Port Stephens is one of our favourite weekend getaways from Sydney. It’s one of those classic Aussie beachside towns where the pace of life slows right down and you can feel yourself instantly relax. But that doesn’t mean you’ll be short of things to do - quite the opposite!
There’s everything from white sand beaches, to great snorkelling right from the shore, some of the state’s best whale and dolphin watching, sand dunes, koalas and so much more.
We’ve visited the area many times and are confident in saying we’ve covered all the best things to do in Port Stephens from the well known to local secrets and everything worth doing in between.
The feeling you get in Port Stephens! :)
The 21 best things to do in Port Stephens
One thing to know before your visit is that Port Stephens covers a really large area, and some of these activities are over an hour apart.
For that reason we’ve split this list into two distinct areas, things to do around Nelson Bay and then things to do around Hawks Nest. This makes it a lot easier to know what’s feasible on a short trip
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1. Visit the Koala Sanctuary
2. Hike and Sandboard the dunes at Anna Bay
3. Catch a sunset from Tomaree Head
4. See the sunrise at Zenith Beach
5. Spot whales on a boat or from the land
6. Discover the underwater world at Fly Point
7. Go wine tasting
8. Walk to Wreck Beach
9. Have a coffee with a view at the Nelson Bay Lighthouse
10. Search for wild koalas
11. Climb the locals alternative to Tomaree Head
12. Sunset Beach
13. Drive on the beach at Samurai!
14. See the views from Port Stephens’ highest viewpoint
15. Visit the weekend markets
16. Spot wild dolphins from the land
17. Take a dolphin watching tour
18. Hike to top of Yacaaba Head
19. Check out the dunes at Dark Point
20. Walk through the rainforest at Mungo Brush
21. Take a trip to Seal Rocks
The best things to do around Nelson Bay
1. Visit the Koala Sanctuary
A visit here is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face with the chance to get pretty close to a number of absolutely adorable koalas.
It’s no exaggeration to say that we stayed for over an hour and a half - most of which was spent watching one little koala eating non stop. Literally, he didn’t stop chewing on eucalyptus leaves for 1.5 hours, it was hilarious!
All the koalas have their own personality and whilst there will no doubt always be some curled up asleep we also lots of active ones, which was a real treat. They have descriptions underneath each one which helps you realise the dangers wild koalas are facing and how important sanctuaries and hospitals like the one in Port Stephens are.
The Koala Sanctuary has only recently opened and has been set up to save any local koalas who have been in accidents. Then it either releases them back into the wild when they are fit enough, or looks after them for life if they would be unable to survive alone.
You can take the self guided sky walk and there is loads of great info about each individual koala’s story, as well as lots of facts about koalas in general. It’s a heartwarming Port Stephens must do.
2. Hike or sandboard at the ‘Sahara Desert’
If you want to get a taste of the Sahara Desert right in Port Stephens then a visit to the Worimi Conservation Lands is a must.
They are the largest moving sand dunes in the Southern Hemisphere with some as tall as 40m! And believe me when you’re at the top about to sandboard down it feels a lot higher than that!
Most people visit the dunes on a tour where sandboards and transport right to the dunes is provided, but there’s nothing to stop you going independently if you have a board.
You can check out the Sandboarding Tours with Get Your Guide (they’re surprisingly cheap!) or make a whole day tour of it by clicking here.
If sandboarding is not your thing you can walk into the dunes, which takes a little over 20 minutes from the car park and it’s a lot of fun, if slightly hard work as you often sink back a step for every few you take forwards.
We’ve got a full guide on everything you can do at the sand dunes including how to walk to them independently in this post.
3. Watch sunset from Tomaree Head
We’d seen many photos of this spot before we got there ourselves, and let me tell you absolutely none could ever do the view from the top of Tomaree Head justice. It’s absolutely jaw dropping.
The series of beaches backed by headlands are just spectacular and if you are there for sunset the soft light only adds to the already magical scene.
It’s a short but steep walk up to the top on well formed paths and we cover the whole track including our favourite photo spot (which isn’t the top) in this guide.
4. Catch a sunrise from Zenith Beach
Ah Zenith Beach, it’s rivalled only by Wreck Beach in our eyes when it comes to Port Stephens most beautiful beaches.
Backed by Tomaree Mountain on one side and Stephens Peak on the other, this 400m long beach is exquisite.
The headlands make it feel so dramatic and it is a beauty at any time of day. If you can muster the energy to get up with the birds though, a sunrise here is a really memorable way to start the day.
You’ll likely have it to yourself, or close to, and watching the sun rise above the ocean and illuminating the beach and headlands is a delight.
We were so taken with it we stayed for almost two hours and our sunrise was relatively cloudy! If sunrise isn’t for you, go later but whatever you do, go!
5. Look out for whales!
Port Stephens is known as a fantastic place to spot whales in season (generally May to October, but occasionally as late as November). The most likely sighting will be Humpback whales but Southern Rights also pass this way.
The whale watching tour boats are very popular and this is by far your best chance of getting up close and personal with the whales, as well as offering the best photo ops. We haven’t yet done a tour, but it is on our list for another trip.
If you’d rather see whales from terra firma then you’ll find plenty of great vantage points to see them from, sometimes you can even see them from the beaches, which we’ve been lucky enough to do.
Your best bet though is to head to one of the whale watching platforms, as they offer elevated views allowing you to see further out to sea.
Our favourites are the platform at Barry Park, just by Fingal Bay and a lesser known option at Boat Harbour (drive to the end of Blanch Street).
The viewing spot at Blanch Street
The platform at Barry Park
If I had to choose between the two I’d go for Boat Harbour. It’s generally very quiet and there are two benches as well as all the rocks around the headland to sit on and it all feels very natural. The platform at Final Bay is railed.
6. Explore the underwater world at Fly Point
If you want to explore a bit of Port Stephens below the surface head to Fly Point for the area’s best snorkelling (some people said it was one of the best in NSW). There are steps down into the water and then you just swim off from there and straight away you’re in amongst the fish.
You have to go at high tide though or it would be way too shallow and painful getting out to the deeper water.
We heard about people who’ve spotted turtles, rays and even dolphins here, very close to the shore!
Personally we didn’t get as lucky as that but we did see hundreds and hundreds of fish! You really don’t need to go far at all, and in fact it’s better not to go too far out as the currents get stronger.
The shallow snorkelling is really easy though and suitable for beginners.
We have our own snorkel gear, but if you don’t, we saw that you can rent it from Feet First Dive although it might be cheaper to just buy a cheap set in town.
We were a little confused about exactly where the site was so we’ve dropped a pin where you need to park, you’ll then see the steps down to the water.
7. Go wine tasting
If you fancy something relaxing after all the outdoor activities around Port Stephens, then relaxing with a glass of local wine is the way to go. There are a couple of options for wine tasting around the Nelson Bay area.
The winery we really wanted to go to was Wonganella Estate because the views look amazing and they have their own vines. Tastings are $5 pp, but refundable on the purchase of a bottle of wine.
Unfortunately when we got there they were closed (their website is not up to date) so we headed back down the hill to the Port Stephens Winery which is at the same site as Murray’s Brewery.
Murray’s has an incredibly popular restaurant and brews its own craft beers too.
You can taste the wines for free here and there is a good selection, however they do not have their own vines, the grapes come from the Hunter Valley. Still nice but we would have preferred to try some from Port Stephens itself.
8. Take the Wreck Beach Walk to a remote paradise
Wreck Beach. Even the name conjures up the feeling of a wild and remote island paradise. And when you get there you won’t be disappointed.
It’s a tiny but glorious stretch of pristine sand bookended by two steep headlands.
There is virtually never anyone on it so you can live out all of your Robinson Crusoe fantasies! The water is relatively calm for taking a dip, but it can experience rips so it’s probably good to stay nearish the beach.
The walk to get there is along the beginning of the Tomaree Coastal Track and is 1.5km each way along the fire trail.
It’s pleasant enough but you’re really doing it for the beach not the walk. You can also access the beach from Verona Road which is 1.2km return.
9. Have coffee with a view at Nelson Head Lighthouse
The Inner Light Tearoom at the old Nelson Head Lighthouse has a million dollar view of Yacaaba Head and Boondelbah Island.
Sitting outside under the parasols on a sunny afternoon offers the perfect chance to relax and unwind. There is also a small (free) museum onsite in the old lighthouse keepers cottage which houses lots of old memorabilia from the days when it was an active lighthouse.
We had a little poke around but I’d say it’s more for enthusiasts!
10. Look for wild koalas
Port Stephens has several wild koala populations and if you’re lucky you might spot one slumbering in the trees. There are lots of good places to take a look, and your best chance to see them would be when they are more active around dawn and dusk.
My personal favourite place to look was at the Tilligerry Habitat at Tanilba Bay, although we didn’t get lucky, the forest is absolutely gorgeous and the path is flat and easy, predominantly on boardwalk. You also walk along the coast on one half of the walk, which took us around 30 minutes at a very slow pace.
The visitor centre was shut on our visit, but ordinarily you can pop in and they’ll tell you where the koalas were recently sighted which gives you a much better chance of spotting them.
A few kilometres away is the Koala Reserve at Lemon Tree Passage. There’s a koala walk here which goes for 5km but you can just do part of it. The locals here told us they spot the koalas most often in the evenings.
We also met several people in Nelson Bay who had seen them just the day before we were there at Pearson Park and the car park for Samurai Beach, but when we went to check they had gone! Hopefully you get luckier than us, but we really enjoyed the walks at Tilligerry Habitat and Lemon Tree Passage anyway so we didn’t feel too sorry for ourselves!
11. Climb the locals alternative to Tomaree Head
When you head up to Tomaree Mountain, you’ll see that most people there are from Sydney. Locals tend to opt for the un-signposted tracks leading to peaks that they often get all to themselves.
We love finding off the beaten tracks spots and decided to check out Stephens Peak, which is the headland at the southern end of Zenith Beach.
We’d never say to do it instead of Tomaree Head - because that view can’t be beaten - but we’d definitely say to do it as well as Tomaree, if you’re a lover of secret spots!
The views from the top of Stephens Peak are spectacular, showcasing Wreck Beach, Fingal Island and Shoal Bay, but they aren’t uninterrupted as the top is quite bushy. We loved that it is kept completely natural though and the bushes provided some welcome shade as we relaxed at the top, which we got all to ourselves.
The walk is not difficult, but it is un-signposted so you’ll need to check our instructions in this guide.
12. Catch a sunset from Sunset Beach
Beaches on the East Coast of Australia are all about the sunrises, but Port Stephens is lucky enough to also have a beach which faces west for sunset.
It’s not worth visiting at any other time of day because it isn’t a patch on the other beaches in the area, but when it comes to sun down, it’s one of our favourite places to be.
There’s a long jetty which is incredibly picturesque and you can watch as the sun slowly sinks into the ocean and the huge flocks of Corellas come in to roost.
There’s no walking involved so it’s an easy win, with no effort required whatsoever.
13. Go driving on the beach!
If you’re looking for something a bit different to do at the beach and you have a 4WD then head to Samurai Beach for a cruise along the sand. You don’t need a permit to drive on it, like you do at other beaches in the area, so it’s an easier option than most.
It’s a really stunning beach which is over a kilometre long and picture perfect. It’s also a nudist beach but if that’s not your thing it’s very inclusive and you’ll see a mix of those who are clothed and not.
We do just need to stress though that you need a gutsy 4WD with the ability to drive on high soft sand. Sadly we are telling you this from experience as we got our old 4WD, affectionately known as Grandpa, stuck on this very beach.
It was oh so easy to drive in and across the beach but getting out was another matter. Thank goodness for friendly locals and their winches.
14. Admire the view from the highest lookout in Port Stephens
Gan Gan Lookout is the most popular viewpoint in the area and we just so happened to head up their as a storm came rolling in which made for some pretty dramatic photos and an exciting experience as we watched it come ever closer.
There are two viewpoints, one of which requires no walking and the other just 100m.
You can see Tomaree Mountain, Anna Bay and Nelson Bay as well as Yacaaba Headland and Hawks Nest in the other direction. The views are just stunning, especially if you are there when the bright pink Gymea Lilies are in flower, which we weren’t this time round but have seen them in the past.
15. Check out the weekend markets
The Nelson Bay area has plenty of weekend markets and you’d be unlucky if there was nothing on during your visit. We checked out the Nelson Bay Legacy Markets which are on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Sunday of every month.
It’s a really big market with lots of different offerings from homemade candles to plants and oils to clothes and bric a brac. There’s a small selection of food such as jams and honey, as well as a couple of vans selling coffee and prawns… first time we’ve ever seen a prawn van!
It’s a popular market and has a nice relaxed vibe.
The website says it’s on between 9am and 3pm but definitely get there before 2pm as when we drove back past it at around half past 2 only a few stalls remained. If you’re not around for this market, you can see a full list of all the weekend markets in the area here.
The best things to do around Hawks Nest
16. Look for wild dolphins from land
It still amazes me that Port Stephens has so many dolphins that you have a good chance of spotting them from land!
There are many different spots you can see them from and we’ve been lucky in a few places, including the Singing Bridge, which is just beside the koala reserve and also from the Winda Woppa Reserve.
A dolphin albeit from far away
Many people have also seen them from both Bennetts and Jimmys Beaches, both of which are glorious almost white sand beaches, and generally incredibly quiet.
If you’d like to swim with wild dolphins you can do that from Nelson Bay, which looks pretty incredible but we can’t recommend personally as we haven’t done it yet!
17. Or from the water
On my very first trip to Port Stephens, my sister and I decided to hop on the cute little Tea Gardens ferry which has been running between Tea Gardens and Nelson Bay since 1904!
We were the only ones on the entire boat and more than a journey between two places, it felt like a scenic dolphin watching tour. They see dolphins on 95% of their journeys which probably makes it the cheapest dolphin watching experience in Australia!
We might have got lucky being the only ones on the boat but the captain was so lovely and stopped the boat several times so we could watch them playing. Once you get to Nelson Bay you can potter around the area or do what we did and take the path along the water to the Anchorage Hotel for lunch.
I would have included it on a separate entry for this blog because it was lovely, but it was so long ago now that I can’t remember it well enough to give specific details! From what I can see online the walk is about 4km and from memory it was both pretty and flat : )
18. Hike the lesser visited Yacaaba Head
The Yacaaba Headland sits at one end of the absolutely beautiful Bennetts Beach, which is a must visit in this part of Port Stephens.
The track takes you along the beach before heading into the forest and winding its way up to the top. Unlike the walk at Tomaree Head, the track is rough in parts and it’s not very well known so you often get it to yourself.
The views of Nelson Bay and John Gould Island from the top are sublime, but as with Stephens Peak, it’s bushy up there so you don’t get a panorama.
Having said that, the views are still beautiful and the whole experience feels like you’ve been given a secret sneaky peek through the foliage at some of the most glorious spots in Port Stephens.
You can read our full Yacaaba Head trail guide here.
19. Or the secret sand dunes
Pretty much everyone visiting Port Stephens has heard of the sand dunes at Anna Bay, but very few know of the dunes at Dark Point (which I don’t think strictly counts as Port Stephens but are just 15 minutes from Hawks Nest).
We couldn’t believe our eyes when we saw them, towering pyramids of sand with barely a footprint to be seen! We felt like Indiana Jones hiking through the desert in search of hidden treasures!
The dunes will also lead you to Dark Point, a place of significance to the Worimi people and though the actual site is fenced off for its protection, I enjoyed reading about the area and its importance to the local Aboriginal community.
You can read more about Dark Point in our guide to Mungo Brush.
20. Get off the beaten track and into the rainforest at Mungo Brush
A little further along from the sand dunes at Dark Point you’ll come to Mungo Brush where you can venture into the ancient rainforest.
It’s hard to believe how wild it feels, with ginormous Cabbage tree palms and hundreds of hanging vines, some strong enough to act as a swing!
It’s a spectacular forest and the easy 1.7km loop walk will take you round the best of it. Look out for dingoes and Whistling kites overhead - which you’ll probably hear before you spot!
We’ve got more details on this walk and another in the same area which takes you to a local fishing village, in the post linked above.
Further afield
21. Take a road trip to Seal Rocks
Seal Rocks is an hour’s drive north from Hawks Nest but many people tend to combine the two if visiting for a long weekend.
If you think Hawks Nest is laid back, it’s practically horizontal in Seal Rocks, and you’ll find that most people set their sights on the gorgeous array of beaches.
There are alot to choose from and we detail all our favourites in this post on the best things to do at Seal Rocks.
As well as the beaches it’s well worth heading up to the cute lighthouse at Sugarloaf Point. Whilst you can’t go inside, the views are terrific, especially at sunrise and sunset. There is very little in the way of food available at Seal Rocks so pack a picnic and head to the spot we mention in the post above which has a sensational view of Boat Beach.
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Have we missed anything amazing to do in Port Stephens? Let us know in the comments below!
