Holiday houses in Nelson Bay

The largest town in the Port Stephens area, an hour’s drive north of Newcastle, buzzy Nelson Bay is a great place to base yourself to explore the delights of this spectacular coastal region surrounding a large natural harbour. From dolphin watching and sunset cruises that depart from Nelson Bay’s d’Albora Marina to working your way around the town’s cafes and restaurants, there’s no lack of fun things to do here.

On the northern edge of town, Fly Point boasts great snorkelling and scuba diving directly offshore. A five-minute drive east of Nelson Bay, Shoal Bay has a protected beach beloved by families. Further east, Tomaree National Park has walking trails and views. Zenith Beach is the first of three stunning beaches carved out of the coastline south of Tomaree Head, with the giant, shifting sand dunes of Stockton Beach to the south offering more opportunities for outdoor adventure within easy reach of Nelson Bay.

Port Stephens has a comfortably mild climate year-round. The hottest months between December and February are ideal for exploring the region’s 26 beaches, while the cooler spring and autumn are ideal for outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing, sailing, and dune adventures. Late May through August is peak whale-watching season, with Tomaree Head among the best places to take in the annual migration. Yachties descend on Port Stephens in April for the Sail Port Stephens regatta hosted at Nelson Bay’s marina, while seafood lovers flock to Port Stephens each August for the month-long Love Sea Food festival, which offers plenty of fun ways to experience local seafood and connect with local producers and chefs.

Dolphins

More than 100 dolphins live in the pristine blue waters of the Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park, with dolphin-watching cruises departing year-round from the d’Albora Marina.

Tomaree Head

Part of Tomaree National Park, Tomaree Head (4.5 kilometres east of Nelson Bay) rises 162 metres above the sea, with its forested peak boasting some of the most superb views of the New South Wales coastline. Enjoy them on the 2.2-kilometre-return Tomaree Head Summit Walk. Also on the headland, the 2.5-kilometre-return Fort Tomaree Walk takes you to the World War II gun emplacements, used in the defence of Australia’s east coast during World War II. Keep your eyes peeled for koalas in the trees en route.

Stockton Beach

Stretching from the southern fringe of Port Stephens down to Newcastle in the south, Stockton Beach’s sand dunes are the largest moving coastal dunes in the Southern Hemisphere. Part of the Worimi Conservation Lands, this incredible natural landscape is culturally significant to the Worimi people, which you can learn more about on an Aboriginal-guided quad biking tour. Four-wheel driving, sandboarding, and fishing adventures are also popular at Stockton.