Port Stephens is one of my favorite places on the east coast of Australia. I’ve been there many times and I never get tired of visiting! Firstly, it’s my favourite place in New South Wales (NSW) where the lookout is located, but it’s also the only place in NSW where you can swim with wild dolphins. How exciting is that?! For those of you living in Sydney, Port Stephens is a short 2.5 hour drive from the coast and for those visiting Sydney, I highly recommend a detour. If you happen to be driving around New South Wales, then Port Stephens is the ideal stopover for your trip to Lake Myer National Park and the Barrington Coast. In terms of accommodation, I think there are probably two ways to go about it. You can rent a quiet and secluded cottage/Airbnb anywhere in Port Stephens, which means you may need to drive around more if you want to explore. Or, if you prefer to be closer to the main town, I recommend staying in Nelson Bay.
Mount Tomari
First of all, I mean, I think the photos speak for themselves. In my opinion, the summit of Mount Tomaree offers some of the best ocean views in New South Wales. If you know of a better place than this, please let me know in the comments section 🙂
The walk is relatively short (20-30 minutes), but it gets steep! It will definitely get your blood pumping. I highly recomme
nd going there to see the sunrise. Not only will you enjoy the incredible hues, but the temperature should be much milder than midday.
Nelson Bay
This super cute town is where you can find most of the nice cafes, restaurants and souvenir stores. It is also where the main marina (D’Albora Marinas) is located, so if you decide to take a short trip, you will probably start from there. If you decide to stay in Nelson Bay, you will be able to get around very easily. My two favorite cafes are In House Kitchen and The Little Nel, and if you don’t have time for breakfast and just want some pastries, I highly recommend checking out Two Bobs Bakery.
If you’re driving out of town for a bit of adventure, then Grange Lookout and Little Beach Reserve are worth a visit. Both are great places to watch the sunset, but I’m partial to the latter. In fact, if you’re looking for a place to grab a drink at sunset, the lower deck of the Little Beach Boathouse is the place to go!
