Activities • • • • • The Port Stephens Ferry can take you to Nelson Bay and back. This can be a day trip. Dolphin watching trips can be booked on Marine Drive. Scuba diving at popular dive spots. These include world-renowned Broughton Island, a major Grey Nurse Shark aggregation area. Tea Gardens only Hotel is in Marine Drive. It is a real local for families and visitors alike. A large outdoor area is next to the bistro. There is a pool room and in the summer a band usually plays each Friday and Saturday night. Hire a fishing boat for the day at the Boat Shed and Marina. Buy your fishing licence there as well as fishing gear. The Boat Shed also has a coffee shop with a food outlet.     Restaurants around Tea Gardens   • • • • • Tillermans – a restaurant with fabulous food and even better deserts. An unforgettable experience. Mumms – a restaurant serving fish and next to the Fish Co-Operative. Well spoken of. Hotel Bistro – (takeaway or eat in) provides good fare. Hamburger Shop next to Tea Gardens Real Estate - great simple food. The Chinese Restaurant - next door to Tillermans in Marine Drive.   Restaurants around Hawks Nest • • • The Lodge – down near Main Beach. Golf Course Bistro – located in the Golf Course Club House. Chinese Restaurant – located in the Hawks Nest shopping centre.     Beaches • • • Jimmy's Beach - still water beach located on Port Stephens. Main Beach - surf beach accessed through Hawks Nest. Bennett’s Beach - a Dog Walking Beach and fishing beach - north of Main Beach it can be accessed along the golf course road. Golf Course The Golf Course is located in Hawks Nest just back from the beach. The golf course is clearly visible from the main road at the T-junction after the main road crosses the Myall River on the Singing Bridge from Tea Gardens to Hawks Nest. (It is not far from Wanda) Some of the golf course is constructed on inner beach dunes. A well cared for course offering an enjoyable 18 holes of golf. The course has a pro-shop. Playing visitors are welcomed.   National Park The area is surrounded by National Parks, including the large Myall lakes National Park to the north.   Port Stephens Ferry Service At least three daily ferry services to Nelson Bay are offered. The Ferry departs opposite the Hotel in Marine Drive. The ferries are old timber style vessels and the trip takes you under the Singing Bridge at Tea Gardens, down the Lower Myall River, past Winda Woppa and across Port Stephens. Return fares are offered as well as family specials.Brochures containing departure times and located at businesses up and down Marine Drive. Simba II Cruises The Simba Service offers a 3 hours dolphin watch cruise, a return ferry service to Nelson Bay and a 2 1/2 hour cruise looking for dolphins which includes a 1/2 hour Nelson Bay stop.The service offers a free boom net ride. Brochures are available at businesses in Marine Drive. Kayaking Lazy Paddles offers kayak tours. Beginners are welcomed for this two hour adventure. The service is offered all year round. Wallamaba Cruise A service offered daily at 12.30pm is a 2 hour trip up the Myall River. Picturesque, informative and very relaxing, this is a great addition to the holiday schedule. A 6 hour trip on the Wallamaba is offered on Thursday only which takes up to the Myall Lakes system. Both services can be booked at the Boat Shed and Marina. Fishing Lower Myall River and Up river A ‘tinny’ with an outboard engine can be hired at the Boat Shed and Marina. Bait is also available along with some tips. Beach Fishing You will know that the beach fishing is happening and the fish are biting as you observe the locals standing patiently at the edge of the surf at Main Beach in the early morning and late afternoon. Fishing Tackle Shops There is a shop at the Hawks Nest shopping centre and a shop near the Hotel in Marine Drive, Tea Gardens along with the Boathouse.   Post Office The Post Office is opposite the Hardware Store on the main street driving through Tea Gardens heading to Hawks Nest. Banking Facilities The Post office has some banking facilities. The North Coast Credit Union has a branch office and an ATM at the bi-Lo Centre. The local hotel has an ATM. Newsagents There are newsagencies at Hawks Nest, Tea Gardens and at the Bi-Lo Centre. Doctors and Chemist Shops There are doctors practising at Hawks Nest and Tea Gardens. There are chemist shops in all shopping centres. There is an ambulance station in Tea Gardens that services the area. The Hunter Hospital, the regional hospital for northern NSW, is about one-half hour drive away.   © Copyright 2005 Wanda - All rights reserved - Home - Site by Prez