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FINGAL BEACH Best for: Families, whale watching, surfing and paddle boarding Surrounded by Tomaree National Park, Fingal Bay is a favourite with families, for its sugar-white sand and calm, patrolled... beach (during beach season). Surfers also regularly grace its waves and it’s a great spot to take a surf lesson or go paddleboarding. What makes this beach so unique is the sand bridge known as ‘The Spit’ that leads across to Fingal (Shark) Island, which is also home to the 1862-built Port Stephens Lighthouse and the ruins of its caretakers’ cottage. (It is important that you do not cross over the spit if there is any water over it, due to strong currents). There is also a whale-watching platform here, to try and spot these majestic mammals pass by the coast between May and November. Coffee and food are easily available at the surf club’s restaurant and café, and little ones can play at Fingal Bay Foreshore Reserve, which has a children’s playground.

BIRUBI BEACH Best for: four-wheel-driving, sand dunes, camel riding This wide, open beach is the gateway to the famous Worimi Conservation Lands and Stockton Bight Sand Dunes, which are accessible... by four-wheel drive. The dunes are a natural adventure playground, on which you can enjoy quad biking and sandboarding. Birubi Beach is great for surfing, and beginners can book lessons here, but conditions can be a bit tricky during moderate to big swells. There is a kiosk and café at the surf club (it’s patrolled during beach season), a picnic area, and it’s also home to aboriginal middens at Birubi Point. Camel rides are also available along the beach with Oakfield Ranch Camel Rides, which operates during the day and at sunset.

ONE MILE BEACH Best for: families, swimming, surfing Despite its name, this Anna Bay beach stretches for 1.3 kilometres and is backed by dunes that reach up to 400 metres. It’s popular with families... because it has calm conditions at its southern end and shallows that are perfect for small kids. It’s a great place to learn to surf as it’s also patrolled in summer. There’s a picnic area and a kiosk that operates from the surf club.

BOX BEACH Best for: seclusion, surfing, fishing Between Fingal Bay and Shoal Bay, Box Beach is accessed by a 200-metre walkway from the car park and is frequented year-round by surfers. Like the other... beaches along this stretch of coast, it has white sand and pristine water. Swimming here can be a little hazardous at times, but the edges of the beach can sometimes comprise shallow rock pools for splashing around in. Rock fishing is also popular here.

WRECK BEACH Best for: seclusion, surfing, fishing Located in Tomaree National Park, this peaceful cove is somewhat of a little secret, tucked away in Shoal Bay. To access this secluded beach, start... at Verona Road, and follow the track to a fire trail; you’ll weave through angophora forest that opens to the beach. It can be steep in some sections and is two kilometres return. Swimming is possible but strong rips can occur.

ZENITH BEACH Best for: fishing, watching the sunrise Wedged between two headlands in Tomaree National Park, Zenith Beach is known for its sugar-white sand and turquoise water. Accessed via two walking... tracks, it’s a scenic spot to watch the sunrise and snap the perfect Instagram shot. You shouldn’t swim here though, as it is too dangerous. It’s part of the Great Lakes Marine Park so you may even spot dolphins here and whales during their annual migration.

WANDA BEACH Best for: families, fishing, boating Located at the northern end of Salamander Bay, which is an estuarine environment, Wanda Beach is a calm spot that’s perfect for relaxed dips and... for kids to splash about. The white-sand beach faces the mouth of Port Stephens and has a lot of seaweed in some areas; swimming is best out the front of George Reserve or take a paddleboard or kayak. The reserve has barbecues, undercover picnic tables and a playground. There is also a boat ramp and jetty, which you can fish right off, and Bannisters Port Stephens is located at the western end of the beach if you want a relaxed drink afterwards at its gastropub Cheeky Dog.

BAGNALLS BEACH Best for: families, walking track, dogs This white sand beach, just south of Corlette, can be reached by the coastal pathway that runs from Nelson Bay. Dogs are also allowed off-leash... here, so if you’re travelling with your four-legged friend this is the beach for you. Black swans also frequent here, who come to feed on the seagrass in this shallow bay. There are three reserves along this stretch, with picnic areas, barbecues, toilets and a playground.

SUNSET BEACH Best for: scenery, sunsets On the western side of Soldiers Point, a location renowned for its sunsets, this aptly named beach is most spectacular at the end of the day when the sun melts... into the horizon. Of course, it’s worth a visit during daylight hours too; swimming is best at high tide.

DUTCHMANS BEACH Best for: families, walking track, paddleboarding Sometimes referred to as ‘Dutchies’ by locals, this beach has clear water and white sand and is ideal for stand-up paddle boarding.... At high tide, the beach is narrow, so it’s best to visit at low tide if you want to relax on the sand. There is a grassy area with barbecues and a playground for kids. There is also a coastal walking path that runs from Nelson Bay to Dutchies and onto Bagnalls Beach.

NELSON BAY BEACH Best for: families, diving and snorkelling Nelson Bay is home to a small swimming bay, which is a great spot for families thanks to the calm conditions and convenient location in... town. It’s also a haven for diving and snorkelling at Fly Point Aquatic Reserve, a protected aquatic sanctuary located between Nelson Bay and Little Beach, where you can swim among sponge gardens and may spot blue groupers, wobbegong sharks and seahorses, among other marine species. The foreshore behind the bay has a picnic area and playground, an ideal post-dip lunch locale.

SHOAL BAY BEACH Best for: families, fishing, snorkelling Boasting soft white sand and aquamarine waters, this long, curved beach is bookended by Nelson Bay Lighthouse and Mount Tomaree. Mostly gentle... conditions make it a favourite with families and great for paddle boarding, and its location adjoining Shoal Bay village is convenient for fish and chip breaks on long beach days. At the eastern end of the beach, there’s a jetty and picnic area; keen fishermen frequent this area for beach and rock fishing. Snorkelling is also possible, as the beach has extensive seagrass meadows where cuttlefish and seahorses sometimes hide out.

Join us for the thrill of a lifetime and swim with WILD dolphins! This activity does NOT take place in a net. Guest are attached to a line strung between the bows of 54' catamaran and pulled through the... water with the dolphins swimming in front of them - often almost close enough to touch. Includes the swim, all gear, educational commentary, a 4 hour cruise and above-water photos!

Dedicated to the protection of dolphins and whales. Whale Watch, 3 hour Sail or 90 minute Express - View whales in NSW's largest Marine Park. Whale guaranteed - May to November Swim with wild dolphins,... 4.5 hours - September to May Snorkel + Dolphin Watch, 3.5 hours - Snorkel in the sparkling waters of an offshore island (All gear provided) - November to April Dolphin Watch + Sailing, 1.5 hours - Enjoy stunning scenery and meet some our local dolphins - November to April Broughton Island, 3 hours - Offshore dolphin watch, swim or snorkel at picturesque Providence Beach - November to April Eco Adventure cruise, 1.5 hours - Opportunity to spot dolphins as we cruise the bay before swimming at a secluded beach. Fingal or Broughton Island Eco-Walk, 3.5 hours - Fully guided Charter options available from $350 per hour - conditions apply.

Port Stephens Council in partnership with Port Stephens Koalas has created a Koala Sanctuary to ensure first-class care to sick, injured and orphaned koalas. Visitors to the Sanctuary experience an... opportunity to learn all about Koalas on the meandering Sanctuary Story Walk, an immersive educational experience, before heading onto the Newcastle Airport SKYwalk, a 225 metre elevated walkway and viewing platform that takes you up 10 metres into the tree top canopy offering a unique perspective into the koala's natural habitat. Visit the Koala Hospital and take a look through the hospital viewing window as veterinary staff carry out examinations* and administer treatment to koala inpatients. *Subject to clinic times. Open daily from 9am to 5pm (except Christmas Day)  

Artisan Collective Port Stephens Incorporated is an artist-run gallery, providing visitors to Port Stephens with high quality, locally made gifts direct from the makers. Our aim is to engage our community... by offering a space to share in the creative arts of the area and support our artists in providing a space to inspire, share, grow and collaborate.

Toboggan Hill Park is set amongst natural bush just off Salamander Way at Nelson Bay. Tobogganing is suitable for all the family as each toboggan is equipped with brakes so that you control the speed of... descent, slow to thrilling!

ly Point is located between Nelson Bay and Little Beach with spectacular sweeping views of the Bay. Fly Point is a protected aquatic sanctuary that offers some of the best shore diving and snorkeling... in the State. Lush sponge gardens and kelp forests are just a few metres from the beach and home to pineapple fish, blue groupers, octopus, wobbegong sharks and even elusive seahorses. In Summer, juvenile tropical fish appear including butterfly fish, damsel fish, wrass and butterfly cod. The reserve extends from the high water park to 500 metres offshore. Fishing is banned as well as the collection of any marine organisms, including shells, so bring an underwater camera to capture the memories.

Little Beach is a small beach facing north west adjacent to the Halifax Holiday Park and the Nelson Head lighthouse reserve. The Little Beach foreshore has both a grassed area and beach area ideal for... family and social club gatherings. The beach is ideal for young children with its sandy expanse and gentle waters. This site is very popular with both a public jetty and boat launching ramp. There is a fish cleaning table for successful anglers and is popular with pelicans. Little Beach features a disabled access jetty. The ramp allows wheel chair direct access into the ocean. Facilities Public amenities including disabled toilets Barbeque & picnic facilities Play equipment including disabled play area Boat ramp Fish cleaning tables Car park and trailer parking Wharf with disabled access