Stories & local guides
Tea Gardens, up close
Slow mornings on the Myall, hikes that nobody wanted to do, the small rituals of a place that rewards paying attention. Stories from the water and the bush around Drift.
Local guide · October long weekend 2026
Rain or shine on the Myall
Very little rain forecast and plenty to do: dunes, dolphins, live music and the grand final. Everything on in Tea Gardens and Hawks Nest this long weekend, plus the wildlife to look out for and where to book dinner.
On the water · Myall Lakes to Tea Gardens
Down the river in a tinny
Load the boat the night before. Put in at the lakes when the water's the colour of strong tea, drift through the paperbarks, and let the whole day come apart slowly on the way down to Tea Gardens.
On foot · Mount Yacaaba, Hawks Nest
Nobody wants to climb Yacaaba. Do it anyway.
A pre-dawn family hike, announced at dinner to maximum objection. The alarm goes at five-thirty — a twenty-to-thirty-minute beach walk, a steep climb through the gums, and a view that keeps the phones in pockets.