Guide · Plan your days

Things to do in Port Stephens, from bay to dunes

The dolphin cruise is only the start. Things to do in Port Stephens run from a steep climb above the heads to sandboarding, koalas and lagoons full of rays. Here is how to fit them together.

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Editorial team, dolphincruiseportstephens.comUpdated October 24, 2026Reading time 6 min43 sources

Port Stephens Dolphin Cruise This guide's tour Port Stephens Dolphin Cruise 4.4 (1,002 reviews) 1.5 hoursBoom net includedDeparts Nelson Bay, Wharf 1 from$33per person Check availabilityFree to cancel until 24 hrs before the start

Quick answer

01On the water
Dolphin cruises all year, whale cruises May to November.12
02Best view
Tomaree Head summit, 161 m above the entrance.3
03Big adventure
Sandboarding on the Stockton Bight dunes.4
04Wildlife on land
Koalas at One Mile, sharks and rays at Anna Bay.56
05Beaches
Destination Port Stephens counts 26 of them.7

On the water: dolphins, whales and reefs

Port Stephens is a bay first, so the obvious place to start is on it. Destination NSW notes that dolphin watching cruises leave the marina in Nelson Bay all year, and the NSW Government puts the resident dolphins at around 90 to 120.18 The cruise this site recommends lasts 1.5 hours with a boom net and starts from $33.

Between May and November, humpback whales pass the coast, and a 2.5-hour whale and outer island cruise heads out to look for them from $60.2 It is a bigger outing than the dolphin trip, through the heads into open water, so pick a calm day.

If you would rather be in the water than on it, Destination NSW points to Fly Point - Halifax Aquatic Reserve, just east of Nelson Bay, for snorkelling among sponge gardens, soft corals, sea turtles and fish.9 A guided snorkelling cruise of 3.5 hours also leaves the marina, from $70; you must be able to swim to join the snorkelling part.

A sample day

One full day around the bay

  1. Morning

    Dolphin cruise

    1.5 hours on the bay from Nelson Bay.

  2. Late morning

    Tomaree summit

    2.2 km return, 1 hr 30 min to 2 hrs.10

  3. Afternoon

    Koala Skywalk

    Last entry 4pm, or 3pm in winter.11

  4. Late afternoon

    Sandboarding

    1.5 hours on the dunes.

  5. Sunset

    Birubi Point

    The Place of the Southern Cross.12

Tomaree: the climb above the heads

For the view that explains the whole bay, climb Tomaree Head. The summit walk is 2.2 km return, takes 1 hr 30 min to 2 hrs, and is Grade 5, with a very steep track and many steps.1013 At the top you stand 161 m above the Port Stephens entrance.3 Park at the lower or upper Zenith Beach car park, or on Shoal Bay Road on busy days.13

From the summit National Parks points out Cabbage Tree and Boondelbah islands, nature reserves that are the world's only nesting sites of the endangered Gould's petrel.14 It calls the Gould's petrel Australia's rarest endemic seabird, with over 95 percent of the species breeding on the islands around Port Stephens.15

Just below the summit, the Fort Tomaree walk leads to gun emplacements built in 1941 as part of Australia's Second World War coastal defences; it is 2.5 km return and Grade 3.1617 Around 500 army, navy and air force personnel served at the fort.18 If you have two days, the Tomaree Coastal Walk links the park over 27 km.19

Walks

Tomaree walks by length

km
Summit walk: 2.2 2.2 Summit walkFort Tomaree walk: 2.5 2.5 Fort Tomaree walkCoastal walk, day 1: 18 18 Coastal walk, day 1Whole coastal walk: 27 27 Whole coastal walk
Return distances for the summit and fort walks, and the one-way coastal walk, as NSW National Parks gives them.101719

At a glance

Port Stephens activities side by side

ActivityWhereTimeFrom
Dolphin cruiseNelson Bay1.5 hrsfrom $33
Whale cruiseNelson Bay2.5 hrsfrom $60
SandboardingStockton Bight1.5 hrsfrom $31
Koala sanctuaryOne MileAny time that dayfrom $20
Shark & ray shallowsAnna Bay2 hrsfrom $29
Surf lessonOne Mile Beach1.5 hrsfrom $60

Each time is the listing's own; each price is the lowest starting fare GetYourGuide shows for one guest, before you choose a date.

The classics

Bay, dunes or koalas first?

Port Stephens: Dolphin Discovery Cruise All year

Dolphin cruise

With the boom net

Duration
1.5 hrs
Rating
4.41
Reviews
1,002
Price
from $33
See this activity
Port Stephens: Unlimited Sandboarding & 4WD Sand Dune Tour Adventure

Sandboarding

4WD transfer included

Duration
1.5 hrs
Rating
4.48
Reviews
563
Price
from $31
See this activity
Port Stephens: Koala Sanctuary General Admission Ticket Gentle

Koala sanctuary

At One Mile

Valid
Selected date
Rating
4.61
Reviews
97
Price
from $20
See this activity

Decision helper

What should you do first?

Pick what fits your mood and the weather

Dolphin cruise

Cruises leave Nelson Bay all year.1

Tomaree Head summit

Grade 5, 161 m above the entrance.103

Sandboarding

Dunes reach over 30 metres high.20

Sharks and rays

One lagoon is fully indoors.21

Koala sanctuary

A raised Skywalk through the trees.22

The Gould's petrel is Australia's rarest endemic seabird, with over 95 percent of the species breeding on the islands around Port Stephens.

NSW National Parks and Wildlife ServiceSource 15

Dunes, quad bikes and Birubi Point

South of Anna Bay the bush gives way to a landscape that looks borrowed from a desert. National Parks calls Stockton Bight the southern hemisphere's largest mobile coastal sand mass, and Destination NSW gives dunes of over 30 metres with slopes up to 60 degrees.420 They belong to the Worimi Conservation Lands, owned and co-managed by the Worimi community with National Parks.23

Sandboarding is the classic way to meet them: a 1.5-hour tour with a 4WD transfer starts from $31, rated 4.48 from 563 reviews. A guided quad bike hour costs from $64 and does not take riders under 16. Our page on the dunes compares every option and explains the beach permit you need for your own vehicle.

End the day at Birubi Point, a declared Aboriginal Place whose name means Place of the Southern Cross.12 The headland looks over the long beach and the sea, and Destination Port Stephens names it for dolphins all year and humpbacks in season.24

Map

From the marina to the heads, the dunes and Sydney

Where the cruises leave Nelson Bay and the two headlands at the mouth of the bay, the coast south past the koala sanctuary to the Stockton Bight dunes, and the drive up from Sydney.

Map of Nelson Bay with d'Albora Marina, Shoal Bay, Tomaree Head and Zenith Beach on the south side of the entrance, Yacaaba Head on the north side, and Fingal Bay 1d'Albora Marina2Shoal Bay3Tomaree Head4Yacaaba Head5Zenith Beach6Fingal Bay
Nelson Bay and the heads
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Map of the coast from Nelson Bay past the koala sanctuary at One Mile, Anna Bay and Birubi Point, along Stockton Bight to Newcastle Airport and Stockton 7Nelson Bay8Koala Sanctuary9Anna Bay10Birubi Point11Newcastle Airport12Stockton
Along the dunes to Stockton
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Map of the New South Wales coast from Sydney north past Newcastle and its airport to Nelson Bay on Port Stephens 13Sydney14Newcastle11Newcastle Airport7Nelson Bay
Sydney to Port Stephens
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
  1. 1
    d'Albora Marina

    6 Teramby Road, a launch point for dolphin and whale watching tours.25

    In Google Maps ↗
  2. 2
    Shoal Bay

    A 40-minute drive from Newcastle Airport.26

    In Google Maps ↗
  3. 3
    Tomaree Head

    161m above the entrance; whale watching from May to November.27

    In Google Maps ↗
  4. 4
    Yacaaba Head

    The northern headland, in Myall Lakes National Park.28

    In Google Maps ↗
  5. 5
    Zenith Beach

    A marine park sanctuary zone where dolphins can be seen.29

    In Google Maps ↗
  6. 6
    Fingal Bay

    A patrolled beach; never cross the spit when water covers it.3031

    In Google Maps ↗
  7. 7
    Nelson Bay

    Wharf 1 at 40 Victoria Pde, where the dolphin cruise boards.

    In Google Maps ↗
  8. 8
    Koala Sanctuary

    562 Gan Gan Road, One Mile, beside the koala hospital.5

    In Google Maps ↗
  9. 9
    Anna Bay

    The lower car park on James Paterson St, where sandboarding trips start.

    In Google Maps ↗
  10. 10
    Birubi Point

    An Aboriginal Place whose name means Place of the Southern Cross.12

    In Google Maps ↗
  11. 11
    Newcastle Airport

    About 30 minutes by car from Nelson Bay.32

    In Google Maps ↗
  12. 12
    Stockton

    Stockton Beach runs 32 km from the Hunter River to Birubi Point.33

    In Google Maps ↗
  13. 13
    Sydney

    An easy 2.5-hour drive south of Port Stephens.34

    In Google Maps ↗
  14. 14
    Newcastle

    Buses link Newcastle Interchange with the airport up to 11 times a day.35

    In Google Maps ↗
Open the map in Google Maps

Checklist

For a few days around the bay

01

Pack

  • Swimwear and a towel for the boom net
  • Hat, sunscreen and water for Tomaree
  • A jacket for the boat and the dunes
02

Remember

  • Never cross the Fingal spit over water
  • Whale cruises only from May to November
  • A beach permit if you drive on the sand

Cost calculator

What your Port Stephens days cost

Starting totals for the main activities by group size.

People 2

Total from$65

per traveler from $33

Check availabilityfree cancellation

Each total multiplies the lowest per-person starting price on GetYourGuide by the size of your group and converts it at the European Central Bank's daily rate; your date and option set the final amount.

Video

Top 10 Things to Do in Port Stephens

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Port Stephens attractions with animals

Two Port Stephens attractions are all about animals on land. The Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary at 562 Gan Gan Road, One Mile, shares its site with an independent koala hospital.536 Its elevated Skywalk, which Destination NSW lists at 225m, puts you at eye level with recovering wild koalas.3722

The sanctuary opens 9am to 5pm, with last entry at 4pm, and in winter from 9am to 4pm.11 A ticket starts from $20 and is valid all day on your date. You cannot hold a koala here: holding wild koalas is not permitted in New South Wales.38

At Anna Bay, a shark and ray centre lets you wade into lagoons among rays and small sharks. It opens 9am to 5pm every day, and its shallows pass starts from $29 for 2 hours.6 On the shallows pass you wade but do not swim, and only reef-friendly sunscreen is allowed.

Beaches, and one to treat with care

Destination Port Stephens counts 26 beaches around the bay and its coast, from calm, sheltered strands inside the heads to open surf facing the Pacific.7 Within Tomaree National Park, One Mile Beach, Fingal Bay Beach and Birubi Beach are patrolled by lifeguards.30 Swim between the flags whenever they are up.

One spot deserves a clear warning. The sand spit to Fingal Island looks like an easy walk at low tide, but National Parks calls it extremely dangerous: people have drowned crossing and swimming there, tides and swell can cover the sandbar quickly, and you should not cross in either direction if any water is over it.31 The island's Point Stephens Lighthouse, built in 1862, is best admired from the shore.39

Zenith Beach, below Tomaree Head, is a sanctuary zone of the marine park where collecting or fishing is not permitted and pets are not allowed.40 For surfers, a group lesson at One Mile Beach lasts 1.5 hours, from $60.

Things to do in Port Stephens with kids

Planning things to do in Port Stephens with kids is easy, because several activities here suit children by design. On the dolphin cruise the boom net is included, so pack swimwear and a towel and let them sit in the net. On the all-day sandboarding ticket from Anna Bay, children aged 3 and under go free.

At the shark and ray lagoons, under-12s need an adult in the water with them, which turns it into a shared adventure. The koala sanctuary ticket is listed as wheelchair accessible. Leave the pram behind on the cruise, though: only collapsible strollers are allowed on board.

Older children and teenagers will want the dunes and perhaps a surf lesson, while the quad bikes are for 16 and up only. Mix one big outing a day with beach time, and the trip stays fun for everyone rather than turning into a list to tick off.

When it rains, and when to come

Rain does not have to end the day. The shark and ray centre at Anna Bay is partially undercover, with one lagoon entirely indoors.21 The animal park off Nelson Bay Road, with its sharks, rays, reptiles and crocodiles, is fully indoors and open daily from 9am to 5pm except Christmas Day.

For timing, National Parks calls autumn the best season for hiking in Tomaree, with the ocean usually still warm enough to swim, while spring brings out the wildflowers.41 It gives May and June as the wettest months and October and November as the driest.42

Destination Port Stephens gives summer temperatures between 18 and 28°C, ideal for the beaches, and winter between 9 and 18°C, the season it also calls whale season.743 Our best-time page sets every month side by side.

Meet the locals

Fins in the bay, a splash in the net

1.5 hours from Wharf 1, Nelson Bay, boom net included; cancel free until a day before.

Check datesfrom $33 · cancel for free 4.4 · 1,002 verified reviews

You ask,we answer.

What is there to do in Port Stephens?

Cruises, walks, dunes and wildlife. Dolphin cruises run all year, and the dunes and koala sanctuary are minutes from Nelson Bay.1

How hard is the Tomaree Head summit walk?

Steep: Grade 5. It is 2.2 km return and takes 1 hr 30 min to 2 hrs.10

Can I walk to Fingal Island?

Only with great care. National Parks says never cross if any water covers the sandbar.31

Which beaches have lifeguards?

One Mile, Fingal Bay and Birubi. They are patrolled beaches within Tomaree National Park.30

What can we do on a rainy day?

Visit the sharks and rays. The centre at Anna Bay has a fully indoor lagoon.21

Are the quad bikes OK for children?

Not under 16. The quad bike tour does not take children under 16.

Where can I see Gould's petrels?

From Tomaree Head, at a distance. Their nesting islands are visible from the summit.14

Sources

Evidence for this guide

  1. 1
    Destination NSW (Visit NSW)Nelson Bay, Port Stephens
    ↩
  2. 2
    NSW National Parks and Wildlife ServiceWhale facts
    ↩
  3. 3
    NSW National Parks and Wildlife ServiceTomaree Head Summit walk
    ↩
  4. 4
    NSW National Parks and Wildlife ServiceWorimi National Park | Learn more
    ↩
  5. 5↩
  6. 6↩
  7. 7
    Destination Port StephensTravel Information
    ↩
  8. 8
    NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (Environment and Heritage)Port Stephens Bottlenose Dolphins: Visitor guide
    ↩
  9. 9
    Destination NSW (Visit NSW)Nelson Bay, Port Stephens
    ↩
  10. 10
    NSW National Parks and Wildlife ServiceTomaree Head Summit walk
    ↩
  11. 11
    Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary (Port Stephens Council)Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary
    ↩
  12. 12
    NSW National Parks and Wildlife ServiceBirubi Point Aboriginal Place
    ↩
  13. 13
    NSW National Parks and Wildlife ServiceTomaree Head Summit walk | Visitor info
    ↩
  14. 14
    NSW National Parks and Wildlife ServiceTomaree Head Summit walk
    ↩
  15. 15
    NSW National Parks and Wildlife ServiceGould's petrel conservation project
    ↩
  16. 16
    NSW National Parks and Wildlife ServiceTomaree National Park
    ↩
  17. 17
    NSW National Parks and Wildlife ServiceFort Tomaree walk
    ↩
  18. 18
    NSW National Parks and Wildlife ServiceWorld War II gun emplacements
    ↩
  19. 19
    NSW National Parks and Wildlife ServiceTomaree Coastal Walk: 2 days self guided
    ↩
  20. 20↩
  21. 21↩
  22. 22
    Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary (Port Stephens Council)Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary
    ↩
  23. 23
    NSW National Parks and Wildlife ServiceWorimi National Park
    ↩
  24. 24
    Destination Port Stephens (official visitor site)Anna Bay
    ↩
  25. 25
    Destination NSW (Visit NSW)d'Albora Nelson Bay Marina
    ↩
  26. 26
    Destination NSW (Visit NSW)Shoal Bay, Port Stephens
    ↩
  27. 27
    NSW National Parks and Wildlife ServiceTomaree Head Summit walk
    ↩
  28. 28
    NSW National Parks and Wildlife ServiceYacaaba Headland walking track
    ↩
  29. 29
    NSW National Parks and Wildlife ServiceZenith Beach
    ↩
  30. 30
    NSW National Parks and Wildlife ServiceTomaree National Park
    ↩
  31. 31
    NSW National Parks and Wildlife ServicePoint Stephens Lighthouse and Fingal Island
    ↩
  32. 32
    Destination NSW (Visit NSW)Nelson Bay, Port Stephens
    ↩
  33. 33↩
  34. 34
    Destination NSW (Visit NSW)Port Stephens, North Coast NSW
    ↩
  35. 35↩
  36. 36↩
  37. 37
    Destination NSW (Visit NSW)Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary
    ↩
  38. 38
    Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary (Port Stephens Council)Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary
    ↩
  39. 39
    NSW National Parks and Wildlife ServicePoint Stephens Lighthouse and Fingal Island
    ↩
  40. 40
    NSW National Parks and Wildlife ServiceTomaree Head Summit walk | Visitor info
    ↩
  41. 41
    NSW National Parks and Wildlife ServiceTomaree National Park - Visitor info
    ↩
  42. 42
    NSW National Parks and Wildlife ServiceTomaree National Park - Visitor info
    ↩
  43. 43
    Destination Port StephensTravel Information
    ↩

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