Population 1,027 (2006 census) Time zone AEST (UTC+10) Area 31.4 km² Postal code 2324 Federal division Division of Paterson | Postcode(s) 2324 Elevation 10 m Local time Saturday 8:03 PM | |
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Location 218 km (135 mi) NNE of Sydney79 km (49 mi) NE of Newcastle109 km (68 mi) SSW of Forster2 km (1 mi) ENE of Tea Gardens Weather 22°C, Wind SE at 31 km/h, 90% Humidity Points of interest Bennetts Beach, Jimmys Beach, Mount Yakaba | ||
Hawks Nest is a suburb of the Mid-Coast Council local government area in the Hunter and Mid North Coast regions of New South Wales, Australia, located north of Port Stephens between the Tasman Sea and the Myall River. It was named after a large hawk's nest in a tree on the Myall River that was used as a navigational aid.
Contents
Map of Hawks Nest NSW 2324, Australia
Geography
Hawks Nest is a long (16.5 kilometres (10.3 mi)), thin (typically 1.7 km (1.1 mi)), coastal suburb running northeast to southwest. The suburb is about 220 km (137 mi) north of Sydney, 12 km (7.5 mi)) from the Pacific Highway. It is bordered by the Tasman Sea to the east, the Myall River to the west and Port Stephens to the south. It includes Yacaaba, the northern headland of Port Stephens, which rises to 210 metres (690 ft) above mean sea level. However, the rest of the suburb is generally low, flat, sandy and covered in coastal scrubland, with some bushland, resulting in the northern part of the suburb being accessible only by four-wheel drive vehicles until the 1980s.
Hawks Nest is located directly across the river from Tea Gardens and was connected by the Singing Bridge in 1974. Before this the river crossing was made by a small car ferry. Most (approximately 95%) of the suburb is still uninhabited with the population concentrated around the Hawks Nest township, on the Myall River and Winda Woppa on Port Stephens.
Demographics
At the 2006 census, Hawks Nest had a population of 1,027 living in the southern part of the suburb. While nearby Tea Gardens is primarily a residential and commercial area, Hawks Nest tends to be dominated by holiday rentals and caravan parks which causes the population to vary considerably with the influx of tourists.
Tourism
Jimmys Beach and the Tasman Sea on the east (Bennetts Beach or The Main Beach, as it is commonly referred to) are popular resorts. The Myall Lakes are a short drive north. Hawks Nest has many shops and cafes catering to the tourist trade and, with its sandy beaches and bush walks, proximity to Sydney, and much greater seclusion than suburbs on the southern shores of Port Stephens, it is a popular weekend getaway for Sydneysiders. Hawks Nest was well known as the location of holiday retreats belonging to then Prime Minister John Howard until, in 1998, he decided to abandon his family's regular holiday spot of twenty years due to alleged media harassment. John Howard has returned to Hawks Nest after leaving politics.
The local golf course was designed by Matt Lauder, a professional golfer and nephew of Scottish comedian, Sir Harry Lauder.
Holiday activities in the area include swimming, snorkeling and diving, golfing, bush walking, dolphin and whale spotting, four-wheel driving, caravanning and fishing.
Animals such as koalas, dingoes and dolphins can be observed in the area.