Port Stephens Walking Group (NPA)

Welcome to the National Parks Association NSW Port Stephens Walking 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.

When we walk: 

Our regular walks are all day Wednesdays, generally fortnightly, but in the cooler months when walking is ideal and flowers abound, we often walk weekly. Walks may vary between 10-16kms.  Our monthly Sunday walks are usually around half day, and we offer occasional summer Twilight 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 the NPA Port Stephens walk program, or email portstephens@npansw.org.au for a copy. We manage our walk program over a 6 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. For our first couple of longer walks we will trial a small bus, which will mean a rested driver, so carpooling will not be organised.

If you like the program and think you will try some walks, then please request via email portstephens@npansw.org.au to be included on our email circulation to receive the details for each forthcoming walk.

Our program here also includes a sample of car-based campouts with walks offered by NPA Upper Hunter Group for which we are welcome to attend.

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 include your name, phone, and the name and phone (preferably mobile) for an emergency contact who is not likely to walk with you, and email to portstephens@npansw.org.au.

• After 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 insurance should there be an accident, and 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.

Our walks reports

Occasionally we’ll report on a programmed walk or a local walk — but we’ve only just started.

Barrington Tops NP, Blue Gum Loop and Rocky Crossing Track 1 Feb 2023

Resources