How to Spend a Fun Family Weekend in Port Stephens
Do you want to know how to spend a fun family weekend in Port Stephens? A memorable seaside holiday full of fun, laughter and joy? This guide shows how to spend a weekend in Port Stephens with the family. It includes unique experiences for all the family.
Port Stephens voted as Australia’s Best Town for 2025!
I’ve been living in Port Stephens with 4 kids for 12 years. Let me show you around.
Getting Here
Port Stephens is located 2 ½ hour drive north of Sydney or 1 hour drive from Newcastle and a 30 minute drive from Newcastle Airport.
Flying
Newcastle Airport has direct flights from Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Canberra, Gold Coast and Melbourne and Perth. If you fly, make sure you book your taxi, Uber or airport transfer in advance.
Driving from Sydney
When driving from Sydney, head up the M1 to Newcastle and then follow the signs to Port Stephens. Keep an eye out for the dinosaur at Somersby on the motorway.
Driving from Coffs Harbour
When driving south from Coffs Harbour, follow the M1 south and turn left at Medowie Road, just after the truck weigh station. Follow Medowie Road until you reach Richardson Road where you turn left. If you come through in the late afternoon, you can see kangaroos at the Alexander Park Dressage Club just before you reach the BP. Turn left at the BP and follow Nelson Bay Road until you reach your destination.
Public Transport
Public transport is limited but it is possible to catch a train to Hamilton Station in Newcastle. From there, jump on the 130 bus (Fingal Bay). Trip Planner | transportnsw.info for timetable information.
Where to Stay
There are many accommodation options in Port Stephens. Here are some options for different budgets.
Oaks Pacific Blue Resort, Salamander Bay is set amidst lush tropical gardens and boasts Australia’s largest swimming pool! Perfect for the kids. There is a range of room types, including studios and one, two, and three-bedroom apartments. Perfect for the family.
Ingenia Holidays One Mile Beach has a beachfront location and access to the beautiful 1.6km One Mile Beach and Surf School. There is an array of accommodation options, from luxury villas to cabins for every budget and of course, caravanning and camping sites.
Friday
Arrive in Port Stephens
Once you are all checked in and settled, head to one of the 26 beaches in Port Stephens for a sunset walk, paddle in the water and build sandcastles.
Saturday
Learn to Surf
One Mile Beach has a nice gentle break for beginner surfers and a section closer to the headland for more advanced surfers. If you think surfing looks like fun, it is. It’s not just for the kids. Why not give it a go with Port Stephens Surf School. These guys are excellent and will get you surfing the waves on your first lesson.
If your family is too little for the surf or if walking across the dune is challenging, check out these other alternative beach options in Port Stephens.
Lunch at Crest
Enjoy a meal at Crest Birubi Beach, with excellent bistro meals and share plates in an open air terrace and beach views. It’s open from 8am – 3pm daily. It’s very popular and bookings are recommended on weekends and school holidays. If it is booked out, you can also get a bite to eat at the Surf Club Cafe.
Unlimited Sandboarding
After lunch, it’s time to go sandboarding. I’ve put this in the afternoon for you as you will get sand everywhere, places where sand shouldn’t be and you will need a shower afterwards. Meet the Sandboarding Safari guys at Birubi Beach. They will drive you out to the sand dunes where you have UNLIMITED sandboarding. That is, as long as you can keep climbing the sand dunes. Talk about value for money!
Ride a Camel
You don’t need to go to Broome to ride camels on the beach. You can do it right here in Port Stephens!
Experience the thrill of the ships of the desert on an adventure daytime or sunset camel ride over the vast sand dunes of Port Stephens. Oakfield Ranch operates camel rides every day except for hump day (that’s Wednesday). Sunset Camel Rides (1 hour) must be pre-booked otherwise just wander down to Birubi Beach between 10am and 3.30pm for a 20 minute ride.
Dinner at Anna Bay Tavern
I guarantee you have worked up an appetite. Head for Anna Bay Tavern which has a huge, shaded beer garden with children’s play area and big screen TV. The pub style food is fantastic, and the vibe chilled out and relaxed.
Sunday
Climb Tomaree Headland
Hope you have your walking shoes on, water and your camera because we are headed up Tomaree Headland – everyone’s bucket list experience when visiting Port Stephens.
The walk is 2.2km return and generally takes 1 1/2 -2 hours. The track is steep but well constructed and has metal stairs and elevated metal walkways. It is not suitable for prams or wheelchairs.
There are strategically placed seats along the way. Take advantage of them.
The views from the top are incredible!
You can see all of Port Stephens waterway, up the coast to Yaccaba and Broughton Island, Cabbage Tree Island, Little and Big Islands.
Looking down the coast you will see Zenith Beach and Fingal Headland and Port Stephens Lighthouse. Sometimes you can see dolphins surfing the waves at Zenith Beach.
Port Stephens is located in the middle of the humpback highway. From May to November you can see humpback and southern right whales from Tomaree. Look for their spouts, tail slaps or if you are lucky, a breaching whale.
On the way down, take a right at the bottom of the last set of metal stairs. This track will take you to the historic World War II gun emplacements.
Alternatively, the more accessible option if grandparents have come too, is drive to Gan Gan Lookout. There are 2 lookouts, the first faces south and looks down the coast along Stockton Beach and the 32km longest moving sand dunes in the southern hemisphere. The second lookout has 270 degree views of the whole of Port Stephens, looking east to the twin headlands of Yacaaba and Tomaree which guard the entrance to the harbour.
To the west, you overlook Tilligerry Peninsular and in the distance you can see the Karuah River and Barrington Tops.
Jump off the Jetty at Shoal Bay
In front of the Shoal Bay Country Club is the Shoal Bay Jetty where all the kids get their formal photos. It is awesome for jumping off into the deep clear water. It’s almost impossible to touch the bottom. It gets very busy in summer.
Lunch at Port Stephens Game Fishing Club
After all that exercise, you will be starving. I recommend dinner at the Port Stephens Game Fishing Club. These guys know how to cook fish and the servings are huge. The calamari is huge – I mean it is a tower of calamari. The view overlooking Shoal Bay is amazing too.
Talk to the Pelicans
The pelicans love to hang out at the Little Beach boat ramp around the fish cleaning table. If they aren’t wandering around on the ground, they may be up on the light pole.
I love the Australian Pelican, they have so much personality and are, I think, the most beautiful pelican in the world. They love to pose for photos too!
Visit the Fisherman’s Wharf Seafood
Before you leave the Marina, stop in at Fisherman’s Wharf Seafood. Fresh prawns and oysters for dinner when you get home sounds just perfect.
Visit the Lollybug
It’s like being at the Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory!
It is easy to spend an hour here exploring the kaleidoscope of colours and flavours of different American and British lollies, different flavoured drinks, chilli sauces with a hotness rating of 9/10, HOT Doritos with a warning label.
Now you are probably thinking you need to get back on the road to the big smoke. Well trust me, the traffic on the M1 driving into Sydney on a Sunday afternoon is horrendous. It’s so much better to stay a little longer, have an early dinner then drive home. Less traffic, kids sleep in the car and a whole heap less stress. So what to do next?
Pat a Stingray at Irukandji
Eat Wood Fired Pizza at Valhalla Restaurant and Bar
Valhalla Restaurant and Bar is the Spruce family’s latest venture. For 5 generations they have been traditional farming in the area, providing locals with quality vegetables including the famous Anna Bay Tomatoes. Now they have expanded from growing the food, to preparing it.
The restaurant has a very Nordic feel and even has some highland cows outback. The wood fired pizzas have creative Viking inspired flavours and boutique beers are really good too.
Be entertained on a Sunday afternoon from 12.30pm to 3.30pm with live music.
Time to head home with a full belly. Drive safe and see you next time.
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