A blue water wonderland, Port Stephens in NSW is ideal for a family holiday. Located just an hour north of Newcastle or 2.5 hours from Sydney, it’s easy to get to and hard to leave.
There are plenty of fun attractions and activities to do with kids. Choose from dolphin cruises, koala and other animal encounters, scenic hikes, exploring the sand dunes or getting out on the water at one of the many beaches and bays. One thing is for sure, there is so much fun for kids!
Whether you’re coming for the day, a weekend or a week, we’ve put together a big list of places to go and things to do on your next Port Stephens family holiday.
Get in the water
Port Stephens is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in Australia, including Shoal Bay Beach, Fingal Bay Beach, and Birubi Beach. There are 26 beaches and bays ideal for a swim or surf. You can spend the day swimming, sunbathing, building sandcastles, or trying out water sports like kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and surfing.
If you want specific family-friendly beaches, we have a few recommendations. Little Beach is just around from the tourist hub of Nelson Bay. This peaceful harbour beach is perfect for littlies who will love playing in the sand or splashing in the calm water.
If they tire of the beach, there’s a small playground at the beach to keep them busy for ages with swings, musical equipment and the popular play house.
A great place for a dip is at Shoal Bay especially the beach near the start of the Tomaree Headland walk.
As it’s a harbour beach, it’s usually pretty calm and it’s close to Aussie Bob’s Fish and Ships
Head to Boat Harbour for a swim and a play at a beachside playground. Facing east and called Boat Harbour as it’s where locals launch their boats, this beach is is 200m long so plenty of room for everyone. Have a swim and then head to the beachside playground. Toilet facilities are conveniently located next to the playground too.
Go on a dolphin cruise or whale watching cruise
Port Stephens is known as the dolphin capital of Australia, and you can take a dolphin watching cruise to see these friendly creatures up close. Moonshadow Cruises and Imagine Cruises run dolphin and whale watching cruises from Nelson Bay in Port Stephens. During the whale watching season (May to November), you can also see humpback whales migrating along the coast.
See whales from shore
You can also spot whales from land. Head to the top of Tomaree Headland at Shoal Bay for a great vantage point to spot whales. If you don’t have the energy to climb up Tomaree, visit Barry Park in Fingal Bay. From here, you’ll be able to see migrating humpbacks on their annual migration. Walk out to the lookout point for a great view and informational boards about the whales passing through. Plus, you’re there is a playground and cafe at nearby Fingal Beach SLSC.
Another place to spot whales is the headland at Boat Harbour. From here you’ll be able to spot whales passing by. It’s a top spot for families as there’s a playground, toilets and barbecue area. On the southern end of Boat Harbour is a whale watching path. Follow the path to the headland to find a vantage point to see passing whales. You’ll spot a post which has information about the different types of whales that you can spot. Find out more in our whale watching article.
Spot koalas in the wild at Tilligerry Habitat
If you’re looking for a unique day trip with the family, then head to Tilligerry Habitat. Located on the Tilligerry Peninsula at Port Stephens, this 9-hectare flora and fauna reserve is one of the best spots locally to see a koala in the wild.
Search for koalas while you meander along the loop trails, most of which are gravel or pine boardwalk. It’s a wonderful spot to bring kids for a day out as the walks are short, flat and well-maintained. There is also a wheelchair-accessible trail. Dogs on leads are permitted in the reserve. Read our review of Tilligerry Habitat to find out more including downloads of activity sheets.
See koalas at Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary
Learn about koala conservation by visiting the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary. This facility supports the long-term rehabilitation and preservation of koalas. This joint venture between Port Stephens Council and Port Stephens Koalas is a place where people can visit and observe sick, injured and orphaned koalas receiving care.
The Sanctuary features a Story Walk. This is a 250-metre long pathway that tells the story through larger than life sculptures and signs about “Kasey”, a locally rescued koala who was nursed back to health. You can also see who is at the Koala Hospital. Visitors can look through a purpose-built viewing window as veterinary staff care for sick and injured koalas (depending on treatment times).
Read our review of Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary to find out more
Get up close to animals at Oakvale Wildlife Park
Milk a cow, bottle-feed baby animals, ride a tractor-trailer and pat a koala. There’s so much fun for families at Oakvale Wildlife Park in Port Stephens. It’s full of creatures including native Australian animals (koalas, kangaroos, Tasmanian devils), farm animals and exotic animals such as ring-tailed lemurs.
There are exciting hands-on experiences where visitors get the opportunity to hand milk a cow and bottle-feed some gorgeous baby animals.
You can also hop aboard the free tractor-trailer that takes you on a tour of the park. This is a great way to see the whole park, situated on 21 acres, if you don’t feel that your little ones are up to walking the entire loop. Read our review of Oakvale Wildlife Park to find out more including downloads of activity sheets.
Have heaps of fun at Toboggan Park
Can’t decide what to do with the kids while you’re in Port Stephens? Visit Toboggan Hill Park to enjoy a 1km toboggan ride, giant maze, rock climbing, kids bumper cars, mini golf, hot ice skating and jumping castles and much more.
There’s also a tractor train. The train runs hourly and provides access to the giant maze. If you’re lucky, you might see some wildlife like the resident goannas or wallabies along the way.
It’s a great day out for the whole family at Toboggan Hill Park. There is something for every age, from toddlers to adults. It’s a great option if it’s a scorching day outside or raining, as there’s plenty of indoor fun to enjoy.
Read our review of Toboggan Hill Park to find out more.
Get Up Close to sharks and rays at Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters
Feed and pat the sharks and rays at Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters, a state-of-the-art facility located at Anna Bay in Port Stephens.
It features an amazing outdoor lagoon and recently-opened, undercover tropical lagoon! Built to be as naturalistic as possible with a focus on the ocean life’s welfare and lifestyle they feature sandy beaches, rocky reefs and deep hideaways.
Ensure that everyone wears or brings along shorts as the Shallows Encounter is included in the entry fee. It’s for those who want an up-close and personal experience but also want to stay (mostly) dry. In this encounter you can wade in the shallows, sit on the rocks and feed and pat the sharks and rays.
For a small fee, you can hire a wetsuit which allows you to get right in the water with the sharks and rays swimming all around you.
Read our review of Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters to find out more.
Explore Stockton Sand Dunes
You can venture through the Stockton sand dunes. This 32km stretch of beach, from Stockton to Anna Bay is the largest moving mass of coastal sand dunes in the Southern Hemisphere. There are many great ways to explore the dunes but if you or a friend own a 4WD it’s easy to turn your trip into a fun-filled day out for the family.
The beach is accessible from the Southern end at Lavis Lane, Williamtown or from the Northern end at Gan Gan Road, Anna Bay. The dunes are Aboriginal-owned Worimi Conservation Lands and jointly managed by National Parks so you’ll need a permit to drive on them.
The dunes are home to many hidden treasures including ‘Tin City’, a series of 11 off-grid beach shacks located in the dunes, ancient Aboriginal middens and a variety of seabirds.
If you don’t own a 4WD, there are many other fun ways to enjoy Stockton Dunes including 4WD tours, sandboarding tours, quad biking, horse riding and camel riding.
Read our review of exploring Stockton Sand Dunes to find out more.
Go sand boarding
As mentioned above, one fun way to explore Stockton sand dunes is by going sandboarding at beautiful Anna Bay. There is a giant ‘sand bowl’, where you’ll slide down the slopes. Your guides will supply you with boards shaped from hardy nylon. There are varying slopes to suit everyone. Small children are able to ride on their parent’s laps and, if you’re brave, you may be able to try standing up! There are a few companies that offer sandboarding including Sand Dune Safaris, Port Stephens 4WD Tours and 4WD Tours R Us.
Read our review of sandboarding in Stockton sand dunes to find out more.
Walk the Tomaree Headland Summit Walk
For amazing views, walk to the top of of Tomaree Headland at Shoal Bay for a great vantage point. It’s best suited to older kids who have the stamina to walk to the top. It’s a steep walk to the summit of Tomaree Headland which is 161 metres high. The path consists of paved areas and a series of metal steps.
It’s a 2.2km return journey and can take up between 90 minutes to 2 hours for the trek. From the top, you’ll be rewarded with stunning views of Port Stephens including views of Zenith, Wreck and Box Beaches, Fingal Island and Point Stephens Lighthouse.
Gan Gan Lookout
If you’re not up for a big walk, drive up to a view at Gan Gan Lookout for a panoramic view of Port Stephens and surrounds. At 160 metres, this is Port Stephen’s highest and most accessible lookout so it’s ideal for families. There are actually two vantage points, one south and one to the north. To reach the lookout, drive up to Lily Hill Road and follow the signs. Up at the top, stroller-friendly paths lead to viewing platforms and spectacular vistas.
Get Up Close to jets at Fighter World
If your kids love planes, take them to Fighter World near the Williamtown RAAF base. There’s lots of planes to see and exhibits to enjoy. Fighter World is an aviation heritage centre located on Medowie Road at Williamtown. You’ll see jet-engine aircraft, propeller-driven aircraft and more, either retired and carefully restored or replicas, some displayed on the floor and others hanging from the ceiling.
Read our review of Fighter World to find out more.
Spotting fighter jets at Williamtown
Take your kids and spot fighter jets at RAAF Base Williamtown. If you have a budding Top Gun jnr. in the family then where better to take them to where our ace pilots train? See if you can spot the F-35A joint strike fighters at Williamtown. They’re new additions to the RAAF base and replaced the F/A-18 Hornets.
RAAF Base Williamtown is located near Newcastle Airport. The base itself is high-security and there is no public access but there is a section at the end of the runway on Medowie Road (just before the Fighter World museum) where you can park and, on the right day, catch all the fighter-jet action.
You’ll have the chance to see takeoffs and landings, touch-and-go’s as well as flyovers. And, in between times, commercial aircraft and helicopters come and go creating the perfect ‘plane spotting’ opportunity.
Read our guide to plane spotting at Williamtown to find out more.
Go for a bike ride
There are plenty of opportunities to ride a bike in Port Stephens. Either bring your bikes or you can rent bikes.
A hidden gem amongst the eucalypts is the beautiful Shoal to Fingal Bay bike track – a terrific way for the whole family to spend the morning with plenty of rewards along the way! It’s approximately 2.9km route. This track winds through the beautiful gum trees along a flat and easy to ride cycle track.
Another scenic, flat and safe family-friendly bike ride which is lovely to try whilst out at The Bay is between Shoal Bay and Nelson Bay marina. It’s approximately 3.5km ride. If you’re visting while it’s warm, pack swimming gear for a splash along the way.
Read our article about family-friendly bike rides in Port Stephens to find out more.
There are cycleways that connect all the way through to Salamander Bay from Fingal Bay and even out to Raymond Terrace, with Port Stephens boasting around 50km worth of shared cycleways throughout the community. Check out the Port Stephens Council website for all the details on their cycleways.
Tomaree Aquatic Centre
With a 50 metre outdoor, heated pool, a shaded and heated kids pool, a shaded and heated wading pool plus a large waterslide, Tomaree Aquatic Centre in Port Stephens is a great place to spend a couple of hours with kids.
The 50 metre, outdoor, heated pool has designated laps for lap swimmers and a free-play area for splashing about and having fun. There are plenty of well-shaded, seated areas around this pool.
Kids will love the large, spiral waterslide. It operates on Saturdays and Sundays between 11am – 2pm. Kids must be over a certain height to ride the slide alone, but smaller kids can ride with a parent or carer.
Read our review of Tomaree Aquatic Centre to find out more.
Have a play at a local playground
There are a few fun playgrounds at Port Stephens.
Visit the playground at Fingal Bay. There’s plenty for kids of all ages with a flying saucer swing, climbing equipment and a flying fox. Bring scooters or bikes as there’s a path around the playground.
Boat Harbour has a great beachside playground. Made of timber, it has a large climbing net, monkey bars and a slide.
Another great playground is Robinson Reserve in Anna Bay. As well as climbing play equipment, swings, vertical balancing logs and a group swing, it’s also next door to Anna Bay Skate Park.
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Started in late 2012 by a local mum, Newy with Kids has grown into a thriving go-to family guide for the Newcastle, Lake Macquarie & Hunter region. Parents visit the Newy with Kids website to find things to do with babies, kids and teens. Whether it’s local attractions, upcoming events, kids eat free, school holiday activities or birthday party ideas, Newy with Kids is the best website for local parents to find local kid-friendly activities and information 24/7.