Tomaree National Park, NSW: revisit.

We previously posted a blog about Tomaree National Park and how that visit inspired us to return and have a closer look at the beautiful places we could see from Tomaree Mountain Lookout.

View from Tomaree Mountain Lookout: Zenith Beach, Stephens Peak, Wreck Beach, Quarry Hill and Box Beach.

A few months later we got the chance to return. On the way we stopped at Anna Bay to have a quick peek at the endless sand hills of Stockton Beach.

Stockton Beach

At Tomaree National Park we parked the car off Shoal Bay Road and walked the Tomaree Coastal Walk from Zenith Beach to Box Beach, a 4.4 km return walk, with a little extra distance for exploring the beaches.

Zenith Beach looking north to Tomaree Mountain.

Zenith Beach looking south to Stephens Peak.

The trail to Wreck Beach

Wreck Beach, looking north.

Box Beach, looking south.

We saw a couple of magnificent birds of prey riding the thermals at Wreck Beach and this Kookaburra along the walk.

Laughing Kookaburra

All and all a very satisfying day ticking off another wish list destination. 

Hmm, we will definitely have to return to explore Stockton Beach.

Tomaree National Park, NSW.

In April last year we headed 50 km north-east of Newcastle and discovered Shoal Bay and Tomaree National Park.  You can not camp in Tomaree National Park but there are several caravan parks and rental accommodation available in the area. We had a leisurely stroll along the foreshore at Shoal Bay and stopped for lunch before walking to the summit of Mount Tomaree.

Shoal Bay with Mount Tomaree, right.

Lace Monitor beside the path.

Red Wattlebird

Tomaree Head Summit Walk

This walk involves climbing up several levels of metal steps so it requires some fitness. There seems to be a tradition of placing "love" padlocks on the walkways.

Straight up to the summit of Mount Tomaree

"Love" padlocks

The views at the top are simply stunning. The weather was perfect and the sky was so blue, the ocean so clear and the small volcanic mountains so green that we were thoroughly blown away by the beauty of Tomaree National Park and the whole surrounding area.

Looking back at Shoal Bay

Looking down at Zenith Beach and Stephens Peak

The view of Point Stephens Light House on Fingal Island

On the way down we took an easy paved path to the World War II gun emplacements. The gun emplacements were part of Fort Tomaree and were built in 1941 to defend the east coast of Australia. There are fantastic views of Yacaaba Headland from here.

Fort Tomaree Gun Emplacement

Yacaaba Headland

We were so inspired by the views from the summit and the gun emplacements that we promised ourselves that we would return and walk in all the beautiful areas that were laid out below Tomaree Head.