Myall Lakes
Encyclopedia
The Myall Lakes are a series of fresh water lakes on the mid-north coast of New South Wales
, Australia
in Great Lakes Council. The lakes are adjacent to the coast about 250 kilometres (155 mi) north of Sydney
.
There are three Myall Lakes, called Myall Lake, Boolambyte Lake and The Broadwater. Smiths Lake is close to the northern Myall Lake, but is not connected. The lakes are partially interconnected and navigable by small craft. The Myall River
flows into the western side of The Broadwater. The Myall River also flows out of The Broadwater and meanders southwest where it empties into Port Stephens
between the towns of Tea Gardens
and Hawks Nest
. The lower Myall River progressively becomes saltier and more tidal as it flows southwards.
Most of the Myall Lakes are surrounded by the Myall Lakes National Park
. National Parks and Wildlife Service
operate a car ferry across the lake at Bombah Point
. The area between the lakes and the sea is mainly uninhabited coastal woodlands and long isolated beaches although some of it was mined for heavy mineral sands before the 1970s. The village of Bungwahl
is located on the northern shore of Myall Lake. There are a number of small islands in the lakes.
At the northern end of Myall Lake lies Mayers Point. This was the centre of a timber industry established by Allen Taylor and Company Limited. To assist in the transport of the logs from the forests to the lake, an extensive light railway system was constructed.
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in Great Lakes Council. The lakes are adjacent to the coast about 250 kilometres (155 mi) north of Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
.
There are three Myall Lakes, called Myall Lake, Boolambyte Lake and The Broadwater. Smiths Lake is close to the northern Myall Lake, but is not connected. The lakes are partially interconnected and navigable by small craft. The Myall River
Myall River
The Myall River is a river on the mid-North Coast of the Australian state of New South Wales that empties into Port Stephens, near its mouth with the Tasman Sea.As well as flowing into the Myall Lakes, a number of important settlements exist on the river:...
flows into the western side of The Broadwater. The Myall River also flows out of The Broadwater and meanders southwest where it empties into Port Stephens
Port Stephens
Port Stephens is a large natural harbour located about north-east of Sydney in New South Wales, Australia. It lies wholly within the Port Stephens Local Government Area although its northern shoreline forms the boundary between the Port Stephens and Great Lakes LGAs...
between the towns of Tea Gardens
Tea Gardens, New South Wales
Tea Gardens is a locality in the Great Lakes Council Local Government Area, located near the southern extremity of the Mid North Coast and the northern extremity of the Hunter Region in New South Wales, Australia....
and Hawks Nest
Hawks Nest, New South Wales
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...
. The lower Myall River progressively becomes saltier and more tidal as it flows southwards.
Most of the Myall Lakes are surrounded by the Myall Lakes National Park
Myall Lakes National Park
Myall Lakes National Park is a national park in New South Wales, Australia, northeast of Sydney. It surrounds the scenic Myall Lakes, and includes Broughton Island.-See also:* Protected areas of New South Wales...
. National Parks and Wildlife Service
National Parks and Wildlife Service (New South Wales)
The National Parks and Wildlife Service is part of the Office of Environment and Heritage - the main government conservation agency in New South Wales, Australia....
operate a car ferry across the lake at Bombah Point
Bombah Point
Bombah Point is in Myall Lakes National Park on the mid north coast of New South Wales, . Traditionally aboriginal groups would use this, the narrowest crossing point on the 4 lake system, to move from summer hunting grounds in the hills towards Barrington Tops to winter grounds on the coast.Harry...
. The area between the lakes and the sea is mainly uninhabited coastal woodlands and long isolated beaches although some of it was mined for heavy mineral sands before the 1970s. The village of Bungwahl
Bungwahl, New South Wales
Bungwahl is a small town in the Australian state of New South Wales, near Myall Lakes. It is close to lakes and beaches and contains the turnoff to Seal Rocks which gives access to the lakes such as Nerani, Stewarts Wharf, The Hearts and various camping sites around the lakes....
is located on the northern shore of Myall Lake. There are a number of small islands in the lakes.
At the northern end of Myall Lake lies Mayers Point. This was the centre of a timber industry established by Allen Taylor and Company Limited. To assist in the transport of the logs from the forests to the lake, an extensive light railway system was constructed.