Sabrina’s guidebook

Sabrina
Sabrina’s guidebook

Sightseeing

Beautiful walk that is unique as you can only cross in low tide - don't get stuck or you too will ask "where the bloody hell are you?"
Lighthouse Trail
Lighthouse Trail
Beautiful walk that is unique as you can only cross in low tide - don't get stuck or you too will ask "where the bloody hell are you?"
Great for a walk, swim or fish (good for little ones - go off the wharf). You’ll often see dolphins cruising through this bay, go at dusk.
Shoal Bay Foreshore Reserve
70 Shoal Bay Road
Great for a walk, swim or fish (good for little ones - go off the wharf). You’ll often see dolphins cruising through this bay, go at dusk.

Places to visit

This place is filled with fun for the family. They have many different animals and reptiles.
A fun day with lots of cute wildlife!
64 locals recommend
Oakvale Wildlife Park
3 Oakvale Dr
64 locals recommend
A fun day with lots of cute wildlife!
Dog friendly beach for playtime with your furry companion.
Dutchmans Beach, New South Wales, Australia
Dog friendly beach for playtime with your furry companion.

Food scene

Food and service are consistent and delicious! This place gets busy, I recommend you get there nice and early for a table. They also do takeaway. There is also an amazing homewards shop up stairs, that you enter from the cafe.
26 locals recommend
The Home Interior
41 Donald St
26 locals recommend
Food and service are consistent and delicious! This place gets busy, I recommend you get there nice and early for a table. They also do takeaway. There is also an amazing homewards shop up stairs, that you enter from the cafe.
Our favorite Thai Restaurant when we are in town.
11 locals recommend
Sanook Thai Restaurant
25 Sandy Point Rd
11 locals recommend
Our favorite Thai Restaurant when we are in town.
Tasty food with options for those with food intolerances.
70 locals recommend
The Little Nel
7 Government Rd
70 locals recommend
Tasty food with options for those with food intolerances.
Beautiful spot to have a nice meal and a drink. Great in the afternoon (sitting on the balcony, looking across the bay). Stays open into the evening. The menu is pretty good for people with food allergies.
95 locals recommend
Shoal Bay Country Club
35-45 Shoal Bay Rd
95 locals recommend
Beautiful spot to have a nice meal and a drink. Great in the afternoon (sitting on the balcony, looking across the bay). Stays open into the evening. The menu is pretty good for people with food allergies.
Local, remodeled pub, with lovely dining experience (open kitchen, oversized woodfire pizza oven). Good, cosy sports bar area. 2 x Walk up bars. Several options for those with food allergies.
40 locals recommend
Seabreeze Hotel
1 Stockton St
40 locals recommend
Local, remodeled pub, with lovely dining experience (open kitchen, oversized woodfire pizza oven). Good, cosy sports bar area. 2 x Walk up bars. Several options for those with food allergies.
Rick Steins hotel, about a 15 minute drive from Nelson Bay CBD. Amazing dining experience with lovely locally sourced food and wine. There’s multiple places to eat/drink at Bannisters including the restaurant, bar and outdoor areas.
26 locals recommend
Bannisters Port Stephens
147 Soldiers Point Rd
26 locals recommend
Rick Steins hotel, about a 15 minute drive from Nelson Bay CBD. Amazing dining experience with lovely locally sourced food and wine. There’s multiple places to eat/drink at Bannisters including the restaurant, bar and outdoor areas.
Quaint spot, right in the thick of the local oyster farms (you can see them from the shop) with farm to table style service. Grab a bag or two (shucked or unshucked) and sit there or take home and enjoy - can’t get fresher.
16 locals recommend
Holberts Oyster Supplies
52 Diemars Rd
16 locals recommend
Quaint spot, right in the thick of the local oyster farms (you can see them from the shop) with farm to table style service. Grab a bag or two (shucked or unshucked) and sit there or take home and enjoy - can’t get fresher.
A trendy eatery with live music and tasty food. Family friendly atmosphere.
58 locals recommend
Murray's Brewery
3443 Nelson Bay Rd
58 locals recommend
A trendy eatery with live music and tasty food. Family friendly atmosphere.
Amazing Greek food in one of the most beautiful locations.
Atmos
Amazing Greek food in one of the most beautiful locations.

Ocean Beach

Beach on the ocean side
Whilst a narrow beach, the old boat ramp has a beautiful corridor to swim. Take a snorkel for some sight seeing. There’s some great rock pools along the right hand side but make sure you get the tide times right.
22 locals recommend
Boat Harbour
22 locals recommend
Whilst a narrow beach, the old boat ramp has a beautiful corridor to swim. Take a snorkel for some sight seeing. There’s some great rock pools along the right hand side but make sure you get the tide times right.
Amazing place; sand and sea all the way to Newcastle (you can see it on a good day). If you’re driving; park at the surf club (good spot for a nice lunch). Take the swimmers to go for a dip - there’s plenty of water to choose from (note that only the far left corner is patrolled and the beach/rips can get pretty wild). Good beach fishing as you walk down. Look for the gutters. I’ve caught plenty smaller stuff off of the beach with worms, some bigger stuff around on other setups too. There’s a few other paid activities at the beach (via a different entry to the Anna Bay - Surf a club road). Take the 4wd entry signs through to: - camel rides - 4-wheeler hire - 4-wd (will definitely need to be a 4wd though with good clearance) If you are taking your 4wd on, there’s plenty of space to find some spots to yourself for sandboarding, swimming, fishing and surfing. There’s a camp site too, checkout Ganyamalbaa Camping Area.
45 locals recommend
Stockton Beach
45 locals recommend
Amazing place; sand and sea all the way to Newcastle (you can see it on a good day). If you’re driving; park at the surf club (good spot for a nice lunch). Take the swimmers to go for a dip - there’s plenty of water to choose from (note that only the far left corner is patrolled and the beach/rips can get pretty wild). Good beach fishing as you walk down. Look for the gutters. I’ve caught plenty smaller stuff off of the beach with worms, some bigger stuff around on other setups too. There’s a few other paid activities at the beach (via a different entry to the Anna Bay - Surf a club road). Take the 4wd entry signs through to: - camel rides - 4-wheeler hire - 4-wd (will definitely need to be a 4wd though with good clearance) If you are taking your 4wd on, there’s plenty of space to find some spots to yourself for sandboarding, swimming, fishing and surfing. There’s a camp site too, checkout Ganyamalbaa Camping Area.
Pristine water and amazing scenery. Rolling sand dunes and bush all the way to the water. Good fishing spots further up the beach (around Samuri beach) and just as many surfing spots (you’ll often find either space to yourself). Only the right hand corner is patrolled, so stay close if you’re with the family or not 100% surf-confident. There’s a cafe/restaurant at the entrance, which is just next to the car park (it’s organized chaos in there - try and get a spot under a tree if it’s a hot day). You can hire surf equipment from the same building as the cafe.
8 locals recommend
One Mile Beach, Port Stephens
Hannah Parade
8 locals recommend
Pristine water and amazing scenery. Rolling sand dunes and bush all the way to the water. Good fishing spots further up the beach (around Samuri beach) and just as many surfing spots (you’ll often find either space to yourself). Only the right hand corner is patrolled, so stay close if you’re with the family or not 100% surf-confident. There’s a cafe/restaurant at the entrance, which is just next to the car park (it’s organized chaos in there - try and get a spot under a tree if it’s a hot day). You can hire surf equipment from the same building as the cafe.

Snorkeling & Diving

Opportunities to see some fish and other sea life.
An awesome national park area with a unique snorkeling experience. At the height of either tide, you can jump in at fly beach and float round to Nelson Bay Beach (or visa versa).
18 locals recommend
Fly Point Dive Site
Victoria Parade
18 locals recommend
An awesome national park area with a unique snorkeling experience. At the height of either tide, you can jump in at fly beach and float round to Nelson Bay Beach (or visa versa).

Bay Beach

Beach within one of the many bays.
Hire a kayak or a SUP and spend some time on the water.
6 locals recommend
Port Stephens Paddlesports, Shoal Bay
51 Shoal Bay Rd
6 locals recommend
Hire a kayak or a SUP and spend some time on the water.
Cool experience for the little ones, it’s kind of like a mix between a jumping castle and ninja warrior, but on water.
10 locals recommend
SPLASH Waterpark
40 Victoria Parade
10 locals recommend
Cool experience for the little ones, it’s kind of like a mix between a jumping castle and ninja warrior, but on water.