Hawks Nest, New South Wales

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Hawks Nest New South Wales
Jimmy's Beach, Hawks Nest
Population:	1,176^[1]
Postcode:	2324
Location:	220 km (137 mi) NE of Sydney 80 km (50 mi) NE of Newcastle 80 km (50 mi) SW of Forster 4 km (2 mi) W of Tea Gardens
LGA:	Great Lakes Council
State District:	Port Stephens
Federal Division:	Paterson

Hawks Nest (32°40′S, 152°10′E) is a small town in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales, Australia in Great Lakes Council. At the 2001 census, Hawks Nest had a population of 1,176.^[1] It lies on a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean, Port Stephens, and the Myall River. A bridge has replaced the old steel-rope-guided vehicular ferry to connect with Tea Gardens aceoss the river. It is about 200 km north of Sydney along the F3 freeway (about two hours away). Hawks Nest gets its name from the large number of birds of prey in the area [1].

Jimmy's Beach and the Pacific Ocean on the east (Bennett's Beach or Ocean Beach, as it is commonly referred to) are popular resorts. The Myall Lakes are a short drive north along a road which was until 25 years ago inaccessible. While Tea Gardens is primarily a residential and commercial area, Hawks Nest tends to be dominated by holiday rentals and caravan parks. With its beautiful beaches and bush walks, proximity to Sydney, and much greater seclusion than nearby Nelson Bay, it is a popular weekend getaway for Sydneysiders. Popular holiday activities in the area include:

Swimming, snorkelling and diving
Golf Club and course
Bush walking
Dolphin and whale spotting
Four-wheel driving
Caravaning
Fishing

It has quite a few shops and cafe's and has recently boomed within the expanse of the past three years due to increasing media spotlight on the area as a great family holiday destination.

However the area is still home to much bushland, ocean and forest filled with Aussie animals like koalas, dingoes, dolphins and more fauna that is found within the Myall Lakes area.

It was well known as the location of former Prime Minister John Howard's, and one of his premier economic policymakers John Broadbent's, holiday retreat, until in 1998 he decided to abandon his family's regular holiday spot of 20 years due to alleged media harassment.