36 HOURS IN … PORT STEPHENS
36 hours in... PORT STEPHENS WORDS JENNIFER ENNION
A PLETHORA OF OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES HAS LONG MADE PORT STEPHENS A FAVOURITE HOLIDAY DESTINATION OF CENTRAL COAST RESIDENTS. LESS THAN TWO HOURS’ DRIVE NORTH, IT’S A GREAT CHOICE FOR FAMILIES SEEKING AN EASY AND FUN STAYCATION.
Day One 10am
Hit the highway post-breakfast and head straight for d’Albora Marinas in Nelson Bay to start your family getaway with a wildlife cruise. Moonshadow-TQC Cruises has a handful of various sized vessels and run great dolphin-watching trips yearround. From autumn, you can also catch the whale-watching season (May to November), as the humpbacks head to warmer waters to give birth and mate, then return with the calves to their colder feeding grounds. I was most impressed with the captain’s commentary – the perfect mix between educational and humorous. If you’re travelling with small children, pack plenty of games and snacks. moonshadow-tqc.com.au
Noon
Back at the dock, landlubbers will be ready to refuel, and one of the best cafes in Port Stephens is just up the hill. The Little Nel serves sophisticated, contemporary fare such as king prawn & spanner crab malfadine pasta ($36) and sticky pork belly tacos ($21)*. The service is quick and friendly, and the patio is perfect for a sunny spring dining. littlenel.com.au
1.30pm
Squeeze in some shopping in Nelson Bay. At the marina, you’ll find the Artisan Collective gallery. It’s home to works by local artists, with pieces ranging from funky jewellery to glass sculptures and paintings. In the village proper there’s a mix of souvenir and boutique shops, with the coastalthemed Homebody and The Home Interior two favourites. artisancollectiveps.com.au
3pm
It’s then time to hit the beach but we’re not talking about swimming. Make your way to Birubi Point to meet 4WD Tours R Us. These guys know how to have fun, and a highlight of any family holiday to Port Stephens is sandboarding on Stockton Beach. The dunes rise up to 50 metres and you’ll be squealing as you ride toboggan-like boards down one. You can also go on a tour to famous Tin City with its off-grid squatters’ shacks that sprang up during the Depression. There are a couple of permanent residents so the most respectful way to take a squiz is with a trusted guide. (The Tin City tour is tide dependent, while sandboarding tours depart between 10am and 3.30pm.) 4wdtoursrus.com.au
114 COAST
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If you can’t make it up to Port Stephens for a full weekend, Heavenly Tours runs a range of day tours from the Hunter Valley. heavenlytours.com.au
