Sabrina’s guidebook
Sightseeing
Beautiful walk that is unique as you can only cross in low tide - don't get stuck or you too will ask "where the bloody hell are you?"
Lighthouse Trail
Lighthouse TrailBeautiful walk that is unique as you can only cross in low tide - don't get stuck or you too will ask "where the bloody hell are you?"
Great for a walk, swim or fish (good for little ones - go off the wharf).
You’ll often see dolphins cruising through this bay, go at dusk.
Shoal Bay Foreshore Reserve
70 Shoal Bay RoadGreat for a walk, swim or fish (good for little ones - go off the wharf).
You’ll often see dolphins cruising through this bay, go at dusk.
Places to visit
This place is filled with fun for the family. They have many different animals and reptiles.
Oakvale Wildlife Park
3 Oakvale DrA fun day with lots of cute wildlife!
Dog friendly beach for playtime with your furry companion.
Dutchmans Beach, New South Wales, Australia
Dog friendly beach for playtime with your furry companion.
Food scene
Food and service are consistent and delicious! This place gets busy, I recommend you get there nice and early for a table. They also do takeaway. There is also an amazing homewards shop up stairs, that you enter from the cafe.
26 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Home Interior
41 Donald StFood and service are consistent and delicious! This place gets busy, I recommend you get there nice and early for a table. They also do takeaway. There is also an amazing homewards shop up stairs, that you enter from the cafe.
Our favorite Thai Restaurant when we are in town.
11 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Sanook Thai Restaurant
25 Sandy Point RdOur favorite Thai Restaurant when we are in town.
Tasty food with options for those with food intolerances.
70 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Little Nel
7 Government RdTasty food with options for those with food intolerances.
Beautiful spot to have a nice meal and a drink. Great in the afternoon (sitting on the balcony, looking across the bay).
Stays open into the evening.
The menu is pretty good for people with food allergies.
95 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Shoal Bay Country Club
35-45 Shoal Bay RdBeautiful spot to have a nice meal and a drink. Great in the afternoon (sitting on the balcony, looking across the bay).
Stays open into the evening.
The menu is pretty good for people with food allergies.
Local, remodeled pub, with lovely dining experience (open kitchen, oversized woodfire pizza oven).
Good, cosy sports bar area.
2 x Walk up bars.
Several options for those with food allergies.
40 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Seabreeze Hotel
1 Stockton StLocal, remodeled pub, with lovely dining experience (open kitchen, oversized woodfire pizza oven).
Good, cosy sports bar area.
2 x Walk up bars.
Several options for those with food allergies.
Rick Steins hotel, about a 15 minute drive from Nelson Bay CBD.
Amazing dining experience with lovely locally sourced food and wine.
There’s multiple places to eat/drink at Bannisters including the restaurant, bar and outdoor areas.
26 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Bannisters Port Stephens
147 Soldiers Point RdRick Steins hotel, about a 15 minute drive from Nelson Bay CBD.
Amazing dining experience with lovely locally sourced food and wine.
There’s multiple places to eat/drink at Bannisters including the restaurant, bar and outdoor areas.
Quaint spot, right in the thick of the local oyster farms (you can see them from the shop) with farm to table style service.
Grab a bag or two (shucked or unshucked) and sit there or take home and enjoy - can’t get fresher.
16 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Holberts Oyster Supplies
52 Diemars RdQuaint spot, right in the thick of the local oyster farms (you can see them from the shop) with farm to table style service.
Grab a bag or two (shucked or unshucked) and sit there or take home and enjoy - can’t get fresher.
A trendy eatery with live music and tasty food. Family friendly atmosphere.
58 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Murray's Brewery
3443 Nelson Bay RdA trendy eatery with live music and tasty food. Family friendly atmosphere.
Atmos
Amazing Greek food in one of the most beautiful locations.
Ocean Beach
Beach on the ocean side
Whilst a narrow beach, the old boat ramp has a beautiful corridor to swim. Take a snorkel for some sight seeing.
There’s some great rock pools along the right hand side but make sure you get the tide times right.
22 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Boat Harbour
Whilst a narrow beach, the old boat ramp has a beautiful corridor to swim. Take a snorkel for some sight seeing.
There’s some great rock pools along the right hand side but make sure you get the tide times right.
Amazing place; sand and sea all the way to Newcastle (you can see it on a good day).
If you’re driving; park at the surf club (good spot for a nice lunch).
Take the swimmers to go for a dip - there’s plenty of water to choose from (note that only the far left corner is patrolled and the beach/rips can get pretty wild).
Good beach fishing as you walk down. Look for the gutters. I’ve caught plenty smaller stuff off of the beach with worms, some bigger stuff around on other setups too.
There’s a few other paid activities at the beach (via a different entry to the Anna Bay - Surf a club road). Take the 4wd entry signs through to:
- camel rides
- 4-wheeler hire
- 4-wd (will definitely need to be a 4wd though with good clearance)
If you are taking your 4wd on, there’s plenty of space to find some spots to yourself for sandboarding, swimming, fishing and surfing.
There’s a camp site too, checkout Ganyamalbaa Camping Area.
45 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Stockton Beach
Amazing place; sand and sea all the way to Newcastle (you can see it on a good day).
If you’re driving; park at the surf club (good spot for a nice lunch).
Take the swimmers to go for a dip - there’s plenty of water to choose from (note that only the far left corner is patrolled and the beach/rips can get pretty wild).
Good beach fishing as you walk down. Look for the gutters. I’ve caught plenty smaller stuff off of the beach with worms, some bigger stuff around on other setups too.
There’s a few other paid activities at the beach (via a different entry to the Anna Bay - Surf a club road). Take the 4wd entry signs through to:
- camel rides
- 4-wheeler hire
- 4-wd (will definitely need to be a 4wd though with good clearance)
If you are taking your 4wd on, there’s plenty of space to find some spots to yourself for sandboarding, swimming, fishing and surfing.
There’s a camp site too, checkout Ganyamalbaa Camping Area.
Pristine water and amazing scenery. Rolling sand dunes and bush all the way to the water.
Good fishing spots further up the beach (around Samuri beach) and just as many surfing spots (you’ll often find either space to yourself).
Only the right hand corner is patrolled, so stay close if you’re with the family or not 100% surf-confident.
There’s a cafe/restaurant at the entrance, which is just next to the car park (it’s organized chaos in there - try and get a spot under a tree if it’s a hot day).
You can hire surf equipment from the same building as the cafe.
8 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
One Mile Beach, Port Stephens
Hannah ParadePristine water and amazing scenery. Rolling sand dunes and bush all the way to the water.
Good fishing spots further up the beach (around Samuri beach) and just as many surfing spots (you’ll often find either space to yourself).
Only the right hand corner is patrolled, so stay close if you’re with the family or not 100% surf-confident.
There’s a cafe/restaurant at the entrance, which is just next to the car park (it’s organized chaos in there - try and get a spot under a tree if it’s a hot day).
You can hire surf equipment from the same building as the cafe.
Snorkeling & Diving
Opportunities to see some fish and other sea life.
An awesome national park area with a unique snorkeling experience. At the height of either tide, you can jump in at fly beach and float round to Nelson Bay Beach (or visa versa).
18 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Fly Point Dive Site
Victoria ParadeAn awesome national park area with a unique snorkeling experience. At the height of either tide, you can jump in at fly beach and float round to Nelson Bay Beach (or visa versa).
Bay Beach
Beach within one of the many bays.
Hire a kayak or a SUP and spend some time on the water.
6 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Port Stephens Paddlesports, Shoal Bay
51 Shoal Bay RdHire a kayak or a SUP and spend some time on the water.
Cool experience for the little ones, it’s kind of like a mix between a jumping castle and ninja warrior, but on water.
10 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
SPLASH Waterpark
40 Victoria ParadeCool experience for the little ones, it’s kind of like a mix between a jumping castle and ninja warrior, but on water.