Sun, sea, salt and Santa...what's not to love! Summer is our favourite time in Port Stephens! So come all ye faithful and relive the memories of carefree, sunny, summers in Port Stephens… jumping off jetties, swimming and surfing, hot days and cool drinks, salty hair (and chips). Now it's time to make new memories with the kids and grandkids, family and friends. We hope this handy guide, full of local knowledge and insider tips makes for an easy, breezy incredible summer in Port Stephens! Enjoy this incredible place!
Play it safe at our beaches, bays & waterways.
With 26 beaches and a bay twice the size of Sydney Harbour, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to waterplay this summer.
Find a surf beach, patrolled beach, a quiet bay for kid-safe swimming, boat ramps for jet skis, marinas for yachts, incredible dive spots, secret fishing coves, serene SUP and kayak spots… but wherever you go - put safety first.
Learn the tips on rips and the danger of spits, swim between flags and slip slop slap, wear life vests on boats so you’ll stay afloat & drink plenty of water - ‘cause you know you oughta!
Port Stephens is much more than just the Tomaree Peninsula with it’s stunning coastlines and waterways. The LGA covers 134 square kilometers of diverse environments, heritage towns and historic villages. If you want a break from salt and sunburn take the Hinterland Heritage Drive or discover the Riverside Villages of Karuah and try the freshest of oysters or a riverside picnic. There’s more incredible places to explore in Port Stephens than you can imagine.
Take the stress out of your holidays! If you plan to visit one of the busy locations, book ahead and make a plan! Traffic can be hectic and parking tricky so leave plenty of time, where possible walk, or get a lift to the busy spots and avoid peak times.
On departure day avoid the rush - leave early or plan a morning walk, or lunch, so you can hit the road relaxed and miss the 10am to 12 rush!
Check your Traffic App before you go to get the heads up on any hold ups!
Our population booms over the summer holidays and though we do our very best - at times, we just dont have enough staff to service you as well as we would like.
A little patience and respect with a sprinkling of kindness will make everyone’s day a little better. Book ahead, be patient if there’s a line, accept that sometimes we may be short on stock, play eye spy in a traffic jam… take a breath, chillax and switch into holiday mode!
Give parking a thought & you don’t get caught!
In the peak summertime at Port Stephens the influx of visitors to our little towns and villages means that car parking is at a premium. It pays to consider your parking options early!
If you can - get a bus, a lift, a cab, a tandem bike or take a walk to your nearby destination - it may be just the ticket to a stress free outing. If you are parking - download the "Park'n Pay" App
The environment, the culture and the people are what makes this place incredible - and we need your help to keep it that way!
Go thoughtfully and respectfully in our national parks and waterways. Use vehicles and watercraft as directed and where permitted. Be aware of places you can and can’t take your dog. Use less plastic, recycle more, dispose of your rubbish responsibly - be part of the solution - not the problem.
We thank you in advance.
There’s always an alternative to driving so you can avoid those pesky parking problems and traffic snarls... check out the buses, or take a ferry ride to Tea Gardens
It’s a rare and special treat to explore the Stockton sand dunes (the largest of their kind in the southern hemisphere) in your own 4WD.
The dunes are part of The Worimi Conservation Lands (WCL) - a national park providing four-wheel drive access to more than 19 km of Stockton beach front and over 350 hectares of dunes.
You’ll need a Beach Vehicle Permit, be well equipped for beach driving and aware of the tides. Only drive in the Recreational Vehicle Area and adhere to all road safety rules when driving on the beach, taking care not to damage the frontal dunes.
If you’re dotty about your dalmatian, or adore your labrador ...we understand. In fact, we’re fine with your canine coming on holiday in Port Stephens at one of our pet friendly accommodations. But there are a few rules for everyone’s protection!
Go fetch our off-leash dog park maps online. Follow the signage, pick up your pet poop and keep pets out of National Parks (we need to protect our flora & fauna).
We love to welcome visitors to our Incredible Place and summer is our favourite time of year. So many recall carefree sunny summers in Port Stephens… jumping off jetties, swimming, salty hair (and chips)… and now you’re here making memories for the next generations!
We hope these tidbits of local knowledge help make your stay peaceful, stress-free and most of all - fun! Enjoy your stay - Namaste!
