Birubi Point Aboriginal Place
Tomaree National Park
Overview
Learn more about the culture of the Worimi People at Birubi Point Aboriginal Place in Tomaree National Park, near Anna Bay. Hear Worimi artist, Gerard Black, discuss his artwork titled Matjarr nguka biinba.
- Type
- Aboriginal sites
- Where
- Pacific Avenue, Anna Bay, NSW, 2316 - in Tomaree National Park in North Coast
- Accessibility
- Easy
- Time suggested
- 30min
- Grade
- Easy
- What to
bring - Drinking water, hat, sunscreen
Birubi Point Aboriginal Place is at the southern end of Tomaree Coastal Walk near Anna Bay.
It’s a significant place to reflect on the strong cultural connection that the Worimi People have with this land as its Traditional Custodians for tens of thousands of years. Its legal declaration as an ‘Aboriginal Place’ demonstrates its significance to the Worimi People and their culture.
Birubi means ‘Place of the Southern Cross’ and one of the special characteristics of Birubi Point is the expansive view it offers of the sea and sky, including the Southern Cross.
You can learn more about ‘Tomaree’, which means ‘Place of the rainbow’ in Gathang language, and discover the meaning behind the cultural artwork here, created by Worimi man Gerard Black, inviting you on a journey. The artwork itself is orientated to the actual landmarks, including Mount Tomaree. ‘Tomaree’ is the English equivalent of the Gathang word ‘Dhurrumiri’ which sounds almost identical.
Relax on the seating platforms and turn your attention to the ocean to spot dolphins or sea eagles. Between May and November you might also see migrating humpback whales.
To the south, cast your gaze over the magnificent Worimi Conservation Lands, the largest moving coastal sand dunes in the southern hemisphere. The impressive golden arc of Stockton Beach runs for 32km before it reaches the edge of Newcastle. There’s truly nowhere else like this.
To explore Worimi Conservation Lands further, you can try sandboarding, 4WD tours, camel rides, and quad bikes.
Also see
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Birubi storytelling: Matjarr nguka biinba
A place of significance for Worimi People, Birubi Point is a declared Aboriginal Place. Listen to Worimi artist Gerard Black describing the meaning in his artwork through our video and audio stories.
-
Birubi Point to One Mile Beach walking track
This 7.5 km one-way walk from Birubi Point to One Mile Beach offers ocean views and Aboriginal culture. Located in Tomaree National Park near Port Stephens, it winds through several coastal villages with convenient facilities.
Map
Map legend
Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/aboriginal-sites/birubi-point-aboriginal-place/local-alerts
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
Park info
- in Tomaree National Park in the North Coast region
Tomaree National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Birubi Point Aboriginal Place.
Getting there and parking
Birubi Point Aboriginal Place is in Tomaree National Park, near Anna Bay. To get there:
- Take the Anna Bay turn off from Nelson Bay Road
- Drive along Gan Gan Road for about 2 km
- Take right turn at Morna Point Road to the end of street
- Turn right into Ocean Avenue then left to Pacific Avenue car park
To park at Robinson Reserve instead:
- Take right turn at Morna Point Road to the end of street
- Take the Anna Bay turn off from Nelson Bay Road
- Drive along Gan Gan Road for about 2 km
- Turn right into Campbell Avenue, and follow this to the end as it becomes Robinson Street
Road quality
- Sealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles
Weather restrictions
- All weather
Parking
- Parking is available at nearby Robinson Reserve car park which also has several accessible parking spaces.
- Limited parking is also available at Pacific Avenue car park.
By bike
Check out the Bicycle information for NSW website for more information
By public transport
Port Stephens Coaches run buses to Anna Bay. Visit the Transport NSW website for trip planning.
Facilities
Carpark
Parking is available at nearby Robinson Reserve car park which also has several accessible parking spaces.
Parking is available at Pacific Avenue car park, about 200m away on Ocean Street.
Step-free access
- Step-free outdoor pathways
Seats and resting points
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - easy
There are several designated accessible car spots closer to the lookout.
Access to the top lookout is across a wide, paved area. There is step-free pedestrian path from Pacific Avenue and Robinsons Reserve car parks.
Easy access is free of obstacles such as steps, rough terrain or significant slopes, and may have ramps or boardwalks.
Prohibited
Pets
Pets and domestic animals (other than certified assistance animals) are not permitted. Find out which regional parks allow dog walking and see the pets in parks policy for more information.
Smoking
NSW national parks are no smoking areas.
Learn more
Birubi Point Aboriginal Place is in Tomaree National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
Aboriginal heritage
Tomaree National Park is the traditional land of Worimi People and provided a range of resources, including food, medicines and shelter. The ancient landscape of the park is part of the cultural knowledge and 'Dreaming' stories of the Worimi People and remains an important Aboriginal place today. The south end of the park includes Birubi Point, a declared Aboriginal Place. A walk along the beaches of Tomaree National Park are a walk along ancient travel routes used by Worimi to travel north and south through their Country.
- Aboriginal culture Bring your students to this unique excursion in Tomaree National Park, near Port Stephens. They’ll experience the park through the eyes of an Aboriginal person on this Stage 2 (Years 3-4) Aboriginal culture Geography excursion.
- Birubi Point Aboriginal Place Learn more about the culture of the Worimi People at Birubi Point Aboriginal Place in Tomaree National Park, near Anna Bay. Hear Worimi artist, Gerard Black, discuss his artwork titled Matjarr nguka biinba.
- Birubi Point to One Mile Beach walking track This 7.5 km one-way walk from Birubi Point to One Mile Beach offers ocean views and Aboriginal culture. Located in Tomaree National Park near Port Stephens, it winds through several coastal villages with convenient facilities.
- Junior ranger: Tomaree coastal adventure tour Be guided by a NPWS Discovery ranger on this bush to beach adventure in Tomaree National Park.
- Ocean rockpool nature tour: Tomaree Discover the amazing world of rockpools along the rocky shores of Fishermans Bay on the Tomaree National Park coastline. See what you can find below the surface, not far from Nelson Bay.
Birdlife and koala country
The park's beaches and rocks support sooty oystercatchers and the swamps support active populations of wallum froglet populations of migratory shore birds including the eastern curlew and red-necked stint. See if you can spot the passing bar-tailed godwit - this long-beaked bird holds the record for the longest non-stop flight; 11,000km without a break. Visit in winter to see colourful lorikeets and honeyeaters feeding on wildflowers in the coastal heathland and in summer you'll see migratory tropical species including cuckoos and rainforest pigeons. Look close at the surrounding shoreline and you may find green turtles and dugongs. Tomaree National Park also offers the opportunity to see one of Australia's iconic animals up close. See koalas feasting on swamp mahogany in and around the park, or in the trees around One Mile Beach carpark.
- Fingal Island eco-walk and lighthouse tour Discover the captivating history of Point Stephens Lighthouse and Fingal Island on this tour with Aquamarine Adventures. Take in the incredible views and immerse yourself in this magical landscape in Tomaree National Park, near Nelson Bay.
- Junior ranger: Tomaree coastal adventure tour Be guided by a NPWS Discovery ranger on this bush to beach adventure in Tomaree National Park.
- Ocean rockpool nature tour: Tomaree Discover the amazing world of rockpools along the rocky shores of Fishermans Bay on the Tomaree National Park coastline. See what you can find below the surface, not far from Nelson Bay.
- The Earth's environment Join The Earth's environment Geography excursion for Stage 2 (Years 3-4) students at Tomaree National Park, near Port Stephens. They'll discover how NSW National Parks safeguards over 10 per cent of land in NSW.
- Tomaree 4WD tag-along and passenger tours Explore the fabulous sand dunes of Tomaree National Park safely with experienced guides from 4WD Tag-Along and Passenger Tours, near Nelson Bay and Port Stephens.
Ancient landscape
The northern section of Tomaree National Park has 4 peaks, the largest being Tomaree Head at 162m high. Overall, the landscape is the residual surface of a peneplain uplifted during the tertiary period (65 to 1.8 million years ago) and subsequently eroded, leaving the more resistant volcanic rocks as small hills. Port Stephens is a flooded river valley. The western sections of the park are sand deposits of fluvial and estuarine origin.
- Junior ranger: Tomaree coastal adventure tour Be guided by a NPWS Discovery ranger on this bush to beach adventure in Tomaree National Park.
- Ocean rockpool nature tour: Tomaree Discover the amazing world of rockpools along the rocky shores of Fishermans Bay on the Tomaree National Park coastline. See what you can find below the surface, not far from Nelson Bay.
- Tomaree 4WD tag-along and passenger tours Explore the fabulous sand dunes of Tomaree National Park safely with experienced guides from 4WD Tag-Along and Passenger Tours, near Nelson Bay and Port Stephens.
- Tomaree coastal walking tour Explore Tomaree National Park near Port Stephens and discover it's spectacular coastline and incredible Australian wildlife on this 2 hour guided walk.
- Tomaree Head Summit walk Tomaree Head Summit walk offers a short but challenging hike and picturesque ocean views across Port Stephens and beyond. It's a must-see destination if you're in the area.
Military history
Follow in the footsteps of Australian soldiers on the trail to Tomaree Head. The historic Fort Tomaree played an important role in the defence of Port Stephens during World War II, including Tomaree Head that was solidly armed with gun emplacements. You can take a guided Discovery tour of the gun emplacements to find out more about this historic site.
- Fingal Island eco-walk and lighthouse tour Discover the captivating history of Point Stephens Lighthouse and Fingal Island on this tour with Aquamarine Adventures. Take in the incredible views and immerse yourself in this magical landscape in Tomaree National Park, near Nelson Bay.
- Fingal Island historical lighthouse tour Take a step back in time with this tour of Point Stephens Lighthouse and Fingal Island in Tomaree National Park. Hear fascinating stories of the island's history from a passionate local guide on this engaging outing with Moonshadow-TQC Cruises, near Nelson Bay.
- Fort Tomaree walk Fort Tomaree walk is an easy walk that runs just below Tomaree Head Summit walk and takes you to the World War II gun emplacements, used in the defence of east coast Australia during World War II.
- Point Stephens Lighthouse and Fingal Island Take a boat or a tour to Fingal Island and explore Point Stephens Lighthouse and historic ruins. Aquamarine Adventure run regular tours to Fingal Island. It's not safe to walk across the sand spit to the island as the tide and swell can change quickly.
- World War II gun emplacements Discover the military history of Port Stephens on a guided tour of the historic gun emplacements at Tomaree Head in Tomaree National Park on the north coast of NSW.
Plants and animals protected in this park
Animals
-
Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)
One of the most renowned Australian animals, the tree-dwelling marsupial koala can be found in gum tree forests and woodlands across eastern NSW, Victoria and Queensland, as well as in isolated regions in South Australia. With a vice-like grip, this perhaps most iconic but endangered Australian animal lives in tall eucalypts within a home range of several hectares.
-
White-bellied sea eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster)
White-bellied sea eagles can be easily identified by their white tail and dark grey wings. These raptors are often spotted cruising the coastal breezes throughout Australia, and make for some scenic bird watching. Powerful Australian birds of prey, they are known to mate for life, and return each year to the same nest to breed.
Plants
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Old man banksia (Banksia serrata)
Hardy Australian native plants, old man banksias can be found along the coast, and in the dry sclerophyll forests and sandstone mountain ranges of NSW. With roughened bark and gnarled limbs, they produce a distinctive cylindrical yellow-green banksia flower which blossoms from summer to early autumn.
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Smooth-barked apple (Angophora costata)
Smooth-barked apple gums, also known as Sydney red gum or rusty gum trees, are Australian native plants found along the NSW coast, and in the Sydney basin and parts of Queensland. Growing to heights of 15-30m, the russet-coloured angophoras shed their bark in spring to reveal spectacular new salmon-coloured bark.
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Grass tree (Xanthorrea spp.)
An iconic part of the Australian landscape, the grass tree is widespread across eastern NSW. These Australian native plants have a thick fire-blackened trunk and long spiked leaves. They are found in heath and open forests across eastern NSW. The grass tree grows 1-5m in height and produces striking white-flowered spikes which grow up to 1m long.