Area Hotlist — Port Stephens NSW
20 lifestyle anchors proven to sell property across the Port Stephens area
Area Hotlist — Port Stephens
Nelson Bay Marina
Yacht berths, dolphin-watch catamarans and waterfront bistros ring this busy harbour hub. Live-music Sundays, sunset seafood platters and boutique shopping mean residents can holiday at home without leaving the dock.
Stockton Sand Dunes (Worimi Conservation Lands)
Thirty-two kilometres of shifting dunes up to 40 m high host 4WD safaris, camel rides and the East Coast’s best sand-boarding. Cultural tours share Worimi stories while photographers chase golden-hour shadows.
Shoal Bay Beach
Caribbean-clear shallows, kayak hires and chic bayside eateries create an instant resort vibe. Evening cocktails at the Ramada rooftop overlook pink sunsets across the Headlands, only five minutes from Nelson Bay homes.
Tomaree Head Summit Walk
A 2.2 km return climb rewards with 360-degree views of the turquoise bay, offshore islands and migrating humpbacks. WWII gun emplacements add history; sunrise hikers score Insta-famous pastel skies.
Fingal Spit & Lighthouse
Narrow sandbar linking mainland to Shark Island reveals at low tide, leading to an 1862 lighthouse and tidal rock-pools. Adventurous locals time the crossing for secluded snorkels before the tide returns.
Birubi Beach Surf Club
Gateway to the sand dunes, Birubi offers reliable beach breaks, patrolled flags and a deck-top café serving famed crab-meat rolls. Families swap sand-boarding for safe swims under watchful lifesavers.
Soldiers Point Marina
Luxury berths, floating day-spa and a hatted seafood restaurant transform this boutique marina into a coastal resort. Twilight jazz cruises and kayak launches keep water-lovers out till the stars appear.
Salamander Bay Square Shopping Centre
Woolies, Kmart and 80 specialty stores sit under bright skylights with free all-day parking. Medical suites, childcare and a food-court play zone make errands breeze-through convenient for local families.
Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary
Elevated sky-walks weave through gum canopies where rescued koalas snooze at eye level. On-site glamping tents, interactive hospital tours and twilight spotlight walks delight eco-tourists and school excursions alike.
Gan Gan Lookout
Bitumen road to the summit means panoramic bay vistas without the hike. The 160-metre lookout offers sunrise over islands, sunset over Tomaree Range and blooming gymea lilies in spring.
One Mile Beach
Nestled between national-park headlands, this kilometre-long arc delivers patrolled flags, beginner surf lessons and a family-run kiosk famed for açai bowls. Adjoining holiday park keeps guests footsteps from the sand.
Zenith Beach
Framed by Tomaree and Yacaaba headlands, Zenith offers dramatic scenery, wedge peaks and a secluded vibe thanks to a no-parking foreshore. Photographers favour dusk when headlands glow pink.
Oakvale Wildlife Park
Hands-on encounters with koalas, camels and farm-yard favourites plus a splash-down water play zone. Annual passes keep little ones entertained when on-shore winds close the beaches.
Toboggan Hill Park
Gravity toboggan track, mini-golf, ice skating and rock-climbing wall rolled into one evergreen fun park. School-holiday crowds prove Port Stephens offers thrills beyond its famous sand dunes.
Tilligerry Habitat Reserve
Flat boardwalks thread through paperbark wetlands where wild koalas nap overhead. Free guided walks and native plant sales anchor a passionate community-run sanctuary at Tanilba Bay.
Murray’s Brewery (Bobs Farm)
Craft-beer taproom, gin distillery, smoker-BBQ lunches and live Sunday sessions set amid hop-draped grounds. Courtesy buses keep tastings responsible for Nelson Bay holiday crowds.
Bagnalls Beach Dog Reserve
Off-leash sandy stretch where paddle-paws splash in calm bay shallows. Picnic tables, shady gums and a shared-path link to town make daily walkies a social staple.
Nelson Head Lighthouse & Heritage Centre
1860s lightkeeper cottage turned nautical museum and tea-garden café. Panoramic veranda views over Shoal Bay pair perfectly with scones and afternoon dolphin-spotting.
Fly Point Marine Reserve
Shore dive into coral gardens alive with blue gropers, nudibranchs and the occasional turtle. Easy beach entry and tide-table snorkel windows tempt underwater explorers of all levels.
Irukandji Shark & Ray Encounters
Waist-deep lagoons let visitors hand-feed rays and reef sharks while learning conservation basics. Wet-suit upgrades put thrill-seekers face-to-fin with zebra sharks—no dive ticket required.