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.

Whales breaching, fires crackling and slow-cooked feasts that make the cold so cosy, one might wish it lasted longer. Winter is no time to stay at home in NSW.

When the mercury drops, winter in NSW comes into its own. Beaches are quieter, the air is crisper and hearty food tastes even better when there’s ice on the windows.

Winter here isn’t for hiding away. It’s for long walks, deep baths, deeper reds and the kind of fireside lounging that feels simultaneously indulgent and entirely deserved after a day of exploring. From whale-watching up north to moodily lit bushwalks and pastry pilgrimages, we’ve mapped out your new favourite season.

a beach winter in nsw — From coastal walks to tasty delights, winter in NSW is a time to get out and about.

The Tweed

In winter, the NSW north coast has a front-row seat to one of nature’s greatest migrations. From May to November, humpbacks cruise past the Tweed coast between Antarctica and the Great Barrier Reef. Spot them from the Cabarita Beach headland or get up closer with a boat cruise.

Inland, find the Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre , which is home to a rotating cast of big-name exhibitions (including Monet).

Later, grab a table at Bistro Livi , where the modern Spanish menu features whipped salt cod on toast and spanner crab with curry butter and spelt flatbread. Stick around to poke through the artist studios and indie boutiques of M|Arts Precinct .

visitors at Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre — Browse the art. (Image: Destination NSW)

The next day, jump aboard the Indigenous Lunch Cruise with Tweed Escapes. You’ll cruise upriver listening to yarns from local Indigenous guides, stop at the Minjungbal Aboriginal Cultural Museum and tuck into lemon myrtle-crusted snapper.

Next, drive out to Farm & Co to pull apart some juicy smoked lamb shoulder with green olive tapenade while gazing out over the macadamia fields and avocado groves of this working farm.

End the day at Mantra on Salt Beach where you’ll enjoy beach access, a heated rock spa and a lagoon pool.

dining room at Bistro Livi — Taste modern Spanish at Bistro Livi.

Blue Mountains

The cold season is hands down the best time to visit the Blue Mountains. Temperatures are perfect – sunny enough for hikes, and crisp enough at night for snuggling up.

For a trip that equally soothes and stirs, start with a meditative meander through the national park’s eucalypts and Australian wildflowers. Brave the steepest passenger railway in the world, Scenic Railway , then hop the Skyway aerial cable car for unrivalled Three Sisters views.

Thaw out at the Japanese Bath House in South Bowenfels. Soak in steamy outdoor onsens filled with natural mineral water and mountain views, wander the rose and zen gardens, or sip hot drinks in the tea house.

group leader at Blue Mountains Stargazing — Rug up for Blue Mountains Stargazing. (Image: Destination NSW)

Afterwards, head to Ates in Blackheath, where everything revolves around a 150-year-old ironbark-fuelled oven – like the wood-roasted duck with nectarines and Szechuan spice. Or visit Tempus Katoomba , which leans experimental and sustainable, serving up dishes like braised fennel with cumin, spiced yogurt and Aleppo pepper.

Rug up and head into the night with Blue Mountains Stargazing . Sessions are guided by astrophysicists, helping you understand what you’re looking at as you look into deep space.

Wrap it all up at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains – MGallery Collection . There’s a whiskey bar in the basement (and crackling fires that make a dram taste even better), indoor and outdoor pools and a day spa. Kids will love the mirror maze and ice rink, too.

dishes laid out on table at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains — End the day with delicious meals at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains. (Image: Destination NSW)

Southern Highlands

Good food and wine by the fire, experienced between sifting through second-hand treasures, is a winter vibe in Bowral.

Start with a lap around Dirty Janes , an antique and vintage market. Recover from your shopping frenzy at Bendooley Book Barn , where floor-to-ceiling shelves and a roaring fire set the tone for an afternoon of red wine or hot coffee.

When it’s time to eat, head to Hickory’s Restaurant & Bar , Peppers Craigieburn Bowral’s onsite restaurant. Try the crispy pork belly with Granny Smith crisps and apple gel, or ocean trout with wakame, lemon gel and pickled radish.

couple looking through Dirty Janes in bowral — Wander the antiques at Dirty Janes. (Image: Destination NSW)

Another option, Onesta Cucina , does Italian with flair. For something more casual (with cocktails), Flour Bar swings between brunch and dinner, with an onsite bakery, over 400 wines and a hidden deli in the old bank vault.

Later, clamber Mt Gibraltar , where trails wind through eucalypt forest to views over Bowral and Mittagong.

Stay at Peppers Craigieburn Bowral , a century-old estate with open fires, elegant lounges and a nine-hole golf course.

woman and her dog winter in nsw at Peppers Craigieburn Bowral — Stay cosy at Peppers Craigieburn Bowral.

Penrith

Shake off winter inertia with an adrenaline boost out in Penrith. Kick things off with a kayak paddle on the Nepean River with Horizon Line, or head to Cables Wake Park , where cold-weather wetsuits take the edge off a wipeout.

For something a bit more cruisy, opt for the Nepean Belle Paddlewheeler for slow-floating views and a hot cuppa.

kayakers on the nepean river in penrith — Head out on the Nepean River. (Image: Destination NSW)

Refuel at Marcel Bar & Bistro , where reimagined European comfort food – like seafood risotto in bisque with little neck clams and Moreton Bay bugs – is king. Then check in at the Pullman Sydney Penrith , the area’s first international five-star hotel, to enjoy your well-earned rest.

Start planning your NSW winter getaway at all.com.