Visit Bennetts Beach in Hawks Nest

Last updated: March 15, 2022

Bennetts Beach is a beautiful 14 km long strip of white sand on the Myall Coast in Hawks Nest, just north of the Yacaaba Headland.

Popular with surfers, swimmers and sunbathers, the beach sits between Seal Rocks in the north and Yacaaba Headland in the south.

Read on, and find out how best to get there, where to park your car, and how to walk to Yacaaba Head from the beach.

Bennetts Beach in Hawks Nest is very easily accessible. The best option is to find parking close to the SLSC on Beach Road where the beach is patrolled during the summer months.

From the Pacific Highway, follow Myall Way heading towards Tea Gardens, followed by Hawks Nest.

Head towards the Tea Gardens Hawks Nest Surf Life Saving Club on Beach Road which has (limited) car parking facilities (see map location).

Alternatively, there is lots of free street parking available nearby.

Also known as Hawks Nest Beach, Bennetts Beach is a scenic 14.3 km long strip of sand on the Myall Coast.

The beach is a very popular weekend destination for both locals and tourists, with great swimming and surfing conditions.

The southern end of Bennetts Beach is usually the busiest part of the beach, as that’s where the local Surf Life Saving Club, Tea Gardens Hawks Nest SLSC, is located.

There are also a few cafes and restaurants in the area where you can go for a lunch stop or a refreshing coffee.

Dogs can go off leash a few kilometres north of Sanderling Avenue, and further south towards Yacaaba Headland.

If you want to go swimming, it’s important to always follow the instructions provided by the SLSC, as Bennetts Beach can be quite hazardous at times.

Especially on windy days, the ocean water can be rough with strong waves and rips. Bennetts Beach is patrolled during the swimming season from October to April.

Hawks Nest is also reasonably popular with surfers. Some good surf spots are south of the SLSC and further north towards Dark Point.

Certain parts of Bennetts Beach are accessible to 4WD vehicles. Follow Mungo Brush Rd towards Dark Point and you will find a few signed 4WD tracks that lead to the beach.

If you’re feeling energetic and adventurous, why not venture south and explore the Yacaaba Headland, also known as the Yakaba Headland.

The challenging 7 km return walking trail to the headland starts at the southern end of Bennetts Beach and goes all the way to the summit of Mount Yacaaba.

The panoramic views from the peak are amazing, and on a clear day can reach as far as the Barrington Tops National Park.