastal Walk also passes through five Port Stephens neighbourhoods with food and accommodation options aplenty, so if you're looking for an overnight hike in NSW where you can immerse yourself in nature without having to forgo some luxury, this could be the perfect walk for you! 

Read on to see how you can make the most of your time exploring the Tomaree Coastal Walk.

Get to know the friendly locals

Tomaree National Park is bordered by five Port Stephens neighbourhoods where you can mingle with friendly locals and take advantage of the many scenic and hospitality options at every turn.

Shoal Bay is a picture-perfect sandy bay with loads of accommodation and cafes to fill up on breakfast before you tackle Mount Tomaree, 161 metres high and the starting point of the Tomaree Coastal Walk.

After leaving Shoal Bay behind, the next neighbourhood you'll come across on the Tomaree Coastal Walk is Fingal Bay, a safe sheltered beach that's the perfect spot to rest your legs over lunch.

After the Fingal Beach walk, you'll continue to One Mile Beach passing the clothing-optional Samurai Beach - Samurai Beach camping is a favourite pastime of Port Stephens locals and travellers alike! By now you will have walked an impressive 18km, so this is the perfect spot to call it a day. There are a few accommodation options at One Mile Beach including, Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary - more on this below. 

Day two of the Tomaree Coastal Walk is a shorter 9km journey from One Mile Beach to Birubi Point. Start your day with a refreshing dip and coffee from the cafe at One Mile Beach, before heading up over the headland towards Boat Harbour, a picturesque coastal village flanked by gorgeous beaches. 

The last pit stop on your adventure through Tomaree National Park is Anna Bay – the village gateway to the Stockton Bight sand dunes and Worimi Conservation Lands and famous for the Anna Bay camel ride experience. After passing through Anna Bay you'll come to Birubi Beach, the finishing line of the Tomaree Coastal Walk. With 27 kilometres under your belt, it's time to kick back and celebrate your accomplishment.

Wake up to paradise

When planning an overnight hike in NSW, booking luxury accommodation might not be the first thing that comes to mind. But this is where the Tomaree Coastal Walk differs - because the walk passes through five Port Stephens neighbourhoods, there are plenty of accommodation options to choose from that don't involve a hiking tent!

The beautiful Ramada Resort is right in the heart of Shoal Bay, just down the road from the start point of the Tomaree Coastal Walk. The resort offers a range of rooms with plenty of space and stunning views of Shoal Bay from your balcony. 

If you’re looking for something different, Holiday in the Bay offers a range of comfortable and budget-friendly units, houses, and duplexes across several Port Stephens neighbourhoods. Whether you're after a beach view or something to fit the whole hiking crew, Holiday in the Bay has something for every party size.

The Retreat Port Stephens is a family-friendly oasis 5-minutes drive from Birubi Point. With 10 individual guestrooms to choose from and a terrace with views, it's the perfect spot to rest those weary legs at the end of your hiking adventure.

Work up an appetite

One thing is for certain on the Tomaree Coastal Walk - all that hiking means that you’ll work up an appetite. Lucky for you, there are plenty of pit stops along the way where you can refuel for your onward journey.

The Shoal Bay Country Club near the start of the Tomaree Coastal Walk is a must-visit venue with options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Pop into Mermaids Cafe to caffeinate before your big adventure, or come back at the end of the day to enjoy sunset views across the idyllic Shoal Bay Beach. 

Saltwater Fingal Bay is the perfect pit stop for lunch on day one of exploring the Tomaree Coastal Walk. Located beachside with stunning views of Fingal Bay and beyond, it's an ideal location for a relaxed seafood feast. The restaurant also offers dinner and drinks for those keen to come back for more!

At the end of the Tomaree Coastal Walk you'll find Crest Birubi Beach. Just when you thought you had seen it all on your walk through Tomaree National Park, Crest Birubi Beach offers some of the best views in Port Stephens! Located at the northern end of the Worimi Conservation Lands, Crest Birubi Beach serves up delicious local food in a spectacular location. 

While you're in the area

You've done all the hard work on the Tomaree Coastal Walk, now it's time to enjoy some fun activities to balance out your weekend.

Why not experience the awe-inspiring Stockton Bight sand dunes with Port Stephens 4WD Tours, a family-owned business offering 4WD and sandboarding adventure tours? Take a 4WD trip over the dunes to a private sandboarding area in the heart of the dunes to test your sandboarding skills, followed by a visit to the hidden outpost of Tin City and Aboriginal cultural and World War Two sites.

If you'd prefer to be on the water, hop aboard Imagine Cruises and Dolphin Swim Australia to take in the sights of the pristine coastline. From the boat, you can enjoy views of the Tomaree Coastal Walk from a different angle! The operators offer a variety of mild and wild tours including, a one-and-a-half-hour dolphin watching cruise, a three-and-a-half-hour marine discovery cruise, and a four-hour swim with dolphin cruise. A popular option in the cooler months is a whale watching cruise where you can experience the majestic giants up close.

If cute koalas are what you need after hiking the Tomaree Coastal Walk, you should make a beeline for Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary. This beautiful sanctuary offers visitors the opportunity to experience koalas in a natural bushland setting. Take a tour to learn about the koalas and their rehabilitation, or immerse yourself in the experience and stay overnight in a glamping-style tent within the sanctuary grounds. 

If you're looking for some free activities in the area, there's plenty on offer. Pack your surfboard and hit the waves at one of the many beaches in the Port Stephens area, or 4WD across the spectacular sand dunes for an out-of-this-world experience!

Summary

So, there you have it - the Tomaree Coastal Walk isn't just about spectacular scenery, secluded beaches, and wildlife encounters. There's plenty more to enjoy in the neighbourhoods surrounding Tomaree National Park including, luxury accommodation, a thriving hospitality scene, and wild and mild nature-based activities. Sounds like the perfect getaway to us! 

And if you're looking for more, check out some other walks, hikes and cycling routes in the Port Stephens area to quench your thirst for adventure.