History - The area was occupied by the Worimi Aborigines prior to White settlement.
Captain James Cook originally named Cape Hawke and Port Stephens when he sailed along the coastline in 1770. In 1816 permission was granted for cedar to be removed from the Great Lakes district. The cedar cutters, mostly assigned convicts, moved along the waterways in the early 1800's.
The first land grant in the Tea Gardens/Hawks Nest area occurred in 1865 at Hawks Nest. This settlement was named after a large tree, which was a favorite nesting place for hawks and used as a navigational marker.
Tea Gardens, originally called The Tea Gardens, was part of the Australian Agricultural Company's grant. The origin of the name is uncertain, but it is possible that it was named after the Company's unsuccessful attempts to grow tea there, or after the many Teatrees in the area.
The site of Limekilns Point was once used for the burning of shells from Aboriginal middens.
Flora and Fauna – Between the sea and the trees, Limekilns Point offers both a forest and water community of native creatures, fish and birds.
Pelicans, dolphins, and whales frequently glide by on the waters of Port Stephens.
Whilst the ambient sounds of the Willie Wagtails and Whistling Kites create a bush symphony in the neighbouring Paperbark forest.
Say hello to the Wallabies, Kangaroos, Possums, Koalas and Bandicoots as they appear quietly at sunrise and sunset – watch out for the rare Pied Oystercatchers and the two magnificent Ospreys that nest locally.
Exploring – Try Hunter Valley day trips to track down a case of your favourite chardonnay, Theatre productions in Newcastle, 4WD picnics while beach fishing. So many places are just a stones throw away.
Eating Out – The nearby towns of Tea Gardens and Hawks Nest both offer a variety of dining experiences. Mumms on the Myall offers superb seafood on the riverfront, Nicole’s Art Gallery and café has modern contemporary cuisine in a garden setting and a great steak can always be discovered at the Tea Gardens Hotel. Treat yourself to takeaway fish and chips and sit and watch a pod of dolphins swim lazily up the Myall River.
Recreation - The Myall Coast has seemingly endless pristine beaches with the whitest sand, and hundreds of kilometers of waterways, lakes and national parks.
Enjoy cruising, sailing, fishing, 4WD beachcombing, dolphin watching, kayaking, bushwalking, nature watching, surfing, swimming or just lulling about.
Transport – By land, sea or air, access to Limekilns Point gets easier everyday. The dual carriageway extension of the freeway from Sydney and Newcastle has now passed the Tea Gardens turn off (bypassing both Raymond Terrace and Karuah). Tea Gardens is an easy day trip (under 2 hours north of Wahroonga) for friends and family.
Ferry services operate regularly between Tea Gardens and Nelson Bay, with links to other waterfront towns.
Flights from major centers such as the Gold Coast, Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and many regional airports are easily accessible from the recently upgraded Newcastle Airport. - An easy 50-minute drive from Limekilns Point.