Tea Gardens Travel Guide: Beach Days and Riverside Dining

Tea Gardens sits where the Myall River meets Port Stephens, a relaxed riverside town connected to its twin town of Hawks Nest by the Singing Bridge. It’s a quiet town with a waterfront strip of excellent restaurants, a scenic river walk and a passenger ferry that carries you across the bay to Nelson Bay for the day.

The town feels very much like a local’s town. The pub is busy on a Friday after work and the restaurants are mostly filled with friendly locals. Because the town is small, the accommodation is a little limited (we’ve included a few options below), but the dining is definitely top-notch: relaxed with fresh seafood and river views.

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Yes. Tea Gardens is an easy, relaxed base for exploring the northern end of the Port Stephens region, with a great waterfront dining scene, nearby beaches, plus a scenic ferry crossing for an easy day out.

The town sits right across the Singing Bridge from twin town Hawks Nest, so a visit can combine the river walk and waterfront restaurants in Tea Gardens with Bennetts Beach, Jimmys Beach and the Yacaaba Headland on the other side of the river.

• Waterfront restaurants with fresh seafood, riverfront views and friendly service.
• The Original Tea Gardens Ferry across Port Stephens Bay to Nelson Bay.
• Tea Gardens River Walk along Marine Drive to the Singing Bridge.
• Easy access to Bennetts Beach, Jimmys Beach and the Yacaaba Headland across the bridge.
• A relaxed, uncrowded alternative to Nelson Bay in Port Stephens.

Distance from Sydney	Around 2 hours 30 minutes, ~224 km
Best for	Couples, families, anyone after a slower-paced river town
Known for	The Singing Bridge, waterfront dining, the Nelson Bay ferry
Ideal stay	2-3 nights
Accommodation	Hotels & motels: Booking.com Holiday homes: Stayz

• Ideal stay: 2-3 nights. Enough time for the river walk, a ferry day trip to Nelson Bay, a beach day and a couple of the waterfront restaurants.
• 3+ nights: Good if you want to add Dark Point, Myall Lakes National Park or a full day around Port Stephens Bay without rushing.

Tea Gardens River Walk

The Tea Gardens River Walk runs around 3 km there-and-back along the waterfront, from the Singing Bridge to the end of Marine Drive. It’s a great way to stretch your legs after the drive, get your bearings and take in the views and the string of restaurants along the way.

Singing Bridge

The Singing Bridge gets its name from the sound made by the wind rushing through its railings in strong weather. In calmer conditions, it’s a good spot to walk over and watch the ferries and smaller boats go by, with views across the Myall River, sand flats and oyster beds.

The Original Tea Gardens Ferry to Nelson Bay

A regular scenic ferry service runs from Tea Gardens across to Nelson Bay, taking around an hour each way and running a few times a day. It’s an easy, scenic way to see Port Stephens Bay, and you may spot dolphins along the way. Check the operator’s website to book tickets and confirm departure times before you go.

Local’s tip: Book ahead, especially in peak season, and confirm the return departure time before you head off exploring Nelson Bay for the day.

Bennetts Beach and Jimmys Beach

Just across the Singing Bridge in Hawks Nest, Bennetts Beach (also known as Hawks Nest Beach) is a huge stretch of white sand, over 14 km long. The beach is popular with surfers and swimmers, and there are often dolphins spotted at the southern end (the southern end is nicknamed the “dolphin’s playground” by locals). The easiest access point is the Tea Gardens Hawks Nest Surf Club, which has parking, picnic tables and facilities right on the beach.

The beach is patrolled during summer, so check the beachsafe website for current patrol times. The northern end of the beach is also used for 4WDing (a permit is required), with vehicle access onto the sand along Mango Brush Side Rd.

On the calmer, sheltered side of the peninsula, Jimmys Beach is a different proposition entirely: quiet, calm and ideal for kids to paddle. Its calm flat water is also perfect for paddleboarding. At the end of the beach, the Winda Woppa playground and picnic area has a large grassed riverside spot with picnic tables and a few walking trails linking Jimmys Beach to the Myall River side.

Yacaaba Headland Walking Track

This 7 km return walk, taking around 2.5 to 3.5 hours, runs along Bennetts Beach before climbing steeply up into the Yacaaba headland. Even if you don’t do the full walk, it’s worth strolling from Bennetts Beach down to the Beach Rd car park at the start of the track just to take in the scale of the beach and headland.

Important note: Check the National Parks website before heading out, as sections of this track can close from time to time. It was partially closed on our last visit.

Hawks Nest Habitat Walk

If you are exploring the Hawks Nest area and are looking for a shorter, flat walk, the Hawks Nest Habitat Walk takes you from the Bennetts Beach side of Hawks Nest to the Myall River. The walk is 1.5 km one-way, although you can add on to explore Bennetts Beach or Jimmys Beach. There’s signage along the way to explain the plants and habitats.

Personal note: There’s some information about this walk, and the Hawks Nest Nature Walk, on the Myall Koala Environment Group site. We’ve included a photo of the route below (click to enlarge), although even if you don’t follow it exactly it’s a nice walk through the suburbs and bushland of Hawks Nest. The map from the Information Centre also shows the location of some of the paths.

Dark Point Aboriginal Place

Around 15 minutes’ drive from Tea Gardens, Dark Point is a culturally significant site for the Worimi people, with a history stretching back at least 4,000 years. The Dark Point Walking Track crosses substantial sand dunes before dropping down to the beach at Little Gibber Headland, with views across to Broughton Island.

The beach is good for swimming, although it isn’t patrolled, and you’ll see 4WDs driving along the sand. Even if you’re not planning to swim, the walk is worth doing for the scale of the dunes alone. It feels like you’ve landed in the middle of the desert, or on the moon, especially when there’s no one else around.

Because the area is culturally significant, you’ll find sections of the dunes fenced off to protect exposed Aboriginal artefacts. Check the National Parks website for any local alerts before visiting.

Personal note: There are dingoes in the area and you’ll see their tracks across the sand, including in the car park. We kept an eye out on our last visit but didn’t spot any out and about.

On the water: kayaks, paddleboards and BBQ boats

The calm waters of the Myall River are ideal for getting out on the water. A couple of local operators hire kayaks and stand-up paddleboards for a few hours or a full day, launching straight from Tea Gardens, and self-drive BBQ boats are also available if you’d rather cruise the river at a slower pace with lunch cooked on board.

Tea Gardens is a small town, but the string of restaurants along the waterfront punches above its weight.

• Waterfront classic: Mumm’s on the Myall
• Breakfast, brunch or dinner over the water: Tea Gardens Boatshed
• Busy country pub: Tea Gardens Hotel
• Modern Australian: Tillermans

Mumm’s on the Myall

Right next to the Singing Bridge, the food is excellent and the views across the river during the day are lovely. There’s an indoor dining area as well outdoor seating by the riverside. There’s also a takeaway fish market next door for fresh and cooked seafood. Book ahead, especially on Friday and Saturday nights.

Personal note: On our last visit we had the oysters and the seafood chowder and both were excellent.

Tea Gardens Boatshed

The Boatshed sits out over the water next to a small marina, making it a great spot on a sunny day. The restaurant is open for breakfast or lunch every day, plus dinner on weekends. Alongside the dine-in restaurant, there’s a small open-air cafe and takeaway counter open for longer hours.

Tea Gardens Hotel

A busy country pub with a bistro and beer garden, plus seating out the front where you can watch the walkers and boats go by with a beer. It gets busy with locals after work and has a friendly, local vibe.

Tillermans

Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner in a casual, rustic space, Tillermans serves modern Australian food with friendly service from the owners, including a complimentary mulled wine on the night we last visited there. They also sell sourdough bread, a great takeaway if you’re stopping in for breakfast.

Tillermans is popular with locals, so book ahead for dinner.

Personal note: Our favourites on the last visit were the twice-baked goat’s cheese souffle and the balsamic onion tart, loaded with caramelised onion and fruit.

As a small town, Tea Gardens doesn’t have the hotel or resort-style accommodation you’ll find nearby in Nelson Bay. Instead there’s a good range of holiday houses and apartments, along with a couple of standout options below. Check Booking.com for hotels and motels and Stayz for holiday houses.

Boathouse Resort Tea Gardens

Boathouse Resort Tea Gardens is self-catering apartment-style accommodation right across from the riverfront, set around a sunny pool area. Some apartments at the front have views across the river. The location is great, around 10 minutes’ walk from the Tea Gardens Hotel and several restaurants.

Tea Gardens Motel

A 3-star motel a few streets back from the riverfront, but still only a few minutes’ walk. It’s right next door to the Tea Gardens Country Club, making it an easy stop for lunch or dinner.

More accommodation options

For more options, check accommodation across both Tea Gardens and Hawks Nest rather than limiting the search to one side of the bridge. Booking.com is a good option for hotels and motels, and holiday houses are widely available on Stayz.

• Summer: Peak season for the beaches and the ferry crossing, book restaurants and accommodation ahead.
• Autumn: Quieter, mild weather, still comfortable for the river walk and Yacaaba Headland.
• Winter: Quiet and cool, a good time for restaurant bookings without the crowds.
• Spring: Warming up again, a good time for the ferry trip and beach walks before the summer rush.

2-night itinerary

Day 1: Arrive and check in → Walk the Tea Gardens River Walk to the Singing Bridge → Head to Jimmys Beach or Bennetts Beach for a swim → Dinner at Mumm’s on the Myall

Day 2: Ferry across to Nelson Bay for the day (book ahead) → Return in the afternoon → Sunset walk over the Singing Bridge → Dinner at Tillermans (book ahead)

Day 3: Beach morning at Bennetts Beach or a paddle at Jimmys Beach → Breakfast or brunch at Tea Gardens Boatshed → Head home, or continue on to Dark Point or Myall Lakes National Park

Tea Gardens isn’t a town for big resort-style accommodation or a lively nightlife scene. Compared with nearby Nelson Bay, the accommodation options are smaller-scale: motels, apartments and holiday houses rather than hotels and resorts. If you want a big range of restaurants, tours and nightlife on your doorstep, you may prefer basing yourself in Nelson Bay and treating Tea Gardens as a day trip or a quieter overnight stop.

Tea Gardens is around 218 km north of Sydney by road, with a typical drive of about 2 hours 30 minutes via the M1.

There’s no direct road link across the bay to Nelson Bay. The Original Tea Gardens Ferry takes around an hour each way, or it’s around an hour’s drive around via the Pacific Highway if you’d rather take the car.

Hawks Nest

Tea Gardens’ twin town, directly across the Singing Bridge, with its own stretch of beaches and the Jean Shaw Koala Reserve. Close enough to visit for lunch or a beach walk without changing accommodation base.

Myall Lakes National Park

One of NSW’s largest coastal lake systems, with kayaking, canoeing, fishing and walking on the doorstep, including the Yacaaba Headland and Dark Point areas covered above. Worth a full extra day if you have the time.

Nelson Bay and Port Stephens

Across the bay by ferry or around an hour by car, Nelson Bay is the main base for the wider Port Stephens region, with dolphin and whale watching cruises, more dining and accommodation options, and the Stockton Sand Dunes.

• There’s a small information centre when you arrive, handy but not essential, with maps and details on what’s open.
• If you’re self-catering, there’s a Coles supermarket as you first drive into Tea Gardens, the main supermarket for the area (there’s also a smaller IGA in Hawks Nest).
• Book restaurants ahead, especially Tillermans and Mumm’s on the Myall on weekends.
• Book your ferry tickets ahead in peak season and confirm the return departure time.

Is Tea Gardens good for families?

Yes. Jimmys Beach is calm and sheltered, ideal for younger kids to paddle, and the Winda Woppa playground and picnic area at the end of the beach gives families somewhere to base themselves for the day. Bennetts Beach suits older kids and confident swimmers.

Can you visit Tea Gardens without a car?

It’s possible for a relaxed stay if you’re not planning to explore beyond the town itself. The river walk, Singing Bridge and waterfront restaurants are all walkable, and the ferry gets you to Nelson Bay without a car. For Bennetts Beach, Jimmys Beach, the Yacaaba Headland or Dark Point, you’ll ideally want your own transport.

How long does the ferry to Nelson Bay take?

Around an hour each way, running a few times a day. Check the operator’s website for current timetables and to book ahead, particularly in peak season.