If you are looking for a weekend getaway from Sydney, Port Stephens is the perfect destination. If you want to explore more add an extra day to cover most of the activities and interesting places. You will mostly take around 2 – 2.5 hours to reach Port Stephens. In this blog, I have covered what you can plan for your trip.
Sand Dunes Activities at Port Stephens
If you are looking for some thrillings activities you need to visit the Sand Dunes (Anna Bay). The location also has a natural beauty where you see both dunes and sea together. Activities include 4WD, Quad biking and sand-boarding tours. You may also explore this natural beauty taking a camel ride. The quad bike with a single person will cost you around $110. There are options to travel double and some organizers also allow kids above a certain age and height. We explored Sund Dune Adventures for our Quad Bike Tour. The experience was out of this world and very different. You don’t need to have prior experience to ride a quad bike and they are mostly automatic. Remember to book your tickets in advance as weekends are super busy. Also, plan for an early slot in hot days.
The other activity which we did was Sand Boarding. We booked our tickets from 4WD Tours R Us. Tickets typically range around $35. This is a fun activity and is not scary. You might get scared with the height but start low and you will be fine. If you have a 4X4 vehicle (Not AWD) you can also explore the 22 Kms of Stockton beachfront and over 350 hectares of dune driving. However, you would need to get a permit before entering the Worimi Conservation Lands. We had great fun and it’s must-visit if you are looking for thrilling activities. Keep spare clothes as the sand get into your clothes especially during the sandboarding activity.
Beach Destinations at Port Stephens
Just close to Anna bay is Fisherman’s Bay. Featuring a lovely, secluded beach, it’s an excellent area for swimming and snorkelling on a sunny day. If you’re there between May and October it’s a good spot to watch whales on their annual migration along the north coast. Some of the other beaches to explore include Zenith Beach, One-mile beach, and Fingal Bay Beach. At Fingal beach, if the tide is low you can actually see it iss connected to the shark island.
Walking trails at Tomaree National Park
If you enjoy walking trails do visit Tomaree National Park. This park has 2 walking trails you can explore. Fort Tomaree Walk – 2.5km /Grade 3 and Tomaree Head Summit Walk – 2.2 / Grade 5. The higher the grade the difficult the walk. The summit walk has steps which make it Level 5. Both the walks are good and view from the top is simply breathtaking. If you are planning for a single one my recommendation would be to go for the Head Summit Walk. Do remember to carry water and some snacks. Try to head early in the day to avoid the sun.
Marina & Cruises at Port Stephens
One of the happening places at Port Stephens is the d’Albora Marina. The vibe is very energetic with good food options. You can also explore the Dolphin and Whale cruises available at the Marina. One of the famous ones is Moonshadow cruises. Do check the weather and month to spot these amazing animals. The town centre is close by for more food options. Evening walk near Nelson Bay is very calm and enjoyable.
Points Of Interests and Activities
Some other places to visit include Nelson Bay Lighthouse, Gan Gan Lookout, Koala Reserves. You can also explore water activities like jet skiing, kayaking, paddleboard, snorkelling and many more. Check this link for more information on Port Stephens.
If you have any questions use the comment section below and I will be happy to assist. If you love watching videos check our youtube video on Port Stephens HERE.
Also check my Coffs Harbour and the Campervan blogs.
