Hawks Nest, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hawks Nest New South Wales
The end of the Hawks Nest peninsula
Hawks Nest Location in New South Wales
Population	1,223 (2016 census)
• Density	32.7/km2 (85/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	2324
Elevation	10 m (33 ft)
Area	31.4 km2 (12.1 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10)
• Summer (DST)	AEDT (UTC+11)
Location	218 km (135 mi) NNE of Sydney 79 km (49 mi) NE of Newcastle 109 km (68 mi) SSW of Forster 42 km (26 mi) S of Bulahdelah 2 km (1 mi) ENE of Tea Gardens
LGA(s)	Mid-Coast Council
Region	Hunter, Mid North Coast
County	Gloucester
Parish	Fens
State electorate(s)	Port Stephens
Federal Division(s)	Lyne
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 27.3 °C 81 °F 8.4 °C 47 °F 1,348.9 mm 53.1 in
Localities around Hawks Nest: Nerong, Tea Gardens Nerong Mungo Brush, Tea Gardens Hawks Nest Tasman Sea Port Stephens Port Stephens Tasman Sea

Hawks Nest is a small town in New South Wales, Australia. It is part of the Mid-Coast Council area. The town is located north of Port Stephens. It sits between the Tasman Sea and the Myall River.

The town got its name from a large hawk's nest. This nest was in a tree on the Myall River. It helped sailors find their way. The Worimi people are the traditional owners of this land.

History of Hawks Nest

The first Europeans came to this area in the early 1800s. They were timber getters, meaning they cut down trees. They were interested in the cedar forests along the Myall River.

In the 1950s, Hawks Nest grew into a service center. It supported the local fishing and timber industries. Today, Hawks Nest is a popular place for holidays.

Geography and Location

Hawks Nest is a long, thin town along the coast. It stretches about 16.5 kilometers (10 miles). The town is usually about 1.7 kilometers (1 mile) wide. It is located about 220 kilometers (137 miles) north of Sydney. It is also about 12 kilometers (7 miles) from the Pacific Highway.

The Tasman Sea is to the east of Hawks Nest. The Myall River is to the west. Port Stephens is to the south. The town includes Yacaaba, a headland that rises 210 meters (689 feet) high. Most of the town is low, flat, and sandy. It is covered in coastal scrubland and some bushland. Until the 1980s, the northern part of the town could only be reached by four-wheel drive vehicles.

Hawks Nest is right across the river from Tea Gardens. The two towns were connected by the Singing Bridge in 1974. Before the bridge, people crossed the river using a small car ferry. About 95% of the area is still empty land. Most people live in the main Hawks Nest township. They also live in Winda Woppa, which is on Port Stephens.

People of Hawks Nest

In the 2016 Australian census, 1,223 people lived in Hawks Nest. Most people, about 79.9%, were born in Australia. Also, 89.4% of people spoke only English at home. The most common religions were Anglican (30.0%), No Religion (25.9%), and Catholic (20.8%).

Tea Gardens is mostly for people who live there all year. Hawks Nest, however, has many holiday homes and caravan parks. This means the number of people in the town changes a lot. It gets very busy when tourists visit.

Things to Do in Hawks Nest

Jimmys Beach and Bennetts Beach (also called The Main Beach) are very popular. These beaches are great for holidays. The Myall Lakes are also a short drive north.

Hawks Nest has many shops and cafes for tourists. It has sandy beaches and bush walks. It is also close to Sydney. Many people from Sydney visit for a weekend getaway. It feels more private than other places around Port Stephens.

A former Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard, used to holiday in Hawks Nest. He visited regularly for twenty years. In 1998, he stopped going there because of media attention. After he left politics in 2007, he returned to Hawks Nest for holidays.

The local golf course opened on August 12, 1978. It was designed in 1968 by Matt Lauder. He was a professional golfer.

There are many fun activities in the area. You can go swimming, snorkeling, and diving. Golfing, bush walking, and fishing are also popular. You can also spot dolphins and whales. Some people enjoy four-wheel driving and caravanning.

You might see animals like koalas and dingoes in the area. dolphins can be seen in the water.