21
Mar
2009
Port Stephens - The Dolphin Capitol of Australia
Port Stephens is called the ‘Dolphin Capitol of Australia’ as it is home to around 150 bottlenose dolphins. It’s relatively close to Sydney (2.5 hours drive) and is good for either spending a relaxing weekend there or doing something more active.
If you have only one day to explore the area you should go to the north side of the bay (Hawks Nest / Tea Gardens) or south (Nelson Bay). Whatever you chose I’m sure you’ll have a good time.
GOING TO SOUTH:
1. Stockton Beach
Stockton Beach is based on a sand peninsula and it has been the playground of 4WDs. When you see the sand dunes the first time you just don’t believe to your eyes… absolutely amazing. After driving a couple of hours on the highway, seeing a heap of eucalyptus trees and the bush suddenly you’ll find yourself in the desert. Well it looks like it at least. The dunes are humongous and very steep…
Somewhere in the middle there is a huge rusty shipwreck that looks great on photos… I was so stupid that I thought I could walk there as I saw the wreck from the distance. DON’T DO IT. By the end I walked 2 hours one way, under the sun with one bottle of water… yeah I must have been out of my mind.
2. Anna Bay
The best way to explore the area is either hiring a 4WD (attention a special permission is needed from the council to drive on the dunes) or just take one of the tours that are located right at Anna Bay.
I would recommend to book the 4WD or quad bike tour in advance as this is a popular destination and if the weather is good the weekends are pretty hectic.
What is a MUST to try is sand boarding. Yeah that’s me on the board. If you go to Anna bay for about $20 you can hop on one of the red buses that are circling around the area and try sand boarding. For that $20 you can stay there as much as you want and just take the red bus back whenever you’re done. It’s scary at first, but it’s fun and is a good exercise as you’ll have to walk back up to the top by yourself… and then have a go again… weeeee:)
3. Nelson bay
After Stockton Beach go to Nelson Bay (very tiny city) and hop on a dolphin watch cruise. You pay around $25 and it’s 98% that you’ll see dolphins swimming around the boat. Even tho that the cruise takes 1.5 hours, don’t expect to be close to the dolphins for that long as there is a limited time for the boats - 20minutes - that they can spend in the area. Well, fair enough… we are the intruders… it’s good that they are taking care of the dolphins.
Between May and June, September - November humpback whales cruise past the town so if you’re lucky you might be able to see them as well.
Also there are other activities as well that you can do, like kayaking, camel riding or going to nice beaches but I do think the 2 highlights of the southern part are the dolphins and the sand dunes.
GOING TO THE NORTH:
1. Hawks Nest / Tea Gardens /Jimmy’s beach
White sandy beaches (Jimmy’s beach is my favourite), the beaches are not crowded, the water is turquoise/blue/green, no seaweed, shallow water, no waves, dolphins, pelicans, other birdies, nice mangrove trees and in the river beautiful huge orange jellyfish (eww)… it’s just a dream come true.
If you go to Hawks Nest you should hire a kayak as it’s really cheap and good fun. I think I paid $40 for a double kayak for 4 hours and I was so lucky as some dolphins were swimming around us for half an hour.
3. Corrie Island
Also you can hire a little motorboat for around $90 for 4 hours and explore the whole area. If you do this you should go to Corrie Island, “park” your boat there and just enjoy the view.
Almost forgot to mention that the area is also famous for it’s koala population… I kept looking up the trees… I’ve never seen anything. 
(Prices mentioned in this blog might change)
Pictures in this article are all copyrighted by the author Melinda Balazs.