Built in 1875, this restored lighthouse now hosts a small maritime museum with displays on the history of the building and the area's coast guard patrol. You can also visit the working Coastal Patrol radio base, staffed by volunteers; be sure to plan to visit in time for a light lunch or cuppa at the wonderful cafe with sweeping views.
Nelson Head Lighthouse Cottage
Mid-North Coast
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
10.17 MILES
Located at Stockton Bight, these are the longest moving sand dunes in the southern hemisphere, stretching more than 35km. Thanks to the generosity of the…
26.48 MILES
Surfers and swimmers adore this picturesque patrolled beach at the eastern end of the town centre. Nearby accommodation and eating options mean that you…
15.69 MILES
What began its life as a humble petting zoo with a handful of farm animals in 1979 has grown into one of Australia's finest family-owned-and-operated…
27.15 MILES
Ignore the brutalist exterior, as inside this remarkable regional gallery are some wonderful works. There's no permanent exhibition; displays rotate the…
27.07 MILES
This attractive museum in the restored Honeysuckle rail workshops tells a tale of the city from its Indigenous Awabakal origins to its rough-and-tumble…
28.84 MILES
Incorporates a patchwork of lakes, islands, dense littoral rainforest and beaches.
28.69 MILES
South of the city centre, this magnificent, wide stretch of sand has excellent surfing conditions and is the home strand of the legendary Aussie surfer…
28.77 MILES
Not an aquarium in the traditional sense, this pedestrian underpass has been charmingly transformed into a pop-art underwater world by local artist Trevor…
Nearby Mid-North Coast attractions
2.33 MILES
Blinding white sand and glassy water faces out to Nelson Bay at this tranquil sheltered beach. Great for kids.
2.71 MILES
This wonderfully wild expanse offers beautiful hiking in an area that can feel far more remote than it actually is. The park harbours angophora forests…
2.88 MILES
This beautiful long and secluded stretch of beach is perfect for romantic walks and dolphin spotting.
4. Dark Point Aboriginal Place
9.78 MILES
On a rocky headland in the southern part of Myall Lakes National Park near Hawks Nest, Dark Point was an important gathering place for the Worimi people…
10.17 MILES
Located at Stockton Bight, these are the longest moving sand dunes in the southern hemisphere, stretching more than 35km. Thanks to the generosity of the…
11.12 MILES
This island is uninhabited except for muttonbirds and little penguins, and its surrounding waters are home to an enormous diversity of fish. The diving is…
15.69 MILES
What began its life as a humble petting zoo with a handful of farm animals in 1979 has grown into one of Australia's finest family-owned-and-operated…
25.54 MILES
Originally an island, this headland at the entrance to Newcastle Harbour was joined to the mainland by a stone breakwater built by convicts between 1818…