Whales in season
Whale and Dolphin Watch Cruise on Imagine
Families and first-time visitors who want whales in season and dolphins year-round from a calm sailing boat.
from A$89 /adult
A weekend in Port Stephens
Two days: the dunes, the bay and a summit walk.
Our top picks
Most reviewed
Unlimited Sandboarding with 4WD Tours R Us
Families and groups who want the most time on the dunes for the price.
from A$43 /person
No 4WD needed
Beach and Sand Dune 4WD Passenger Tour
Visitors without a 4WD who want the dunes and the beach drive in one go.
from A$133 /person
All tours
Whales in season
Whale and Dolphin Watch Cruise on Imagine
from A$89 /adult
No 4WD needed
Beach and Sand Dune 4WD Passenger Tour
from A$133 /person
Drive your own 4WD
Beach and Sand Dune 4WD Tag-Along Tour
from A$365 /group
Stand-up boards
Sandboarding with Sand Dune Safaris
from A$40 /person
Most reviewed
Unlimited Sandboarding with 4WD Tours R Us
from A$43 /person
Short on time
Beach and Dune Adventure with Port Stephens 4WD Tours
from A$57 /person
All ages
Sandboarding Adventure with Port Stephens 4WD Tours
from A$45 /person
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Where to stay
See all staysNelson Bay
Shoal Bay
Nelson Bay
At a glance
Spend one day on the water and one on the sand. Board a whale or dolphin cruise at d'Albora Marina in Nelson Bay, then walk Tomaree Head for the view. On the second day, drive to Anna Bay for sandboarding or a 4WD tour on the Stockton dunes. A Nelson Bay or Shoal Bay base keeps both days easy.
- Day 1: cruise from Nelson Bay, then the Tomaree Head Summit walk.
- Day 2: sandboarding or a 4WD dune tour from Anna Bay.
- Base yourself in Nelson Bay or Shoal Bay to keep driving short.
Day 1: Nelson Bay and Tomaree Head
Start at d’Albora Marina for the three-hour whale and dolphin cruise on Imagine. Whales pass from about May to November; dolphins are around all year. In the afternoon, drive to Shoal Bay and climb the Tomaree Head Summit walk: 2.2 km return, steep in places, with views over the islands and the coastline.
Day 2: the Stockton dunes
Head to Anna Bay for the dunes. For non-stop sandboarding, book Unlimited Sandboarding; to see more of the beach and dunes with someone else driving, take the 4WD Passenger Tour. Our dune tour guide compares all of them.
Where to stay
Mantra Nelson Bay or Hotel Nelson keep the marina walkable; Ramada Shoal Bay puts you by the beach and the Tomaree walk. See where to stay for every area.
Common questions
Is a weekend enough for Port Stephens?
Two days covers the headline experiences: a cruise, the dunes and Tomaree Head. Add a day if you want beach time or a second tour.