PORT STEPHENS Visitor Guide www.portstephens.org.au WELCOME TO PORT STEPHENS. First things first… close your See the majestic dunes eyes…. (unless you’re driving)… standing guard over the Worimi take a deep breath in… unbuckle Conservation lands, feel the the stress… and let it go. warm welcome from the locals, hear the calls of wild dolphins Okay… now open your eyes… and humpback whales, taste GUUDJI YIIGU (Goo-jee ik-koo) and exhale. the local produce fresh from The Worimi Traditional Owners welcome you to Port Stephens To make the most of your time the farmgate and smell the salt in this place it’s best to have all air as you gallop on horseback Port Stephens is a part of the The Worimi Aboriginal Community implementation of sustainability and your senses attuned and your through the shallows where the country of the Worimi Aboriginal welcomes visitors to their land and resource management principles mind free to fully experience Pacific meets our coast. Nation and offers visitors many invites all to enjoy and appreciate the and the effective management of the unique, authentic and remarkable wonders of the natural landscapes some of mother nature’s Whether you’re looking for a marine and terrestrial features Port experiences. The Australian and the rich cultural and spritual best work. big adventure or just a little Stephens thrives with an abundant Aboriginal culture, the oldest sites. Please step thoughtfully on environment filled with remarkable relaxation we think you’ll find our We recommend you dive right living culture on earth, is as these lands, respecting the traditions flora, fauna and marine species. in and let your senses swim place simply sensational! diverse as the lands they inhabit, of our ancestors who walked in the natural beauty that So please… make yourself encompassing many nations, before us and preserving them for The Worimi Aboriginal Nation surrounds you. at home. languages, traditions and customs. generations to come. Through the wishes you an enjoyable time. 2 www.portstephens.org.au www.portstephens.org.au 3 CONTENTS GETTING HERE VISITOR INFORMATION 04 GETTING HERE AIR SELF DRIVE Bookings + Gift certificates + Tours + Souvenirs (Nelson Bay) + Guides + Friendly, helpful advice! 06 SAND DUNES Port Stephens is a 2.5 hour drive Newcastle Airport hosts domestic north from Sydney and a 1 hour drive flights to and from Melbourne, Come and see our team at your If you want to pop the question in a 08 NATURE from Newcastle. Canberra, Brisbane, Sydney, Gold closest Port Stephens Visitor unique location, host an event, Coast, Ballina and a host of regional Information Centre. We can help find, create a conference, find a doctor, 10 WATER NSW destinations. wy BRISBANE and book, the right accommodation, book a wedding co-ordinator, try a d H an gl 12 WHALES n Phone 02 4928 9800 or visit tours, transport, or even a hairdresser’s vegetarian restaurant, go on a walking E w e www.newcastleairport.com.au appointment! We’ll find activities or trail, discover a new surf spot, or N 13 DOLPHINS facilities for seniors, families, teens, simply find your way home - we’ve Pacific Hwy PORT To romantics, foodies or wellness warriors. got you covered. To USA 14 NEIGHBOURHOODS DUBBO CAIRNS Golden Hwy STEPHENS Asia NEWCASTLE TOWNSVILLE 16 SEE & DO SYDNEY MACKAY Newell Hwy Hume Hwy ROCKHAMPTON 18 STAY CANBERRA 20 EAT To Middle BRISBANE East, MELBOURNE Europe GOLD COAST 22 EVENTS BALLINA/BYRON BAY COFFS HARBOUR To TAREE 23 DOG INFORMATION Perth DUBBO Approximate distances to PORT STEPHENS Nelson Bay, Port Stephens NEWCASTLE AIRPORT 24 HIKE & BIKE ADELAIDE SYDNEY Sydney CANBERRA 207km via M1 MELBOURNE 26 BEACH & BAY GUIDE To New Zealand Newcastle 60km 28 CONFERENCES via Nelson Bay Road B63 & WEDDINGS Hunter Valley 104km RAIL via Nelson Bay Road B63 30 TOURS, ACTIVITIES, TrainLink provides services in and out Port Macquarie EAT & STAY 250km via Pacific Highway A1 of Newcastle from all over New South Wales. Phone 131 500. Call 1800 808 900 or email [email protected] today! 51 MAPS OF Dubbo 416km PORT STEPHENS via Golden Highway B84 i KARUAH Tamworth 321km Map 2 D2 54 DIRECTORY via New England Highway TRANSFERS Main Centre: 02 4987 0002 Brisbane Newcastle Airport Information Services 778km Karuah Centre, 393 Tarean Road via Pacific Highway A1 is your one-stop-shop for transfers. Book a door to door transfer to meet any flight in or out of Newcastle. NELSON BAY SALAMANDER BAY Map 2 O8 Map 2 K8 COACH Phone 02 4928 9800 or 02 4988 0900 02 4982 7211 visit www.newcastleairport.com.au Salamander Village Bottle Shop, 259 Soldiers Point Road Port Stephens Coaches depart daily Victoria Pde (near waterfront) from Sydney via Chatswood, Pymble Port Stephens Coaches provide a pick and Hornsby to Port Stephens up close to Hamilton Railway Station 1800 808 900 TANILBA BAY Map 2 H9 (including Raymond Terrace, Soldiers and Newcastle Interchange as well as www.portstephens.org.au Point, Salamander Bay, Nelson Bay, Newcastle Airport to Port Stephens on a 02 4984 5677 Tilligerry Habitat Assoc. 2E King Albert Avenue Shoal Bay and Fingal Bay). regular basis. Phone 1800 045 949 or Phone 1800 045 949 or visit www.pscoaches.com.au visit www.pscoaches.com.au 4 www.portstephens.org.au www.portstephens.org.au 5 SAND DUNES. There is no other place on earth Worimi people. Reaching heights where you can experience the likes of over 30m with slopes up to 60 of the monumental Stockton Bight degrees - these truly awe-inspiring Sand Dunes… the largest of their dunes offer a range of unique, type in the southern hemisphere! bucket-list worthy encounters from As part of the Worimi Conservation sandboarding and quadbiking to Lands the dunes stretch 32km camel and horse rides. along the breathtaking Port Gently immerse yourself in a Stephens coastline and are tour of the ancient lands or go home to an extraordinary number full throttle on an adrenaline- of ancient sites of cultural and charged adventure - either way, it’s historical significance for the sandsational! 6 www.portstephens.org.au www.portstephens.org.au 7 NATURE. Whether you’re hiking to the top and rare are all around us in the of Mount Tomaree to marvel at the Tomaree National Park. Coastal majestic views, diving amongst bushland, sand dunes, heathland, the coral gardens at Fly Point, forests and over 20km of rocky mountain biking through bush coastline and stunning white trails at Big Rocky, or discovering sandy beaches provide some the natural ‘champagne spa’ in amazing insta-worthy backdrops rockpools at Boat Harbour - you’ll and unforgettable experiences. soon realise that wonders never After all... life is all about collecting cease here in Port Stephens. moments - not things. Nature’s gifts of beauty rich 8 www.portstephens.org.au www.portstephens.org.au 9 WATER. With 26 beaches, a bay twice the intoxicating. Whether riding size of Sydney Harbour, two lakes the impossibly perfect wave, and a myriad of rivers, creeks and swimming with wild dolphins, estuaries - the 98,000 hectare dropping anchor at a deserted Port Stephens Great Lakes Marine island, skimming across the Park is truly something to behold. water in a jet boat or just paddling Whilst offering a sanctuary for the in rock pools and spying starfish… local marine life - mere mortals you’re invited to dive right in find these turquoise bays and and make a splash in our blue glistening beaches irresistibly water wonderland. 10 www.portstephens.org.au www.portstephens.org.au 11 WHALES. Now here’s something to spout about! Port Stephens, is a world renowned Best viewing locations in whale watching destination parked Port Stephens: right in the middle of the Humpback ■ On a whale watching cruise Highway! Whales meet their need for ■ Barry Park, Fingal Bay food and suitable calving areas by ■ Boat Harbour Headlands travelling long distances from cold ■ Birubi Point, Anna Bay feeding areas, to warm, shallower ■ Fishermans Bay Headland waters for calving and mating. ■ Tomaree Headland, Shoal Bay See the whales as they migrate along the NSW coastline, spot humpbacks breaching and southern rights spy-hopping between May and November from vantage points along the spectacular coast or get up close on one of our award-winning whale watching cruises. DOLPHINS. Around 90 to120 Indo-Pacific one of the daily dolphin watch bottlenose dolphins live cruises for a closer view. permanently in the waters of If you are looking for a bucket-list the Port Stephens - Great Lakes adventure, try swimming with the Marine Park, making it one of the wild dolphins and prepare most popular places in the world yourself for a memorable, some for dolphin watching. say spiritual, experience. The rocky coastal headlands and All Port Stephens dolphin cruise long white beaches of Port operators have the utmost Stephens provide an ideal respect for the dolphins and vantage point for watching their habitat - as do the dolphins from the shore, or join traditional owners. 12 www.portstephens.org.au www.portstephens.org.au 13 Raymond Terrace & Karuah Raymond Terrace is an historic rural town on the edge of NEIGHBOURHOODS. the Hunter River the perfect spot for waterskiing or picnics Welcome to the neighbourhood! Here you’ll be able to explore the unique attractions and experiences of all of beautiful Port Stephens’ on the grassy river banks. Twenty minutes further north individual precincts. Whether you only have one day or a whole week - make the most of your time here and take advantage of our is the tranquil riverside hamlet of Karuah known for its local knowledge to discover hidden treasures like secret walking trails, great sunset spots, where to get the best view of the whales oysters, house boats and fishing spots.Must do: Taste or where to find the best fish and chips.