Based in the wrong village: why Nelson Bay vs Anna Bay changes your Coastal Walk day
Nelson Bay / Shoal Bay puts you at the Tomaree Head start. Anna Bay / Birubi puts you at the finish. Pick the base to match the one-way, or you will pay for it in taxis.
By Ian Piggott · Farming Domains · Unofficial guide · ~9 min read
Updated · re-check NSW National Parks before travel
Best for: People booking a bed before they understand the 27 km one-way
Unofficial guide — always verify track conditions, closures, fees and safety with NSW National Parks. Place photos are Wikimedia Commons / CC where credited — not official NPWS imagery and not live conditions.
Some stay, tour and gear links may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Park fees and NSW National Parks bookings are never affiliated.
Booking “Port Stephens” without picking a village is how you end a 18 km Day 1 at One Mile with your car at Birubi and your toothbrush at Shoal Bay. The walk is one-way. Your bed should match the end you care about — or you need a shuffle.
If the summit is the point
Stay Shoal Bay or Nelson Bay. Walk to Zenith in the morning if you can. Nelson Bay is the last-town services story: fuel, supermarket, medical. Shoal Bay is closer to the stairs.
If you are walking south to Birubi
Leave a car at Anna Bay / Birubi or confirm Route 130. Staying in Anna Bay the night you finish is the easy option. Staying in Nelson Bay with no return plan usually means a taxi.
One Mile as the hinge
Official Day 1 ends around One Mile. Village holiday parks (commercial, not NPWS Samurai) make sense if you are splitting the walk. Samurai itself is 4WD, unpowered, no facilities, $6 booking fee (official page 26 Aug 2026), clothing-optional — official only, never affiliated.
FAQ
Tap a question to expand the answer.
Is Fingal Bay a good base?
Yes for a quieter village and a flagged swim. It is a mid-walk bail-out, not the official start or finish.
Can Route 130 replace a car shuffle?
It is the published public-transport spine with stops at Shoal Bay, Nelson Bay, Fingal, One Mile, Boat Harbour, Birubi and Anna Bay. Confirm the day’s timetable. Do not assume a late Sunday service.
More articles
- Zenith Beach car park full: where to start Tomaree Head without the circus
Plan B when Zenith Beach upper and lower car parks are full — Shoal Bay Road overflow, Fingal start, or skip the summit. Not illegal parking.
- Day-tripping the full 27 km Tomaree Coastal Walk is usually a bad idea — here’s the realistic cut
Official timing is 2–3 days. Day 1 alone is ~18 km and 7–8 hours. Why trying the whole 27 km after a Sydney dawn start usually fails, and which shorter cuts still count as a win.
- First time at Tomaree Head: Grade 5 is not a lookout stroll
What a first Tomaree National Park visit should actually include — summit logistics, Fort Tomaree substitute, and what to skip.
- Whale watching from Tomaree lookouts (May–November)
Land-based whale watching from Tomaree Head, Fishermans Bay, Iris Moore, Boat Harbour, Birubi and Barry Park — official season window, no guaranteed sightings.
- Samurai Beach camping: 4WD, $6 booking fee, no facilities — do not treat it like a holiday park
The only NPWS campground in Tomaree National Park: 4WD access, no camping fee, $6 booking fee, clothing-optional zoning, portable toilet required. Official bookings only — never affiliated.
- Skip the Grade 5 summit: Fort Tomaree and lookouts that still count
Fort Tomaree is the official Grade 3 heritage walk on the same precinct. Iris Moore and Fishermans Bay cover whales without 161 m of stairs. Skipping the summit is not a failed Tomaree day.
Free day-trip checklist
Printable packing, order of stops and official NPWS links — free direct download, no email required.
- Before-you-leave packing ticks
- Half-day Tomaree Head / Zenith timeline
- What to skip when time or weather fails
- Official NPWS links to verify conditions
Free direct download — no email required. Also available anytime from Maps & resources · Itineraries · practical planner PDF · Privacy.
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Stays after you plan
Optional only — after the guide and official resources. Park fees and official NPWS bookings are never affiliated.
Nearby stays
Nelson Bay (primary) · Shoal Bay · Anna Bay
- Hotels & stays in Nelson BayMain services hub — closest supermarket/medical density
- Shoal BayWalkable to Tomaree Head / Zenith trailheads
- Anna BayCoastal Walk finish / Birubi Point / dunes add-on
- Fingal BayQuieter village-edge — spit is boat-only, not a walk
All Booking.com links open in a new tab and may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Official NPWS camping bookings are never affiliated.
Some stay, tour and gear links may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Park fees and NSW National Parks bookings are never affiliated. Affiliate disclosure · Privacy