Hawks Nest, New South Wales

elevation = 10
elevation_footnotes= ref|elevation|Note2
area = 31.4
area_footnotes = ref|area|Note3
timezone = AEST
utc = +10
timezone-dst = AEDT
utc-dst = +11
propval = $487,500 [cite web|url=http://www.domain.com.au/public/suburbprofile.aspx?searchTerm=Hawks+Nest&mode=research#mapanchor|title=Hawks Nest suburb profile @ domain.com.au|publisher=domain.com.au|accessdate=2008-07-09]
dist1 = 218
dir1 = NNE
location1 = Sydney
dist2 = 79
dir2 = NE
location2 = Newcastle
dist3 = 109
dir3 = SSW
location3 = Forster
dist4 = 2
dir4 = ENE
location4 = Tea Gardens
lga = Great Lakes Councilcite web|url=http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/dlg/dlghome/dlg_Regions.asp?regiontype=2&slacode=3400&region=HT|title=Suburb Search - Local Council Boundaries - Hunter (HT) - Great Lakes Council|publisher=New South Wales Department of Local Government|accessdate=2008-07-09]
region = Hunter, Mid North Coast
county = Gloucestercite web|url=http://www.gnb.nsw.gov.au/name_search/extract?id=MaIOlMsyTR|title=Geographical Names Register Extract: Hawks Nest|work=Geographical Names Register (GNR) of NSW|publisher=Geographical Names Board of New South Wales|accessdate=2008-07-09]
parish = Fens
stategov = Port Stephens [Cite web |url=http://www.elections.nsw.gov.au/state_government_elections/electoral_districts/all_districts_/port_stephens|title=Port Stephens|publisher=New South Wales Electoral Commission|date=2007-03-24|accessdate=2008-07-09]
fedgov = Paterson [Cite web|url=http://apps.aec.gov.au/esearch/LocalitySearchResults.aspx?filter=Paterson&filterby=Electorate|title=Paterson |publisher=Australian Electoral Commission|date=2007-10-19|accessdate=2008-07-09]
maxtemp = 27.3
mintemp = 8.4
rainfall = 1348.9
near-n = Nerong
near-ne = Mungo Brush,
near-e = "Tasman Sea"
near-se = "Tasman Sea"
near-s = "Port Stephens"
near-sw = "Port Stephens"
near-w = Tea Gardens
near-nw = Nerong, Tea Gardens

Hawks Nest is a suburb of the Great Lakes Council Local Government Area in the Hunter and Mid North Coast regions of New South Wales, Australia, located north of Port Stephens between the Tasman Sea and the Myall River.DoL suburb image|name=Hawks Nest|codename=Hawks%20Nest|accessdate=2008-07-09] It was named after a large hawk's nest in a tree on the Myall River that was used as a navigational aid.

Geography

Hawks Nest is a long (Convert|16.5|km|mi|lk=on), thin (typically Convert|1.7|km|mi|abbr=on), coastal suburb running northeast to southwest. The suburb is about Convert|220|km|mi|0|abbr=on north of Sydney, Convert|12|km|mi|abbr=on) from the Pacific Highway. It is bordered by the Tasman Sea to the east, the Myall River to the west and Port Stephens to the south. It includes Yacaba, the northern headland of Port Stephens, which rises to Convert|210|m|ft|lk=on above mean sea level. However, the rest of the suburb is generally low, flat, sandy and covered in coastal scrubland, with some bushland, resulting in the northern part of the suburb being accessible only by four-wheel drive vehicles until the 1980s.Distance and elevation measurements from 1:100000 maps 9232 NEWCASTLE and 9332 PORT STEPHENS]

Hawks Nest is located directly across the river from Tea Gardens and was connected by 'The Singing Bridge' in the 1970s. Before this the river crossing was made by a small car ferry. Most (approximately 95%) of the suburb is still uninhabited with the population concentrated around the Hawks Nest township, on the Myall River and Winda Woppa on Port Stephens.

Demographics

At the 2006 census, Hawks Nest had a population of 1,027 living in the southern part of the suburb. While nearby Tea Gardens is primarily a residential and commercial area, Hawks Nest tends to be dominated by holiday rentals and caravan parks which causes the population to vary considerably with the influx of tourists.

Tourism

"Jimmy's Beach" and the Tasman Sea on the east ("Bennett's Beach" or Ocean Beach, as it is commonly referred to) are popular resorts. The Myall Lakes are a short drive north. Hawks Nest has many shops and cafes catering to the tourist trade and, with its sandy beaches and bush walks, proximity to Sydney, and much greater seclusion than suburbs on the southern shores of Port Stephens, it is a popular weekend getaway for Sydneysiders. Hawks Nest was well known as the location of holiday retreats belonging to then Prime Minister John Howard until, in 1998, he decided to abandon his family's regular holiday spot of 20 years due to alleged media harassment. [Cite web|url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22974855-2702,00.html|title=Howard ponders holiday return|author=Nicola Berkovic|publisher=The Australian|date=2007-12-27|accessdate=2008-09-13]

The local golf course was designed by Matt Lauder, a professional golfer and nephew of the famed Sir Harry Lauder. ["NOTA" Myall Lakes (monthly) local newspaper, September 1978, feature front-page article] ["Newcastle Morning Herald", 5th January 1937, reported that the previous day Sir Harry Lauder had visited the golf links at Newcastle to see his nephew Mr.Matt Lauder, a professional.]

Popular holiday activities in the area include:

* Swimming, snorkelling and diving
* Golfing
* Bush walking
* Dolphin and whale spotting
* Four-wheel driving
* Caravaning
* Fishing

Animals such as koalas, dingoes and dolphins may be found in the area.

Notes

# The density figure presented is that of the entire suburb. The population density in the inhabited portion is approximately Pop density km2 to mi2|685|spell=Commonwealth|precision=1|wiki=yes.
# Average elevation of the suburb as shown on 1:100000 map 9332 PORT STEPHENS.
# Area calculation is based on 1:100000 map 9332 PORT STEPHENS.

References

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External links

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