Port Stephens is one of my favourite places on the East Coast of Australia. I’ve been there numerous times and I never get tired of visiting! Firstly, it’s where my favourite lookout in New South Wales (NSW) is located, but it’s also the only place in NSW where you can go on a tour to swim with wild dolphins. How exciting?! For those of you living in Sydney, Port Stephens is only a short 2.5-hour drive up the coast and for those of you visiting Sydney, well I’d highly recommend making the detour. If you happen to be road tripping through New South Wales, then Port Stephens is a great stop on your way to Myall Lakes National Park and the Barrington Coast. In terms of accommodation, there’s probably two ways to go about it in my opinion. You could either rent a quiet and secluded little cottage / Airbnb anywhere in Port Stephens, meaning you might need to drive around a little bit more if you want to explore. Alternatively, if you prefer being closer to the main towns, I’d suggest staying in Nelson Bay.

1- Mount Tomaree

First things first, I mean, I think the photos speak for themselves. The summit of Mount Tomaree offers the best ocean view you can find in New South Wales in my opinion. If you know a place that beats that, please let me know in the comments section :)

The walk up is relatively short (20-30 min) but it gets steep! It will definitely get your blood pumping. I highly recommend going there to catch the sunrise. Not only will you be rewarded with incredible hues, but the temperature should also be much more moderate than mid-day.

2- Nelson Bay

This super cute town is where you’ll find most of the nice cafés, restaurants and souvenir shops. It is also where the main marina (D’Albora Marinas) is located so if you decide to go on an excursion, it will likely depart from there. If you decide to stay in Nelson Bay, you’ll be able to walk around very easily. Two of my favourite cafés are In House Kitchen and The Little Nel. If you don’t have time for breakfast and just want to grab a quick pastry, I’d highly recommend checking out Two Bobs Bakery.

If you take your car and venture a little bit out of town, it is worth checking out Gan Gan Lookout & Little Beach Reserve. Both are great spots to watch the sunset, but I have a slight preference for the latter. In fact, if you are looking for a place to go have drinks at sunset, the Little Beach Boathouse’s lower deck is your spot!

3- Shoal Bay

Another great little town is Shoal Bay, located only 8 minutes from Nelson Bay, it is definitely quieter and more beachy. The perfect place to lay in the sun and get your tan on! Shoal Bay is home to the Shoal Bay Country Club, which I’d highly recommend visiting for a bite to eat or for some drinks. If like me, you’re a well-assumed foodie, I would recommend checking out their newly open Greek restaurant, Atmos, located just next door. The food there is delish!

4- Boat Harbour

Located in the southern end of the peninsula, Boat Harbour is definitely more secluded and offers some peaceful views on the ocean… depending on the wind! If you’re down for a bit of exploration off the beaten track, you’ll find a few tidal pools near Boat Harbour North Headland, otherwise I’d suggest a lazy afternoon at Kinsley Beach.

5- Birubi Desert

Located just 5 minutes from Boat Harbour are the gates to Birubi Desert, also known as the Stockton Sand Dunes. This place is honestly out of this world; it is basically one hell of a giant beach. It is MASSIVE: 32km long to be precise. It is the longest moving sand dune in the southern hemisphere. It will truly give you the impression of being in the middle of a desert, especially if you decide to venture further away from the water. There are tons of fun activities taking place in Birubi Desert including camel rides, horse rides, 4WD & quad rides, sandboarding, etc.

6- Dolphin Swim Australia

Probably the most unique activity I have ever done on a trip! Dolphin Swim Australia offers the possibility to experience a close encounter with wild dolphins in their natural habitat, without disturbing them whatsoever. The tour departs early morning before sunrise and lasts roughly 4.5 hours. Their team is absolutely amazing and will explain all the details about how everything works + go through a thorough safety briefing during the first 30 minutes of the journey. How it works is in fact, quite simple to explain, but much more physical than I thought it would be so make sure you’re in good physical condition before you book as a participant! You can also book as an observer.

They’ve created a rope system which connects the two hulls of the catamaran together, and once they find dolphins, they stop the boat while guests jump into the water. Each person has a harness and remains clipped to the catamaran’s main rope the whole time, while the captain slowly cruises and the curious dolphins come around and play. In essence, we’re being dragged while we enjoy the show 😄・Getting so close to these creatures is something truly unique. Making eye contact with a dolphin is definitely something I will remember!

7- Soldiers Point

Soldiers Point is located in the northern part of the peninsula and is a great place to go watch the sunset. That’s also where you can find one of the Bannisters hotels and its restaurant Rick Stein. I didn’t get the chance to experience it under warm weather conditions, so will definitely be back for the full experience. Instead, when I visited the weather was very cold and I decided to treat myself at one of the surrounding spas. I headed to Barley Sugar Day Spa & Beauty for a much needed massage and very much enjoyed my experience.

8- Fingal Bay & Shark Island

Any article about Port Stephens wouldn’t be complete without a mention of Fingal Bay and its stunning beach! Probably as equally popular as Mount Tomaree, this is the perfect destination for a quiet day spent enjoying the sun. Make sure to time your visit properly during low tide, as the low water levels will create a sandbar that connects the mainland to Shark Island. Crossing to the other side is a nice little adventure, but needs to be done with extreme caution and only when the sandbar is visible. The return trip to the lighthouse can take anywhere between 1-2 hours.

9- Corlette

The unexpected little surprise from my last trip to Port Stephens: Corlette. My friend and I had a bit of time to kill and the weather conditions had been capricious that morning in Nelson Bay. As soon as we saw a few rays of sunshine, we decided to go on a walk from Bagnalls Beach to Roy Wood Reserve, which I highly recommend doing. The views near Corlette Point are truly beautiful!

10- Tilligerry Habitat

Last but not least, Tilligerry Habitat is known for being a place where you can spot koalas in nature. Sadly, I have been there 3 times and have not seen a koala once 😭 but to be honest, it is very hard to spot koalas in the wild. What I like about this place is that the reserve is located in a peaceful little forest and has some well maintained boardwalks, which are perfect for a stroll. Depending at what time of the day you’re heading there, I’d recommend making a pit stop at Murray’s Brewery for some food/drinks. Tilligerry Habitat is approximately 0.5 hour from Nelson Bay and the brewery is located halfway.

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