Port Stephens is about three hours north of Sydney and has one of the largest moving dunes in the Southern Hemisphere, a bay with a resident dolphin pod and sheltered beaches. A perfect stop for a few days between Sydney and the north coast. Here you'll find all the checked spots from our map with tips.
You reach Port Stephens from Sydney by car in about two and a half hours, or by bus. Without a car it's more awkward: Nelson Bay, Shoal Bay and Anna Bay are linked by local buses, but for the dunes and more remote beaches a car or a tour helps.
Swimming is best from October to April. From May to November humpback whales pass along the coast; you see the dolphins in the bay all year. It gets busy in school holidays and on summer weekends.
Wooden bungalows in a rainforest garden near One Mile Beach, with a pool, bush kitchen and campfire. You can borrow sandboards and bikes — handy for the dunes. One of the most relaxed backpacker places on this stretch of coast.
A campsite in the bush near One Mile Beach — cheap, quiet and within walking distance of the beach. Good if you're travelling with a tent or van.
A soft beach break, good for learning to surf, with a surf school on site. There are fewer people here than at the harbour beaches, and there are cheap bungalows and campsites behind it.
A sheltered beach in the bay, almost without waves and ideal for swimming. You often see dolphins right off the beach. The path up Tomaree Head starts at the end of the bay.
A semicircular, patrolled bay with pale sand and calm water. Only swim between the flags. The sandbar to the offshore island looks tempting but is dangerous.
Safety: Don't walk across the sandbar to the island. When the tide comes in, the current rips through there — there have been deaths.
Behind a beach over 30 kilometres long stretch huge moving dunes — one of the largest areas of shifting sand in the Southern Hemisphere. You reach them on foot from Birubi Point; most beautiful at sunset. You may only drive in with a permit for the Worimi Conservation Lands. Bring plenty of water — the sand gets hot.
A short, steep path leads to the summit above Shoal Bay, where you look out over the bays and islands of Port Stephens. Most beautiful at sunrise. From May to November humpback whales pass by. About 30 to 45 minutes' climb; sturdy shoes recommended.
Nelson Bay's harbour is the centre of Port Stephens: fish and chips, cafés and the departure point for dolphin and whale boats. In the evening you sit by the water. Dolphins are there all year, whales in winter.
A tour takes you into the Stockton dunes, one of Australia's largest moving-dune areas: sandboarding down the slopes or riding a quad across the sand. Tours start in Anna Bay and are cheap.
A resident dolphin pod lives in the bay, so sightings are frequent. Tours leave from the marina in Nelson Bay; from May to November you'll also see humpback whales.
In the Stockton dunes near Anna Bay, easiest on a tour. On foot you reach the dunes from Birubi Point.
Yes, a resident dolphin pod lives in the bay. Your chances on boat tours from Nelson Bay are very good, and you often see them from Shoal Bay too.
By bus from Sydney or Newcastle. Locally, buses link the towns; for the dunes, a tour is best.
All spots on the Port Stephens map. Nearby: Newcastle to the south and Port Macquarie to the north. The coast at a glance on the Legendary Pacific Coast road trip.
Updated September 2026. Checked against official sources and operator websites. Prices, opening hours and seasons change — check before you go.