Port Stephens
Location : 209km North of Sydney Population : Nelson Bay: 7000 A placid secluded bay defined by blue-green water and the Tomaree National Park

Info

We stayed in Nelson Bay - a lovely marina and the start of the seafood extravaganza that will continue up the coast! The 3 hour whale-watching trip was well worth it, especially as neither of us was sea-sick! We also did an eco-walk at Lemon Tree Creek, which was led by a retired volunteer (Graham, originally from Kent!). We looked at the koalas in their natural habitat, were shown different plants and insects and secrets of aboriginal survival were shared with us. Topped off with boomerang tuition, it was an excellent afternoon spent. There were also some good walks to do at the heads and on the Southern side of the bay, which boasts the biggest sand dune in the Southern hemisphere at Stockton Beach. See www.portstephens.org.au for further info.

Pub Trivia:
Did you know that the sand on Whaikiki Beach in Hawaii comes from Anna Bay in Port Stephens? Hawaii is a volcanic area with black sand the natural resource.

The Gallery

View over Shoal Bay from Tomaree Head

View from other side of the head - sand bank to Fingal Lighthouse

Step 1: 'How to become a true Aussie' - learn to throw a Boomerang!

Chief Navigator planning the next day's mission.

Watching a pod of humpbacked whales.

Migrating North for winter (& mating!)

On board the whale watching vessel - you can't see the 3m swell though!

Whale finale

Dolphin escort back to base - on the boat's pressure wave

.....and we could live here!

 

Port Stephens