Mungo Brush is the perfect place to get away from it all. With a breathtaking beach (which is a staggering 17km long), pristine lake, rainforest and even some picturesque sand dunes, there’s enough to keep you busy for an entire weekend or even longer.
The first time we visited, the road into Mungo Brush was just a dirt track, and it felt like a bit of a hidden gem. Today the road is fully sealed and the secret about this beautiful unspoilt place in Myall Lakes National Park is definitely out. That doesn’t mean it feels crowded though, there’s more than enough space for everyone.
Here’s exactly what to expect on a trip to Mungo Brush and the best things to do in the area.
Amazing things to do at Mungo Brush
Hit the spectacular 17km long beach
In an area blessed with stunning beaches, Mungo Beach still stands out. Fringed by untouched bushland, the beach is wild and feels a million miles away from civilisation (a recurring theme in this area).
There are multiple entry points to the beach, including directly from the Banksia Green campsite but our favourite way to access it is via the short walk opposite the Mungo Brush campground.
The trail is just a few minutes long and takes you through the bush and over the dunes to a beautiful spot on the beach where virtually no one else ever seems to go!
Given it’s 17km long, even if you got unlucky and there were people around, there’s plenty of space to move up the beach and get your own little piece of paradise.
The water is clear and inviting, but the waves can be fairly large, so it’s best to stick to the shallows or go for a dip near Dark Point where it’s a little more protected.
The only downside to this beach are that people can drive along the length of it, we’ve only encountered it once, but as it’s not a wide beach we had to move out of the way, and it did spoil the serenity a bit.
Learn cultural history and scale epic sand dunes at Dark Point Aboriginal Place
The trail to Dark Point Aboriginal Place feels like you’re Indiana Jones hiking through the desert to find ancient treasures.
The 2.4km return walk heads straight onto some pristine sand dunes, with no markers or trails other than the footprints of those who came before you (and they are generally few and far between, it’s not like Anna Bay!).
The dunes are incredible and stretch all the way to the sea. You head left to see the Aboriginal site and the headland, or right to play in the dunes.
Dark Point is where the Worimi people would meet during April and May when huge numbers of fish would run along the coast.
It’s now a protected site which is fenced off to preserve the artefacts that have been found there.
In that regard you can’t see much, but we still enjoyed reading about its significance and just having the opportunity to experience such a beautiful spot.
You can finish up the walk at the beach with a paddle in the crystal clear water, whilst looking out to Broughton Island. The small headland seems to offer some protection here and the waves aren’t as big as further down the beach.
It’s also a popular spot with fishermen who clamber along the rocks, but we just enjoyed the beautiful views and peaceful vibe.
Dine at the most spectacular picnic spot
There are picnic spots all over Mungo Brush, including lots of secluded options, but our favourite - if you can snag it - was the one solitary picnic bench at the Hole in the Wall picnic area.
The view is incredible from here and as beach access from this point has now been closed, there was no one on the beach below the lookout.
You can see directly over to Broughton Island and up and down the length of the beach.
Explore an ancient rainforest
If you’ve had your fix of beautiful beaches, then head to the Mungo Brush campground for a real treat.
Here you’ll find the Mungo Rainforest Track, which is an absolute delight. This easy 1.7km loop walk takes you around a spectacular patch of rainforest, dense with Cabbage tree palms and hanging vines.
It might be right beside the main campground, but almost as soon as you set foot in the forest the din melts away. You’re left only with the sounds of the birds and the odd palm frond cracking as it falls from the canopy. It’s a very atmospheric track.
We’re pretty sure we also found dingo tracks, although we sadly didn’t see the animal itself.
You get the odd glimpse of the lake through the trees and can access the lake shore itself for a paddle, which is really refreshing on a hot day.
Walk to a picturesque fishing village
If you only have time for one walk, make it the rainforest track. But if you can squeeze in another, you can visit the Tamboi fishing village.
The walk is 3km each way and it’s entirely flat, making for a truly relaxing stroll. It’s on fire trail, but the forest on either side is dense and very pretty. It doesn’t feel like your average fire trail (which we’re generally not big fans of).
One of our favourite things about the track was being constantly serenaded by the Whistling kites who were flying overhead - we hadn’t heard them since visiting Kakadu years earlier and it really took us back there. They make such an amazing sound!
After 3km you’ll arrive at the lake shore which has an unusual colour at the edges, almost like tea, which I assume is from tannins.
The village itself is actually across the water and looks like a pretty idyllic existence. You could go for a dip in the lake from here, we liked the area just beyond the heli pad (which is just a patch of grass) best.
There used to be signs about dingoes at the start of this walk, but I didn’t see them on our most recent visit, so maybe they aren’t seen very often anymore.
It’s worth keeping an eye out in case you get lucky though!
The campsites
There are several campsites around Mungo Brush but the ones we saw personally, which I think are the most popular ones, are Mungo Brush and Banksia Green.
Banksia Green has direct beach access and is a much smaller, more intimate campsite with just 15 sites.
We’d personally opt for this one because it’s so much smaller than Mungo Brush and therefore hopefully quieter!
Mungo Brush is much larger with 78 sites and is right beside the lake, and a short walk to the beach. Both the Mungo Rainforest Track and Tamboi Village Track leave from this campground.
The campground is large so it doesn’t feel like you’re all on top of each other, but it does have a much busier feel than Banksia.
Getting to Mungo Brush
Mungo Brush is 250km from Sydney, roughly a 3 hour 15 minute drive. The road is now fully sealed and you do not need a 4WD unless you want to drive on the beach itself.
Dark Point is roughly 15 minutes from Hawks Nest in Port Stephens and Mungo Brush campground is roughly 30 minutes away.
Where to stay if you don’t want to camp
If you’re not a fan of camping you can stay in the lovely villages of Hawks Nest or Tea Gardens, which are just 15 minutes from Dark Point. We love both areas and have visited many times.
Tea Gardens (a 10 minute drive from Hawks Nest) has some fab cafes and a couple of restaurants as well as a big Coles if you need provisions.
Hawks Nest Motel
We’ve stayed at this motel many times and it’s a great option for a budget trip. The rooms are always clean and there’s an electric frypan to cook basic meals. The location is great and there’s even a pool.
Check out the reviews and prices on Booking.com
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Have you visited Mungo Brush before? Anything we’ve missed for our next trip? Let us know in the comments below!
