Discover Tanilba Bay

Tanilba Bay offers visitors two distinct ways to explore the area: the Tanilba Bay Walk and a self-guided walk in Tilligerry Habitat. The walk combines a specific distance with traces of history; at the habitat, visitors receive a map and information about places where koalas may be found. If you’re looking for a hotel in Tanilba Bay, walking, wildlife watching and local history may all factor into your choice of destination.

Tanilba Bay Walk and wildlife watching

The Tanilba Bay Walk is about 3.5 km long and takes approximately 35 to 45 minutes. The distance refers to a one-way route, meaning one direction; the walking time is also an estimate. This gives you a timeframe for the walk and helps you understand the distance as a one-way route rather than a circuit. The natural surroundings limit access for wheelchairs and other mobility aids in some sections. If you rely on such aids, take this section-by-section restriction into account when planning.

At Tilligerry Habitat, you can take a self-guided walk. You’ll receive a map and information about where koalas might be found. The information indicates possible locations; a sighting is not guaranteed. This is the main difference from the Tanilba Bay Walk: its distance and approximate walking time can help with planning, while the habitat’s map and the possibility of koala sightings shape how you find your way. These are two different ways to plan a walk as part of your trip.

Cultural history and buildings

The Worimi, the Traditional Owners of this land, hunted and fished along these shores. Remains of shell middens are still visible there. These traces offer a cultural perspective on Tanilba Bay alongside accounts of early European settlement. At the Photo Shelter, interpretive panels explore Worimi themes; images also show Tanilba House, the Caswell family and the early European settlement of Tanilba Bay.

Another historic detail is the stone fireplaces and seating made from lime-kiln stones. Convicts assigned to Lieutenant William Caswell originally built them around 1831. The lime-kiln stones were used to burn oyster shell middens and make mortar for the construction of Tanilba House. This connects the stones described along the walk with the production of a specific building material. The date of around 1831 refers to the original construction of the fireplaces and seating.

The Temple of the Stork is another historic landmark. The stone-and-shell temple was completed in 1933. The dates refer to different events: around 1831 marks the original construction of the fireplaces and seating, while 1933 marks the completion of the temple. This helps you distinguish between the structures and their individual histories.

Discover more destinations: Luskintyre, Salamander Bay, Belmont, Belford, Nelson Bay, Nulkaba, Cessnock, Adamstown

For the main travel overview: Newcastle.