Port Stephens: Visit Australia’s Dolphin Capital
If seeing wild dolphins is one of your dreams, Port Stephens is one of the best places on the Australian East Coast to watch them playing in their natural environment.
Just 2.5 hours north of Sydney, this huge turquoise bay is home to a resident pod of over 140 wild bottlenose dolphins.
Join a dolphin-watching cruise from Nelson Bay and watch them swimming, playing and riding the waves beside the boat.
Surf the Largest Sand Dunes in the Southern Hemisphere
Jump into a 4×4 and explore the Stockton Bight Sand Dunes for a real adventure!
Grab a sandboard and fly down giant slopes in the largest dune system in the Southern Hemisphere, reaching up to 40 metres high!
Port Stephens is a highly recommended stop along our Sydney to Cairns Route Planner, and a favourite with our customers.
Free & Low Cost Things to Do in Port Stephens
Some of the best experiences in Port Stephens cost nothing at all.
Port Stephens is a great place for families and free-spirited travellers to explore beaches, headlands, lookouts and walking tracks at their own pace.
Hike Tomaree Head:
Climb to the summit for sweeping views across the bay, ocean and nearby islands.
Swim at Shoal Bay:
Swim in the calm turquoise water or relax on Shoal Bay’s white sand.
Drive to Gan Gan Hill Lookout:
Enjoy wide views over Nelson Bay and the surrounding coastline with very little walking.
Walk to Wreck Beach:
Follow a short bush track to a quieter beach hidden behind Shoal Bay.
Explore Fort Tomaree:
Discover old Second World War gun emplacements along the lower slopes of Tomaree Head.
Watch for Humpback Whales:
From May to November, watch for humpback whales breaching offshore from the coastal headlands.
