The top 17 ultimate things to do in Port Stephens

From swimming with dolphins and seeing whales up close to hikings to the top of Mt Tomaree through bushland brimming with wildlife, here the top things to do in Port Stephens.

If Byron Bay and Narooma had a love child, it would be Port Stephens. In addition to wildlife encounters, this extraordinary coastal town (just two and a half hours’ north of Sydney) is blessed with natural beauty and a laid-back coastal vibe. At the heart of it is great accommodation – from fairy-tale retreats to chic waterfront hotels – bolstered by all the best elements of nature. Dive into the NSW North Coast’s unparalleled beauty with the best things to do in Port Stephens.

1. Swim with wild dolphins

Dolphins swimming in Shoal Bay, Port Stephens. — Swimming with dolphins in Shoal Bay is dreamy. (Image: Destination NSW)

Tumbling into crystalline waters on a wild dolphin tour is, for city dwellers, a profoundly moving experience. Dolphin Swim Australia runs responsible wildlife adventures dedicated to respecting local marine life and their habitat. The company emphasises eco-friendly practises, with each swim dependent on the dolphins’ decision to be near guests in the water. A magical thing to do in Port Stephens at least once in your life.

2. Go quad biking in the Stockton Sand Dunes

Couple enjoying a quad bike tour on the Stockton Sand Dunes with Sand Dune Adventures, Port Stephens — Stockton Sand Dunes are the highest sand dunes in the Southern Hemisphere.

Book a 1.5-hour Aboriginal Culture & Sand Boarding Quad Bike Tour with Sand Dune Adventures to see the highest sand dunes in the Southern Hemisphere, the Stockton Bight Sand Dunes. As you’re burning around the extraordinary expanse on quadbikes, an Indigenous guide will scout out middens, where some 18 clans of the Worimi Nation once feasted on fish and shellfish. Part of your tour fee is invested back into the local Indigenous community and the ongoing protection of this sacred space.

3. Get pampered at a day spa

Switch out all that natural Zen for man-made relaxation at the many day spas found across the region. The hotels, once again, house some of the finest, including the Instagram-friendly Spa Bannisters , Sirène Spa inside Shoal Bay’s Ramada Resort and Spa Lucca at The Anchorage. But don’t neglect The Wellness Path , a haven for self-care in Nelson Bay that’s worthy of ample time.

4. Experience some of the best shore diving in NSW

Luxury private chartered yacht experience with Blue Water Sailing in — Learn to free drive in Nelson Bay. (Image: Destination NSW)

Whether you’re an experienced scuba diver or have never donned a snorkel, you will find a dive to suit within the Great Lakes Marine Park in Port Stephens. There’s Fly Point in Nelson Bay, famous for its nudibranchs, and the Pipeline, a must for macro divers. The Looking Glass off Broughton Island is another dive deemed noteworthy as it takes divers through an arch in the rock shared with a grey nurse shark. Grey Nurse Charters can show you the ropes and you can also learn to free dive, one of the best things to do in Port Stephens, with Salty Pilgrims in Nelson Bay.

5. Ride a camel around Anna Bay

Sunset camel riding experience within Anna Bay, Port Stephens. — Morning is the best time for a camel ride at Anna Bay. (Image: Destination NSW)

Riding camels along Anna Bay is one of the most popular things to do in Port Stephens as visitors can enjoy the hypnotic blue of the Pacific while plodding along a huge slab of empty sand. The best time to visit Anna Bay is at the first pink glimmering of daylight when you can climb onboard a camel to enjoy the landscape in a relaxed and meditative way. Oakfield Ranch runs tours six days a week, while Sahara Trails Horse Riding switches out camels for equestrian adventures to delight in a same-same-but-different fashion.

6. Hike to the top of Mt Tomaree

The view from the top of the Mount Tomaree Summit Walk in Port Stephens — The steep walk is worth it for the views. (Image: Destination NSW)

You will find another world on the outskirts of Port Stephens when you turn your back to the beach and fixate on getting to the summit of Mt Tomaree. The Tomaree Head Summit Walk is only 2.2-kilometres return, but clambering up the steep sections on this Grade 5 walk requires a modicum of fitness. The best time to tackle it is between May and October, when you may be able to spot the plume of a whale spout from the summit.

7. Indulge in waterfront cocktails

It just isn’t a visit to Port Stephens without a round of your favourite liquid gold. In this picture-perfect stretch of the coast, bars pop up right off the shores, seizing idyllic backdrops to elevate cocktail o’clock. Moby’s Bar , located at The Anchorage, is all-class while Cheeky Dog at Bannisters Port Stephens is reliably cheerful and Little Beach Boathouse’s Below Deck is easy and breezy. To keep the good times rolling, line your belly lavishly with our pick of the region’s best restaurants.

8. Enjoy a whale-watching cruise

A humpback whale's tail in Port Stephens. — Port Stephens is one of the best places to go whale watching. (Image: Destination NSW)

Speaking of those majestic beasts, Port Stephens is known for its excellent whale watching conditions and Moonshadow – TQC Cruises and Imagine Cruises both offer eco-friendly expeditions. The tours, which run for about three hours, allow guests to spot humpback whales performing pectoral slaps and body rolls. The 360-degree viewing decks also offer glorious vantage points to catch the jumbo beauties breaching, sending them out of the ocean for your ultimate money shot.

9. Learn to surf or SUP

Couple stand-up paddleboarding at Shaol Bay Port Stephens. — If you’ve never been stand-up paddleboarding before, now is your chance.

This corner of the coast is blessed with some of the best surf breaks in the country, making board riding one of the best things to do in Port Stephens. But if it’s your first time surfing or SUPing (stand-up paddleboarding) around the area you should sign up for sessions with Port Stephen Surf School . Their expert instructors will take you to places a little more off the radar as that’s just how they roll. Whether you want to hone your technique or learn to stand up for the first time, these guys will find discreet, uncrowded breaks to help you hang ten to your heart’s content.

10. Savour impeccable hotel dining

Ricks Stein restaurant at Bannisters Port Stephens. — Rick Stein at Bannisters is a must-try.

What a weekend in Port Stephens will tell you is that the best type of restaurants come with overnight stays. Home to two of the best Port Stephens restaurants you’ll find, Bannisters Port Stephens flourishes thanks to Rick Stein at Bannisters , while The Anchorage shines with The Galley Kitchen . Snapping a selfie with a seafood platter is the best kind of holiday souvenir, while your tastebuds will dance to the abundance of fresh-caught catches and masterful flavour profiles. Additionally, Hotel Nelson, yet another outstanding Port Stephens accommodation choice, sits right above the popular Little Nel and its breakfast and lunch services please locals and visitors alike.

11. Tour Tin City on a 4WD safari

Tin City Port Stephens — Visit the Mad Max location by 4WD. (Image: Destination NSW)

Adventure beyond those famous sand dunes with 4WD Tours R Us . In addition to offering sandboarding adventures across Stockton Bight, the team take in Tin City, one of the filming locations for Mad Max. The history of its cobbled-together corrugated iron shacks is fascinating: the shanty town, originally built to accommodate shipwreck survivors, expanded during the Great Depression to include more than 36 huts.

12. Discover the best beaches

Scenic views over Shoal Bay Beach, Zenith Beach, Wreck Beach and Box Beach in Port Stephens from Tomaree Head Summit. — Shoal Bay, Zenith Beach and Wreck Beach are some of Port Stephens’s best beaches. (Image: Destination NSW)

There are many stunning stretches of sand in and around Port Stephens, which is why it’s one of Australia’s most-loved aquatic playgrounds. While adventurous types have the option of diving, those looking for something more sedate can take their time along Wreck Beach Walk or drop a line in the water at Great Lakes Marine Park. Competent surfers, meanwhile, should follow the swell to Wreck, Box, Samurai and Zenith beaches and families can find safe dips at Salamander Bay, Shoal Bay and Nelson Bay.

13. Get your adrenaline pumping at Toboggan Hill Park

Family on the toboggans at the Toboggan Hill Park. — The kids will have hours of fun at Toboggan Hill Park.

Good old-fashioned family fun is on the cards at Toboggan Hill Park , an action-packed thing to do in Port Stephens offering activities for all ages. The main attraction is the one-kilometre downhill toboggan run that twists and turns through bushland – you can go as fast or slow as you want, so even the littlest of adventurers can join in the fun. There’s also an outdoor maze to get lost in, mini golf, bungee tramps, an indoor rock-climbing wall, roller skating and more.

14. Swim with sharks and manta rays

Guests feeding the resident rays at Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters, Anna Bay — Swimming with a stingray is a bucket list moment. (Image: Destination NSW)

Ever fancied cuddling a manta ray or snorkelling with a zebra shark? Here’s your chance. Irukandji Shark & Ray Encounters has several experiences that allow visitors to get close to magnificent marine animals. Choose from wading in a shallow pool to pet and feed them, or swimming in a lagoon with larger varieties. Through its Sea Shelter program, the centre is dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of marine animals, as well as research and education surrounding marine conservation.

15. Take a self-guided brewery and winery tour

The interior of B Farm by Murray's Restaurant William. — Dine at Restaurant William at B Farm by Murray’s.

Get a two-for-one tasting experience at B Farm by Murray’s Craft Brewing Co , an independent brewery that shares a property with Port Stephens Winery, the oldest winery in the region. Sample the 100 per cent natural brews, wines from around the region and enjoy a bite to eat at one of the three onsite dining venues. Oenophiles should also check out Sunset + Vine which overlooks Wonganella Estate Vineyard and offers wine tastings on weekends. Tynan Wines , meanwhile, is a boutique winery that produces small-batch drops and also makes chocolate, cookies and similarly sweet spoils.

16. Support wild koalas at the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary

Koala snuggled in a tree sleeping at the Koala Sanctuary Port Stephens, One Mile — Cosy up with a koala. (Image: Destination NSW)

Port Stephens is home to one of the last remaining koala populations on the east coast and the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary provides a crucial piece of the conservation puzzle. It offers immersive experiences to educate visitors about koalas and their habitat, the opportunity to see veterinary staff looking after sick and injured koalas via a viewing window in its Koala Hospital, and to meander along a 225-metre elevated pathway suspended in treetops to spot koalas in their natural habitat. You can even stay overnight in the sanctuary’s glamping tents, surrounded by eight hectares of bushland.

17. Have your Top Gun moment at Fighter World

Aviation aficionados should make the trip to Fighter World , a hands-on museum adjacent to the RAAF Base Williamtown (about five minutes’ drive from Port Stephens). Learn about the history of the Royal Australian Airforce, wander around famous aircraft including the first jet engine plane built in Australia, see the WWII Spitfire replicas, sit in the cockpit of a Mirage jet fighter and Macchi jet trainer, and see one of the country’s mightiest model aircraft displays, stretched across two hangars.

Originally written by Caral Grossetti with updates by Megan Arkinstall and Kristie Lau-Adams.

Discover the magic of a Sydney staycation in summer at The Fullerton Hotel Sydney.

Sydney City is magical in summer. Warm summer evenings beg to be spent sipping cool cocktails at one of many al fresco and rooftop bars. Ferries and buses are ready to transport travellers to the best nearby beaches for salty days on the sand. National parks and rainforests are waiting to be explored. And the city’s events calendar is packed, from live music to cultural attractions. All elements that call for a Sydney staycation.

Discover where to eat, stay and play for the perfect local getaway.

Where to stay

The Fullerton Hotel Sydney

Amid the bustle of the perfect Sydney staycation, one needs a place to escape to and recharge. Enter, The Fullerton Hotel Sydney . The hotel is an icon in its own right – nestled inside the 151-year-old building that was originally Sydney’s General Post Office, its heritage-listed sandstone walls and Victorian renaissance grandeur have been carefully preserved – providing a rare chance to sleep within Sydney’s history.

Despite its fascinating history, the hotel isn’t short on modern, luxurious comforts. Rooms and suites are available in both the modern high-rise with gorgeous views over the clock tower and lively city below, or inside the historical post office building itself.

the Fullerton Hotel Sydney Heritage Long Suite bathroom — Heritage rooms maintain their old-world style.

Either way, guests can enjoy sophisticated touches, including a deluxe bed and pillow menu, Harman Kardon Bluetooth speakers, a digital concierge, a Vittoria coffee machine and amenities from the Balmain bathroom collection.

The team at this five-star hotel provides excellence and a quality experience for all their guests, while amenities like a gym help with a well-rounded stay. For a peaceful moment with sweeping city views, enter The Fullerton Club Lounge on level 28. This private haven for dining and relaxation is available to any guests staying on the hotel’s club floors and suites.

Add to this a central location in the CBD’s Martin Place, with easy access to Sydney’s top attractions, and convenience meets style.

Where to drink & dine

1. The Bar

the Fullerton Hotel afternoon tea at the bar — Indulge in the Fullerton Signature Afternoon Tea.

Inside The Fullerton Hotel Sydney’s lobby, The Bar does more than sling a few delicious cocktails (although it certainly does that well). Its brown leather chairs and glass ceiling create the perfect, almost al fresco, setting for the Fullerton Signature Afternoon Tea .

Served daily from 12 to 4 pm, the afternoon tea is a nod to the cherished social occasion it once was during the Victorian Renaissance era. People like to dress up for this afternoon tea, and if you’re lucky, a pianist often sits down at the on-site grand piano, just adding to the elegance.

The afternoon tea is served high tea style, offering reimagined British flavours of the Victorian Renaissance era with a unique blend of Australia’s culinary heritage. A sweet layer offers delights like a Malted Milk Envelope (a milk mousse layered between two biscuits), Bakewell Pudding (a super tasty egg-based pudding), and Apple Charlotte.

On the savoury layer, expect finger sandwiches with fillings like cucumber, egg and smoked salmon. While classic pinwheels and stuffed eggs almost make the menu. And, of course, all finished off with traditional scones served with cream and mixed berry jam.

Can’t fit in a whole afternoon tea? Be sure to at least order a slice of the 32-layered chocolate cake, a decadent mix of dark chocolate crémeux, fresh whipped cream, and Valrhona Azélia chocolate sauce. ⁣

2. The Place

the Fullerton Hotel the place dining — Dine in the stunning GPO atrium.

On level one of The Fullerton Hotel Sydney lives The Place – the hotel’s restaurant, in an atrium overlooking the former GPO. Here, dine on Modern Australian cuisine – think fresh, local seafood and a Riverina steak sandwich – along with a touch of Singaporean signature dishes, like Thai-style green curry or chicken satay. All in the shadow of the GPO clock tower, enjoying the GPO atrium’s natural light.

3. Local gelato

Couple enjoying ice-creams at First Fleet Park, The Rocks — Enjoy ice cream in the sunshine. (Image: Destination NSW)

What is summer without ice cream and/or gelato? Luckily, there are plenty of options just a short walk from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, whether you’re craving a midday pick-me-up or an after-sun treat.

What to do/see

1. GPO Heritage Tour

the Fullerton Hotel Sydney lobby — Be awed by the building’s history.

Want to know more about the building you’re staying in? The Fullerton Hotel Sydney offers a complimentary 90-minute GPO Heritage Tour. Follow a knowledgeable tour guide to discover the stories, tales and legends of the former Sydney General Post Office building.

From the iconic clock tower (completed in 1891) to the black-and-white tiled staircase at 1 Martin Place, which was once the main entrance to the GPO and today serves as a prominent feature of the building to the 24 stone faces (mascarons) on the Martin Place side of the building. Part of the 1880s-era facade (designed by architect James Barnet), each represents different states, countries and continents.

2. Circular Quay

aerial of circular quay sydney — Catch a ferry from Circular Quay. (Image: Destination NSW)

An easy walk or light rail ride away from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, lies the bustling Circular Quay. Here, you can sit for a drink and nibbles at the Opera Bar, or head into the iconic house itself for a show. It’s also a major ferry port, becoming your gateway to Sydney’s beaches, Luna Park and even Sydney Zoo.

3. Royal Botanic Gardens

view of circular quay from Sydney's Royal Botanic Garden — Wander through Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden. (Image: Destination NSW)

Just beyond Circular Quay, discover Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden. Wander through this 30-hectare, heritage-listed, botanical garden – exploring its differing sections, from Australian native botanicals to garden beds of vibrant flowers to towering groves of international trees.

It’s also the perfect place for a picnic, so pick up supplies before you come and enjoy a spot on the grassy meadow looking out into the harbour.

4. Theatre Royal

Just a one-minute walk from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, take in a show at Theatre Royal. Built in 1976, the theatre has been offering a broad range of entertainment since the 1990s. Expect a show roster that ranges from the classics (like Cats) to the modern) like Pretty Woman: The Musical).

Start planning a summer stay in Sydney worth remembering at fullertonhotels.com/fullerton-hotel-sydney.