| PORT STEPHENS - NEW SOUTH WALES - 2315 | ||||
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Population: N/A Height above sea level: 10m Latitude: -32.4202 Longitude: 152.0724 Location: 210km north of Sydney Highway: East of Pacific Hwy (1) from Raymond Terrace Nearest Major Town: Taree Nearest Airport: Taree Touring Area: North Coast NSW |
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 Dolphins can be seen at Port Stephens. | |
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A popular and unspoiled holiday destination on the north coast only 45 minutes
from Newcastle which offers fishing, extensive ocean beaches for surfing, and
calmer waters inside the bay for swimming and boating. Port Stephens offers a variety of activities for all the family. Outside the heads big-game fishing attracts anglers from all over and during the winter months whales pass on their migration between the Antarctic and the warmer breeding waters of the tropics. Inside the harbour the protected waters of Port Stephens and its bays are safe for swimming, boating and fishing. These include Salamander Bay, Shoal Bay, Dutchmans Bay and Nelson Bay, all resort and holiday towns spread around the southern shore of the inlet. West of Lemon Tree Passage, the Tilligerry Peninsula has a large population of koalas while the north shore of the harbour is also popular, with seaside villages like Tea Gardens and Karuah. At Nelson Bay, Shoal Bay, Soldiers Point and Lemon Tree Passage you can hire a boat, canoe, aquabike or even a catamaran or houseboat to explore the waters while Port Stephens is renowned for its scuba diving and equipment and instruction is available. In most towns you can hire a pushbike to explore the hinterland and there are several bushwalking and cycling tracks around Port Stephens. Barbecue and picnic facilities are common with playgrounds and toilets for family outings. Many companies operate cruises to see the dolphins for which Port Stephens has gained an enviable reputation. Pods of up to 40 are common and in some cases you can get into the water in protective nets to observe them close up. Stockton Bight has the largest stretch of sandhills on the east coast and tours of the 34km of dunes are operated in four and six wheel drive vehicles. These visit the wreck of the 'Sygna' and aboriginal middens as they traverse the sandy terrain. Tanilba House was built by convicts for a naval lieutenant in 1831 using stone quarried on the site and is open for viewing. The site offers excellent views across Tanilba Bay and you can usually get morning tea or lunch and enjoy the view. There are also excellent views from the Tomaree Headland. In the centre of Port Stephens there is a good shopping centre where you can buy almost anything you need, and there are many craft shops and galleries to explore. Restaurants and fishmongers provide provide abundant local seafoood, particularly the oysters for which Port Stephens is noted. THINGS TO DO: REGULAR EVENTS ACCOMMODATION & SERVICES: Port Stephens and the region have a large number of accommodation houses, motels, hotels, holiday units and caravan parks. Contact the Information Centre for details. 
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© Copyright Peter W. Wilkins