Tomaree

Tomaree National Park is a spectacular coastal headland and beach park at Port Stephens on the mid north coast of New South Wales, located on the Tomaree Peninsula north-east of Newcastle. Covering approximately 2,893 hectares, the park protects the rugged headlands, beaches, and sand dunes of the Tomaree Peninsula, providing outstanding coastal scenery and important habitat for diverse wildlife. The park includes the Tomaree Head summit, one of the finest coastal viewpoints in NSW, and protects some of the most dramatic coastal scenery between Sydney and Byron Bay.

Tomaree National Park supports diverse coastal wildlife. The endangered swift parrot winters in the woodland. Little penguins breed in burrows on the rocky headlands. Australian fur seals haul out on offshore rocks. Humpback whales are regularly observed migrating past the headland from May to November. Dolphins use the waters of Port Stephens. Eastern grey kangaroos graze at dusk on the headland grassland. Diverse shorebirds use the beaches.

Coastal heath with banksias, hakeas, and diverse wildflowers dominates the exposed headlands. Dry sclerophyll forest with scribbly gum and bloodwood covers the sheltered slopes. The sandy beaches and dunes support spinifex and coastal scrub communities. The coastal heath is particularly beautiful with spring wildflower displays. Significant stands of old-growth coastal woodland are present on the park's interior slopes.

Tomaree Peninsula is formed by Devonian and Silurian granite and metamorphic rocks that have been sculpted by wave action into the dramatic headlands and rocky points characteristic of the Port Stephens coastline. The sandy beaches and dunes are Quaternary deposits. The granite of Tomaree Head provides the resistant rock of the spectacular summit.

Warm temperate to subtropical coastal climate. Annual rainfall approximately 1,200 millimetres. Warm summers, mild winters. Sea breezes moderate coastal temperatures.

The Worimi people are the traditional custodians of Port Stephens. The peninsula and harbour provided abundant marine resources. World War II military installations on Tomaree Head provided harbour defence.

Tomaree National Park was established to protect the coastal headlands and wildlife of the Tomaree Peninsula, including the military heritage on Tomaree Head.

The Tomaree Head summit walk is the park's primary attraction, a moderately challenging track rewarded with panoramic views over Port Stephens. Zenith Beach and Samurai Beach provide clothing-optional and family beaches. The Birubi Point lighthouse and sand dunes provide scenic exploration. Whale watching from Tomaree Head is excellent.

Car parks and walking tracks are provided. The park is accessed from Nelson Bay Road. Nelson Bay provides visitor services. The park is approximately 200 kilometres north of Sydney. A national parks pass applies.

Protecting little penguin nesting areas from visitor disturbance. Invasive weed control on the headland heath. Managing visitor pressure on the popular summit track. Monitoring the endemic coastal heath communities.