Welcome to Port Stephens
An hour north of Newcastle, Port Stephens wraps around a vast, sparkling blue bay more than twice the size of Sydney Harbour. It's the "Dolphin Capital of Australia", home to the biggest moving sand dunes in the Southern Hemisphere, a coastline of golden beaches, and the headland walk up Tomaree for one of the great coastal views in NSW. Relaxed, wild and endlessly active, it's a favourite escape — and this is the guide we give our own guests.
Dolphins & the sand dunes
Port Stephens has two signature experiences. Out on the bay, a dolphin-watching cruise from Nelson Bay finds the resident pod of 140-plus wild bottlenose dolphins — a near-certainty year-round. On land, the Stockton Bight sand dunes at Anna Bay rise up to 30 metres over 32 km of coast on the Worimi Conservation Lands, where you can sandboard, ride a camel or take a 4WD tour with the Aboriginal-owned operators. Do both and you've caught the spirit of the place.
Beaches & the Tomaree walk
The bay is ringed with beaches for every mood — sheltered Shoal Bay and Little Beach for calm swims, surf at Fingal, One Mile and Zenith, and the dune-backed sweep of Birubi. Presiding over them all is Tomaree Head, a short but steep climb to a 161-metre summit with a jaw-dropping panorama over the bay, the islands and the open sea — and a prime whale-watching lookout in season.
Boating, fishing & diving
With water this good, get out on it. Port Stephens is a boating and fishing playground — home to one of the Southern Hemisphere's biggest game-fishing tournaments — and its sheltered bays are made for kayaking and sailing. Snorkellers and divers head to the Fly Point sanctuary, one of the best shore dives in NSW. Whether you want adrenaline or a lazy paddle, the bay delivers.
The essentials
Planning Port Stephens: your questions
Yes. Port Stephens packs an extraordinary amount into one bay — a resident population of over 140 wild bottlenose dolphins, the largest moving sand dunes in the Southern Hemisphere, a string of gorgeous beaches, the superb Tomaree Head lookout and seasonal whale watching. It's one of the most rewarding short breaks on the NSW coast.
Two to three days covers it beautifully — a dolphin cruise and a beach day, a sand-dune adventure at Anna Bay, and the Tomaree Head walk with time to relax around Nelson Bay. Add a day for fishing, diving at Fly Point, or a trip across to Tea Gardens, and a long weekend becomes a proper escape.
Port Stephens is about 1 hour north of Newcastle and 2.5 hours from Sydney by road. Handily, Newcastle Airport (Williamtown) is only 20–30 minutes away. There's no train to Port Stephens — the nearest rail is Newcastle — so most visitors drive, fly into Newcastle, or take a coach. See our getting around guide.
Port Stephens is known as the "Dolphin Capital of Australia" for its resident dolphin pod, and for the vast Stockton Bight sand dunes on the Worimi Conservation Lands — the largest moving coastal dunes in the Southern Hemisphere, where you can sandboard, ride a camel or take a 4WD tour. It's also a top spot for beaches, boating, fishing and whale watching.
Port Stephens is a year-round destination. Spring (Sep–Nov) and autumn (Mar–May) are ideal — warm and less crowded. Summer is peak beach season (and busiest); winter is mild and the best time for whale watching. Dolphin watching runs all year. See our best time to visit guide.