Tomaree National Park, NSW.

In April last year we headed 50 km north-east of Newcastle and discovered Shoal Bay and Tomaree National Park.  You can not camp in Tomaree National Park but there are several caravan parks and rental accommodation available in the area. We had a leisurely stroll along the foreshore at Shoal Bay and stopped for lunch before walking to the summit of Mount Tomaree.

Shoal Bay with Mount Tomaree, right.

Lace Monitor beside the path.

Red Wattlebird

Tomaree Head Summit Walk

This walk involves climbing up several levels of metal steps so it requires some fitness. There seems to be a tradition of placing "love" padlocks on the walkways.

Straight up to the summit of Mount Tomaree

"Love" padlocks

The views at the top are simply stunning. The weather was perfect and the sky was so blue, the ocean so clear and the small volcanic mountains so green that we were thoroughly blown away by the beauty of Tomaree National Park and the whole surrounding area.

Looking back at Shoal Bay

Looking down at Zenith Beach and Stephens Peak

The view of Point Stephens Light House on Fingal Island

On the way down we took an easy paved path to the World War II gun emplacements. The gun emplacements were part of Fort Tomaree and were built in 1941 to defend the east coast of Australia. There are fantastic views of Yacaaba Headland from here.

Fort Tomaree Gun Emplacement

Yacaaba Headland

We were so inspired by the views from the summit and the gun emplacements that we promised ourselves that we would return and walk in all the beautiful areas that were laid out below Tomaree Head.