Just north of Sydney, the East Coast resort of Port Stephens is a collection of small towns, beaches, and bays between the mouths of the Hunter and Karuah Rivers. The first stop is the 20-mile (32-kilometer) Stockton Beach, where you can go quad biking, camel riding, and sandboarding on the dunes. Once you’ve hit the beach, other things to do in Port Stephens include whale-watching cruises, swimming in an area known for its wild dolphins, and hiking and mountain biking in Tomaree National Park.
The beachfront towns of Port Stephens swell with sunseekers in the summer months (December-February), and popular spots can get crowded. If you want to make the most of shoulder-season prices, it’s typically still warm enough for swimming and water sports in late spring and early fall. Alternatively, winter visitors can enjoy mild weather ideal for hiking and the opportunity to spot migrating humpback whales from late May through early November.
Just a 2.5-hour drive or coach ride from Sydney, Port Stephens has coast, bush, and beach all on its doorstep. Having a car to get around is handy, but local buses run between the towns, and most tours include hotel pickup, so you can manage without. A 4WD is essential if you want to drive in the Worimi National Park and along Stockton Beach.
The Tomaree Head Summit walk is the region’s most popular hike. It's a short but steep uphill walk that takes less than an hour to complete and affords magnificent ocean views. For a more challenging hike, the Tomaree Coastal Walk takes 2-3 days from Shoal Bay to Anna Bay; you can check off attractions such as Fingal Bay, Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary, and One Mile Beach along the way.
