Unofficial guide · verify with NSW National Parks (NPWS)

Myall Lakes National Park guideMyall Lakes National ParkUnofficial operator's manual

Mungo Brush / Bombah Broadwater

Updated

The classic Myall Lakes base: Mungo Brush campground and day-use on Bombah Broadwater, coastal rainforest, Mungo Beach access, boat ramps and the signature Mungo Rainforest walk. Tea Gardens / Hawks Nest approach.

  • Best for: First-timers, camping base, Mungo Rainforest walk, lake paddling, beach days, boat-ramp logistics
  • Time: Half to full day for beach + rainforest; overnight or multi-night for camping base
  • From the Pacific Highway (A1) via Tea Gardens Road to Tea Gardens / Hawks Nest, then Mungo Brush Road into the park. Roughly 75–80 km north-east of Newcastle, about 236 km north of Sydney — [VERIFY] live drive times. Unsealed sections can exist on connecting roads; confirm after rain.

Verify conditions on NSW National Parks → · Park alerts

Mungo Brush / Bombah Broadwater lake edge, Myall Lakes National Park

Mungo Brush / Bombah Broadwater

Annette Teng · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Why Mungo Brush is the default first stop

If someone says “we’re doing Myall Lakes,” they often mean Mungo Brush: a large campground on Bombah Broadwater, a boat ramp, beach access over the dunes, and the short Mungo Rainforest walk from the northern end of the campground. It is popular for good reason — and busy for the same reason on school holidays and long weekends.

Treat Mungo as a lake-and-beach base, not a race to tick every headland the same afternoon. One strong rainforest loop, a calm paddle or beach walk, and honest camping logistics beat a multi-precinct death march via the ferry and Seal Rocks before dark.

Traditional Custodians of this Country are the Worimi people. Land is managed by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), with co-management elements involving Karuah and Forster Aboriginal Land Councils as stated on official pages. This site is an unofficial planning guide — live status always lives on nationalparks.nsw.gov.au.

Rainforest, beach and lake edges

The Mungo Rainforest walk is the best short walk: about 1.5 km loop, 15–45 minutes, Grade 3 when open — [VERIFY] live distance, grade and status on the official track page. Start at the northern end of Mungo Brush campground. A side track toward Dees Corner is a separate add-on — confirm campground status on NPWS local alerts (checked 3 Oct 2026) before treating it as open. Expect rare coastal rainforest (plum pine, mock olive, coogera, brush bloodwood character) and good birdwatching.

Mungo Beach is a long open-ocean run — different sport from the calm Broadwater. Unpatrolled; watch rips. Soft sand and heat punish underprepared walkers. The lake edge is better for paddling, fishing (licence required) and family swimming when conditions allow — still check depth and submerged hazards.

You can link onward to Tamboi walking track or the longer Mungo walking track when open and fit. Stay on the track — do not invent off-track shortcuts through dunes or closed areas.

Access, ferry and fees

Most visitors arrive via Tea Gardens / Hawks Nest and Mungo Brush Road. The Bombah Point vehicle ferry is a separate logistics story (cash fee, limited hours, wind closures) — see the Boolambayte / Bombah Point area page and Visit for fee block B. Do not merge ferry cash into “park entry.”

Day vehicle entry is commonly about $8 per vehicle per day at — always [VERIFY]. Pay at the Mungo Brush machine when operating, at the Manning Great Lakes Area Office, or via Park’nPay. Annual passes (All Parks, Multi Parks, Country Parks, Single Country Park — [VERIFY] current prices on pass.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au) do not cover camping.

School holidays and fine weekends fill campgrounds and day-use early. Book camping only on official NPWS channels. Never leave bags visible in cars.

Communications and water

NPWS notes limited mobile phone reception in the park. You need reception to call Triple Zero (000) on a normal mobile. Download the Emergency+ app before you leave town Wi-Fi; use the NSW National Parks app for offline maps where available. Tell someone your plans.

Drinking water is limited or absent at many sites — bring your own. Toilets and BBQs exist at many (not all) campgrounds and picnic areas; mostly non-flush; no showers at basic NPWS sites — [VERIFY] per campground.

Boat ramps in the broader system include Mungo Brush, Korsmans, Violet Hill, Hearts Point and commercial options near NRMA Myall Shores — [VERIFY] live ramp status and park rules.

Highlights at a glance

  • Mungo Brush campground — major NPWS booking node on Bombah Broadwater
  • Mungo Rainforest walk — 1.5 km loop, Grade 3, northern end of campground ([VERIFY])
  • Mungo Beach and long dune coastline
  • Boat ramp and calm-water paddling / fishing logistics
  • Day-use pay machine context for park entry ([VERIFY] fees)
  • Links toward Tamboi walking track and longer Mungo walking track

Practical tips

  • Screenshot NPWS park page, local alerts, entry fee wording and your camp booking while you still have reception.
  • Bring cash and card — pay machines and ferry cash rules differ; have backups ([VERIFY]).
  • Pack water, sun protection, insect repellent and grip footwear even for a “beach only” stop.
  • Decide the main goal: rainforest loop only vs beach day vs paddle vs overnight base.
  • If arriving via Bombah Point ferry, confirm hours and wind status the morning you travel.
  • No dogs. No generators. Pack out rubbish.

Facilities & services

  • Mungo Brush campground — book via NPWS only; not free roadside camping
  • Day-use parking (fills on peak weekends — [VERIFY] capacity)
  • Park entry pay machine when operating ([VERIFY] fees and methods)
  • Boat ramp ([VERIFY] open status)
  • Toilets when provided at day-use / campground ([VERIFY])
  • Beach access over dunes to Mungo Beach
  • Town services in Hawks Nest / Tea Gardens for food and recovery
  • No pets (except certified assistance animals)

Confirm toilets, parking, entry fees and open facilities on the day via official sources and on-site signage.

Walks & lookouts nearby

Grades, times and open/closed status change — open each guide and verify on NSW National Parks before you go.

Mungo Rainforest

easy

Short coastal rainforest loop from the northern end of Mungo Brush campground — plum pine, mock olive and coogera character that feels nothing like an open beach day. Easy logistics once you are already at Bombah Broadwater; still needs park entry, sensible footwear and a check of local alerts.

Grade
Grade 3 — formed track, some uneven sections
Time
15–45 minutes (official) — longer if birding or side tracks
Distance
1.5 km loop (official NPWS)

View guide →

Mungo walking track

hard

Long one-way coastal walk linked to the Mungo Brush system (officially 21 km, Grade 4, 10–12 hours end-to-end). Not the same as the short Mungo Rainforest loop. Plan water, transport at the ends, and verify open sections on NPWS before you commit.

Grade
Grade 4 — long one-way coastal walk (official NPWS)
Time
10–12 hours for the full one-way (official) — most visitors only walk a section
Distance
21 km one-way (official NPWS full track)

View guide →

Tamboi track

moderate

Walking track linking the Mungo Brush system toward the historic fishing village site at Tamboi / Myall River context. Park materials describe an easy walk from the southern end of Mungo Brush through cabbage tree palm forest — still confirm live distance, grade and open status on the official NPWS track page.

Grade
Link track in the Mungo Brush / Myall River system — verify grade on NPWS
Time
Allow 1.5–3 hours return depending on pace and side options [VERIFY]
Distance
About 4 km one-way in park brochure materials [VERIFY live signed distance]

View guide →

All trails

Itineraries that use this area

Full day on the ground (or overnight if camp booked)

Mungo Brush + Rainforest day

One precinct done properly: Bombah Broadwater base, Mungo Rainforest loop, lake edge time, and an honest exit before dark.

2 days

Lakes + beaches weekend

Two-day shape: camp or stay in a gateway town, rainforest and lake on day one, coast or Grandis on day two — leave room for holiday crowds.

Full day

Bombah Point ferry circuit

For drivers who need the ferry: cash ready, wind backup plan, Boolambayte / Bombah Broadwater stops, no overstuffed multi-park day.

Map

Orientation only — confirm trailheads and road status before you drive.

Interactive map — pin may be approximate. Confirm trailheads and road status before you drive.

Open in Google MapsGet directions

FAQ — Mungo Brush

Tap a question to expand the answer.

Is there an entry fee at Mungo Brush?

Park entry fees commonly apply. It is often about $8 per vehicle per day — always [VERIFY] on nationalparks.nsw.gov.au and on-site machines / Park’nPay. Annual passes do not cover camping. This site never affiliates park entry.

Where does the Mungo Rainforest walk start?

At the northern end of Mungo Brush campground on Bombah Broadwater. Commonly 1.5 km loop, 15–45 min, Grade 3 — [VERIFY] live figures and open status on the official NPWS track page.

Can I bring my dog?

No. Pets are not permitted in Myall Lakes National Park except certified assistance animals. Dogs are not permitted on the Bombah Point ferry or on Mungo Brush Road. Leave dogs at suitable accommodation outside the park.

Where should I stay for Mungo Brush?

Hawks Nest and Tea Gardens are the practical village bases. Park camping at Mungo Brush and nearby NPWS sites is bookable via NPWS only. Seal Rocks and Bulahdelah work for multi-precinct trips with extra driving.

Stays & tours near Mungo Brush

Optional next steps after you plan this area — park entry fees and official NPWS camping bookings are never affiliated.

Nearby stays

Tea Gardens (primary) · Hawks Nest · Seal Rocks · Bulahdelah

  • Hotels & stays in Tea GardensSouthern gateway services toward Myall River / Bombah Broadwater
  • Hawks NestClosest village base for Mungo Brush and beach days
  • Seal RocksCoastal base for Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse and headland walks
  • BulahdelahPacific Hwy services hub toward The Grandis
  • Forster / TuncurryLarger shops and beds north of the lake system [VERIFY options]
  • NerongHandy lakeside village base near Boolambayte [VERIFY options]

All Booking.com links open in a new tab and may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Park day use is never affiliated. Official NPWS campgrounds book only via NPWS — never affiliated here.

Guided tours

Optional — Port Stephens / coastal days when you want transport handled

A tour does not replace checking NSW National Parks alerts, weather, tides or beach safety yourself.

Some stay, tour and gear links may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Park entry fees, the Bombah Point ferry, fishing licences and official NPWS camping bookings are never affiliated. Affiliate disclosure · Privacy

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