Discover Tomaree’s wildflowers this winter and spring
By Sue Olsson
National Parks Association
Coordinator Port Stephens Groups
July 2026
When people think of Tomaree National Park, they often picture its spectacular coastal views. But from late winter through spring, another natural wonder steals the show—our extraordinary wildflowers.
Across the Tomaree Peninsula, heathlands burst into colour as hundreds of native plants come into bloom. Many species also flower in autumn, while our beautiful ground orchids can be found throughout much of the year.
Whether you’re a keen botanist or simply enjoy being in nature, this is one of the best times of year to slow down, look a little closer, and discover the remarkable diversity growing at your feet.
Why are Tomaree’s heathy woodlands so special?
The walks explore the hinterland behind Fingal Beach, where Tomaree National Park’s heathy woodlands support an astonishing diversity of native plants.
These sandy, nutrient-poor soils create challenging growing conditions. Over thousands of years, plants have evolved remarkable adaptations to survive drought, fire and low nutrients. Different fire histories across the landscape have created a rich mosaic of habitats, resulting in an impressive variety of flowering species.
The abundant nectar and pollen produced by these heathlands also support a wide range of native insects, birds and mammals, making this one of the peninsula’s most ecologically important ecosystems.
Join a guided wildflower walk
The National Parks Association (Hunter), through its Port Stephens Walking Group and Friends of Tomaree National Park, is offering a range of guided walks throughout the peak flowering season.
These walks provide a wonderful opportunity to explore Tomaree’s unique flora with experienced local guides, learn fascinating stories about our native plants, and enjoy time in one of the peninsula’s most diverse natural landscapes.
Wildflower colour, curiosities and names
These easy, slow-paced walks cover just 2.5 km over approximately 2–2½ hours, making them suitable for most people.
Guides, including NPA (Hunter Region) President John Simpson and Friends of Tomaree National Park coordinator Sue Olsson, share the stories behind the flowers—their names, unusual adaptations and the important role they play in one of Port Stephens’ most diverse ecosystems.
2026 short walk dates
Book your place for ‘Wildflower names and curiosities’ here:
- Saturday 8 August (afternoon)
- Tuesday 11 August (morning)
- Sunday 16 August (morning)
- Monday 31 August (morning)
- Saturday 5 September (afternoon)
Wildflower Wander – High Trails and Low Trails
Wednesday 26 August ~ If you’d like a longer day immersed in nature, join Barb for a circuit walk exploring the rich diversity of Tomaree’s wildflowers across both high and low trails..
Rather than focusing on plant learnings, this walk celebrates the beauty, variety and ever-changing landscapes that make Tomaree such a special place to visit during the flowering season.
Moderate, 12km. Book your place for ‘Wildflower Wander – High Trails and Low Trails’ via email portstephens@npansw.org.au
Explore at your own pace
Download our free Spring Wildflowers in Tomaree’s heathy woodlands guide (pdf: 1.7 MB), featuring many of the species you’ll encounter and tips to help identify them as you explore.
Last year, some participants told us they returned with family and friends, using the guide to share the flowers and the stories they had learned on the walks.
What do the heathy woodlands to grow here?
The type of vegetation we see is primarily determined by the geology that creates the soils and the way water moves through the area.
The geology of the Tomaree Peninsula in this area is predominantly composed of coastal sand deposits overlaying older volcanic and sedimentary rocks.
In the immediate area of the walk, these sandy soils are of different ages and are typically well-drained, low in nutrients, and have a low water-holding capacity, which influences the types of vegetation that can successfully establish and thrive.
The vegetation community that can successfully establish and thrive is predominately a heathy open forest, with canopy trees of Blackbutt Eucalyptus pilularis and Smooth-barked Apple or Sydney Red Gum Angophora costata. The sands are mixed with older even more depauperate sands where the often mulit-stemmed Red Bloodwood Corymbia gummifera forms the canopy.
Banksias grow in the sub-canopy with Old Man Banksia or Saw Banksia Banksia serrata, and on the older more depauperate sands a very similar but more stunted Wallum Banksia Banksia ameula grows.
A low lying area adjacent to the walk is more swampy as nutrients have leached down through the sand and created an underlying impervious consolidated humic layer, a hardpan or coffee rock. Here Broad-leaved Paperbark, Melaleuca quinquenervia and Swamp Mahogany Eucalyptus robusta grow.
Pink Wax Flower
Eriostemon australasius
Common Fringe Myrtle
Calytrix tetragona
Come and discover Tomaree in bloom
Winter and spring are among the most rewarding times to explore Tomaree National Park. Bring your curiosity, slow your pace, and discover a landscape filled with colour, fascinating plants and abundant wildlife.
We look forward to seeing you on the trails.
Astroloma pinifolium
Isopogon anemonifolius
Actinotus helianthi