Nelson Bay
Where to stay in Port Stephens
Choose your base, then the room that fits.
Where to stay
See all stays
At a glance
Stay in Nelson Bay if you want to walk to the marina, shops and restaurants and are booking a cruise. Choose Shoal Bay for the beach and Tomaree Head. Corlette and Soldiers Point are quieter bayside resort areas, Salamander Bay suits families after pools, and One Mile puts you closest to the beaches and dune tours around Anna Bay.
- Nelson Bay: walk to d'Albora Marina, where whale and dolphin cruises board.
- Shoal Bay: beachfront base at the foot of the Tomaree Head walk.
- Corlette and Soldiers Point: quieter, resort-style stays on the bay.
- One Mile and Anna Bay: closest to the Stockton dunes and surf beaches.
Nelson Bay
The town centre, foreshore and d’Albora Marina sit together, so you can walk to dinner and to a cruise. Mantra Nelson Bay has apartments with kitchens a short walk from town; Hotel Nelson is a small upscale motel near the marina; The Landmark Resort suits golfers and self-caterers. More options, including adults-only and apartment stays, are in our Nelson Bay accommodation guide.
Corlette
Just west of Nelson Bay, around the Anchorage Marina. Anchorage Port Stephens is a waterfront resort with pools, a day spa and two restaurants.
Shoal Bay
A beach at the foot of Tomaree Head, with the summit walk starting nearby. Choose Ramada Resort Shoal Bay for resort rooms and apartments, or Shoal Bay Holiday Park for villas two minutes from the sand. Next door at Fingal Bay, Seaside Holiday Resort has family apartments. See Shoal Bay accommodation.
Soldiers Point and Salamander Bay
The quieter western side of the bay. Bannisters Port Stephens is an upscale hotel with three restaurants and a bar; Oaks Pacific Blue at Salamander Bay has swim-out rooms and a kids’ pool.
One Mile and Anna Bay
Surf beaches and the start of the Stockton dunes. Ingenia Holidays One Mile Beach puts you a short drive from the dune tours that meet in Anna Bay.
Before you book
Separate bookings are separate: a hotel room doesn’t include transfers to a cruise or dune tour. Match your stay to where your tours meet.
Common questions
What's the best area to stay in Port Stephens for a first visit?
Nelson Bay is the easiest all-rounder: restaurants, the marina for cruises and the foreshore are close together, and Shoal Bay's beach is a short drive away.
Where should families stay in Port Stephens?
Look at resorts with kids' pools such as Oaks Pacific Blue at Salamander Bay or the Anchorage at Corlette, or a holiday park like Ingenia One Mile Beach for cabins near the beach.