Kylies Hut
Crowdy Bay National Park
Overview
Visit Kylies Hut along Metcalfes walking track in Crowdy Bay National Park, near Port Macquarie. The historic hut was used as a writer’s retreat by award-winning Australian novelist Kylie Tennant.
- Type
- Historic buildings/places
- Where
- Crowdy Bay National Park in North Coast
- Accessibility
- No wheelchair access
- Entry fees
- Park entry fees apply
- What to
bring - Drinking water, hat, sunscreen, sturdy shoes, suitable clothing
- Please note
- Kylies Hut burnt down in the 2019–2020 bushfires and only the foundations remain. The hut will be rebuilt in 2021.
- Eastern grey kangaroos live in this area of the park. They’re powerful animals, so please appreciate them from a distance.
While enjoying a day trip or overnight stay in Crowdy Bay National Park, Kylies Hut is well worth a visit. Set in a shady glen surrounded by coastal forest, you’ll pass paperbarks and sheoaks along Metcalfes walking track on your way to the hut.
Local farmer Ernie Metcalfe built the rustic hut for the novelist and journalist Kylie Tennant in the late 1960s. With a single room, verandah and stone fireplace, its appearance harked back to a time when Crowdy Bay was wild coastal heathland and swamp. It was during Kylie’s time here that she wrote The Man on the Headland, a novel influenced by her years spent living in the natural beauty of Crowdy Bay.
Sadly, the original hut was destroyed in the 2019-20 bushfires that burned through much of the area. It’s being reconstructed to preserve this important piece of history.
After you’ve explored the hut and surrounds, there’s plenty to see and do nearby. Picnic in the shade of the paperbarks or take a dip at Kylies Beach.
Nearby
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Metcalfes walking track
Get up close with nature on Metcalfes walking track, which links Indian Head and Kylies Beach in Crowdy Bay National Park. It's a family friendly hike and the kids might even spot a koala.
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Indian Head campground
Indian Head campground near Port Macquarie is great place to set up your campsite. There are plenty of walking opportunities, resident kangaroos and the beach is nearby.
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Kylies Beach campground
Kylies Beach campground in Crowdy Bay National Park on the north coast offers quiet beachside campsites for caravans, trailers and tents.
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Diamond Head campground
The beachside campground at Diamond Head is one of the most popular places to stay in Crowdy Bay National Park. It has caravan sites, additional walk-in campsites and picnic amenities.
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General enquiries
- National Parks Contact Centre
- 7am to 7pm daily
- 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS) for the cost of a local call within Australia excluding mobiles
- parks.info@environment.nsw.gov.au
Operated by
- Port Macquarie office
- Monday to Friday, 9am to 4.30pm.
- 02 6588 5555 for general enquiries only, no bookings.
- npws.hastingsmacleay@environment.nsw.gov.au
- 22 Blackbutt Road, Port Macquarie NSW 2444
Park info
- in Crowdy Bay National Park in the North Coast region
Crowdy Bay National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
-
Park entry fees:
$8 per vehicle per day.
Buy annual pass