The Port Stephens region stretches from Williamtown in the south to Tea Gardens in the north, taking in Nelson Bay, Anna Bay, Shoal Bay, Fingal Bay, and the iconic Stockton Beach sand dunes along the way. Here's a local guide to the best activities in the area.
Quad Biking on the Sand Dunes
The headline activity in the region. Quad biking with Quad Bike King takes you across the Stockton Bight sand dunes — the largest moving coastal dunes in the Southern Hemisphere. Guided tours on 350cc Yamaha Grizzlys, open to all experience levels aged 16+. Nothing else in the region comes close.
Dolphin Watching Cruises
Port Stephens is home to a resident pod of bottlenose dolphins, making it one of the best places in Australia for dolphin watching. Cruise operators depart from Nelson Bay Marina year-round. From June to November, the same cruises double as whale watching tours as humpbacks pass through on their northern migration.
Beaches
Port Stephens is ringed with excellent beaches — Shoal Bay for calm swimming, Fingal Bay for a more secluded feel, and One Mile Beach near Anna Bay for surf. Stockton Beach itself stretches for kilometres and is accessible by 4WD for fishing and camping.
Nelson Bay Town Centre
Nelson Bay has a good selection of restaurants, cafes, and fish and chip shops clustered around the marina. It's a natural starting and ending point for a day in Port Stephens — grab breakfast before your quad bike ride and lunch by the water afterwards.
Getting to the Port Stephens Region
From Sydney: Take the M1 Pacific Motorway north to Nelson Bay Road (B63). The drive is approximately 2.5 hours to Nelson Bay, or around 2 hours to the Quad Bike King location at Williamtown.
From Newcastle: Head north on Nelson Bay Road (B63) for approximately 25 minutes to reach Williamtown and the Stockton Beach access point.