Welcome to the National Parks Association NSW (Hunter region)
Port Stephens / Lower Hunter Bushwalking Group.
Our walks explore our wonderful surroundings in Port Stephens, especially Tomaree National Park, and neighbouring areas, sometimes to the Central Coast especially during wildflower time, to the Myall Lakes area, and northward to the Barrington Tops in summer where we love to take a dip in the pools as part of our walk. We occasionally have campouts and sometimes an accommodated walking week away.
We are a group of the National Parks Association (Hunter Branch), a community group advocating in support of national parks, for improved management, for appropriate protected areas, and for opportunities for safe walking. National Parks are managed by the State Government’s National Parks and Wildlife Service.
News Flash: Wildflower splendour
Short walks: Tomaree Wildflower colour, learning & curiosities
2-2.5 hrs
BOOKINGS
Sat pm 8 Aug, Tues am 11 Aug, Sun am 16 Aug, Mon am 31 Aug, Sat pm 5 Sept
All day: Wildflower Wander in Tomaree’s high trails and low trails, to experience the colour and joy of wildflowers — this is not for naming or learning about the flowers.
Wed 26 Aug; For information and booking email portstephens@npansw.org.au
Download our pamphlet: Spring Wildflowers in Tomaree’s heathy woodlands (1.7 Mb) featuring many Spring Wildflowers in Tomaree’s heathy woodlands.
We use this pamphlet on the Tomaree Wildflower Learning & Curiosities short walks to help you discover and learn the plants you see.
When we walk:
Upcoming Walks
Tomaree NP: Wildflower colour, curiosities & learning short walks
August 8 @ 1:00 pm - 3:30 pmTomaree NP: Wildflower colour, curiosities & learning short walks
August 11 @ 9:30 am - 12:00 pmWALK: Spion Top, Kariong Brisbane Waters National Park
August 12 @ 9:00 am - 4:00 pmTomaree NP: Wildflower colour, curiosities & learning short walks
August 16 @ 9:30 am - 12:00 pmWALK: Wildflower Wander, high & low trails, Tomaree National Park
August 26 @ 9:00 am - 3:00 pmTomaree NP: Wildflower colour, curiosities & learning short walks
August 31 @ 9:30 am - 12:00 pmTomaree NP: Wildflower colour, curiosities & learning short walks
September 5 @ 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Wednesdays: Our regular walks are generally all day on fortnightly Wednesdays. In the cooler months when walking is ideal and flowers abound, we sometimes walk more frequently. Walks may vary between 10-16kms. In the hotter months we may opt of half day walks.
Sundays: Port Stephens / Lower Hunter group offer Sunday monthly usually half day and usually 2nd Sunday or the month. Our Upper Hunter group also offer Sunday walks usually the last Sunday or the month.
Camp out / accommodated day walks: We offer several stays away, either car-based camping or accommodated stays with day walks.
Moderate fitness is required. All our walks are graded to help you know the walks that suit you.
Our walk program
You can download our current program at NPA Lower Hunter / Port Stephens Bushwalk Program or email portstephens@npansw.org.au for a copy.
We manage our walk program over a 4 month period. Due to unforeseen circumstances walks may occasionally change. We usually offer carpooling on a voluntary basis, with a donation towards costs, but carpooling is not guaranteed.
If you like the program and think you will try some walks, then please email portstephens@npansw.org.au regarding the walk that interests you, and your email will be forwarded to the leader for you to receive more information for you to book with them. If you like our walks and our group, then after 2-3 walks we will ask you to join the NPA and you’ll receive a program with leader contacts for all walks.
New walkers are very welcome:
- We encourage new walkers to try a couple of walks before joining the NPA.
- Before your first walk, you will need to email to portstephens@npansw.org.au, your name, phone, and the first name and phone (preferably mobile) for an emergency contact who is not likely to walk with you.
- With two to three walks, you can assess suitability of our walks and group for you. After then, we ask you to join the National Parks Association to continue walking with us. NPA membership provides many benefits to you individually, as well as indemnifying leaders should there be an accident, and importantly contributes to NPA’s advocacy for national parks. NPA membership also gives you access to a region-wide walks program (email for NPA Hunter Nature News) and a state-wide bushwalking program. You can view membership fees and here’s the link to join the NPA. Take a look at our NPA bushwalking FAQs and Bushwalking 101 tips.
Walk specials: Short wildflower walks in Tomaree National Park.
Enjoy a wonderland of winter and early spring wildflowers, especially along Tomaree’s sandy heathy woodlands. Our program has several wildflower walks of varying duration.
Journey with us ~ occasional walk reports
Occasionally we report on a programmed or local walk
Tomaree Coastal Walk ~ Birubi Point Aboriginal Place to One Mile Beach June 2025
Munibung Hill ~ walking a significant Awabakal site July 2025
Barrington Tops NP, Blue Gum Loop and Rocky Crossing Track 1 Feb 2023
Resources
NPA Hunter Nature News (about 4/year) and includes the extended walks program for the Hunter area. Email hunter@npansw.org.au to be included on the NPA Hunter Nature News.
NPA also has some great bush walking tips in their information for bushwalkers.
Bushwalks around Port Stephens is a booklet pdf and a wonderful local resource. Note it was published 2008 and is still generally accurate, though it is best to check tracks with another source. At the time of writing this page, colour prints of the booklet are available for $5 at Port Stephens Visitor Information Centre, 60 Victoria Parade, Nelson Bay.
More bushwalking tips available with Lots a Fresh Air as well as a free newsletter.