Hawks Nest, New South Wales

Hawks Nest New South Wales
Jimmys Beach and Yacaba seen from Winda Woppa
Hawks Nest
Coordinates
Population	1,027 (2006 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 2 km (1 mi) ENE of Tea Gardens
LGA(s)	Great Lakes Council
Region	Hunter, Mid North Coast
County	Gloucester
Parish	Fens
State electorate(s)	Port Stephens
Federal Division(s)	Paterson
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 suburb of the Great Lakes 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.

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.

Notes

1. ^ The density figure presented is that of the entire suburb. The population density in the inhabited portion is approximately 685/km² (1,770/sq mi).
2. ^ Average elevation of the suburb as shown on 1:100000 map 9332 PORT STEPHENS.
3. ^ Area calculation is based on 1:100000 map 9332 PORT STEPHENS.