"The largest moving coastal dunes in the Southern Hemisphere, owned by the Worimi people and holding their ancestors beneath the sand"
Worimi Conservation Lands
Nelson Bay, New South Wales, Australia
Along the coast north of Newcastle, the largest moving coastal sand dunes in the Southern Hemisphere stretch 32 kilometres. The Worimi people own these lands, which were returned to them in 2007. Beneath the shifting sand lie middens, campsites, and burial sites — the material evidence of centuries of Worimi presence. The dunes are not empty landscape but an archive in constant motion, revealing and concealing cultural material with each wind.
Weather & Best Time
Plan Your Visit
Save this site and start planning your journey.
Quick Facts
Location
Nelson Bay, New South Wales, Australia
Coordinates
-32.7189, 152.1428
Last Updated
Mar 9, 2026
Learn More
The Worimi people are the Traditional Custodians of Stockton Bight. The land was returned to the Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council in 2007. Extensive middens, campsites, and burial sites are present throughout the dunes.
Origin Story
The Worimi maintain that the dunes were shaped by ancestral spirits during the Dreaming. Specific Dreaming narratives are held by the Worimi community.
Spiritual Lineage
The Worimi people maintain continuous custodianship. The 2007 land return formalised an authority that was never relinquished despite colonial dispossession.
Know a Sacred Site We Should Include?
Help us expand our collection of sacred sites. Share your knowledge and contribute to preserving the world's spiritual heritage.