Top 15 Activities and Attractions in Nelson Bay, Australia

This tourist-friendly town not far from Newcastle, New South Wales, is situated on the south side of Port Stephens, a vast natural harbour.

Nelson Bay is part of a breathtaking collection of bays and rugged headlands at the end of the Tomaree Peninsula.

A significant portion of the coastline and the peninsula’s interior is designated as Tomaree National Park and Worimi Conservation Lands, rich in Aboriginal heritage, biodiversity, and stunning natural beauty.

Visitors can relax on pristine sandy beaches, traverse desert-like dunes, ascend to picturesque lookouts, and engage in water activities to observe whales and dolphins.

1. Whale and Dolphin Watching

Between mid-May and early November, humpback whales migrate north along Australia’s eastern coast to give birth in the warmer tropical waters before returning south.

The sheltered and deep waters of Port Stephens serve as a resting point, making it an ideal location for observing these magnificent marine mammals.

A variety of charter operators offer whale watching excursions, including AquaMarine Port Stephens, Imagine Cruises, the Tea Gardens Ferry Service, and Moonshadow – TQC Cruises.

Throughout the year, a pod of approximately 160 bottlenose dolphins resides in the waters around Nelson Bay, frequently visible from the shoreline.

For a more immersive experience, dolphin cruises are available, and Dolphin Swim Australia offers the country’s only authorized wild swim opportunity in the presence of these playful and curious creatures.

2. Tomaree National Park

Located just behind Nelson Bay, much of the land at the tip of the Tomaree Peninsula is preserved as Tomaree National Park.

A single paragraph cannot encapsulate the natural beauty that awaits visitors or the array of activities available.

For the Worimi People, the Tomaree Peninsula served as a source of food, shelter, and medicinal resources. Walking along its beaches allows you to trace ancient Aboriginal pathways.

For family-friendly beach outings, Anna Bay and Fishermans Bay provide calm, sheltered waters, while One Mile Beach, situated on the southern side, faces the Tasman Sea and attracts surf enthusiasts.

In the coastal areas, birdwatchers may encounter waders and shorebirds such as sooty oystercatchers, red-necked stints, bar-tailed godwits, and eastern curlews. During winter, honeyeaters and lorikeets can be seen feeding in the coastal heathland.

In spring, visitors can stroll through vibrant wildflowers along the Morna Point walk or explore the coastal angophora forest via the Wreck Beach walk.

3. Tomaree Head Summit Walk

The towering Tomaree Head rises above 160 metres at the entrance to Port Stephens, offering breathtaking views of the Tasman Sea, offshore islands, the natural harbour, and Mount Yacaaba on the opposite side.

The vista is particularly stunning between May and October during the whale migration season, making binoculars an invaluable companion during this period.

Access to the summit is via a short yet challenging 2.2-kilometre round trail, where adventure seekers will find a picnic area along with remnants of WWII artillery placements.

A south-facing lookout platform presents an impressive view of various bays and the historic Point Stephens Lighthouse located on Fingal Island.

4. Gan Gan Lookout

Situated in the hills overlooking Nelson Bay, the Gan Gan Lookout presents one of the premier vantage points to appreciate the grandeur of Port Stephens and the Tomaree Peninsula.

Located just off Lily Hill Road at an elevation of 160 metres, it offers picturesque views of the landscape.

The iconic Tomaree Head, along with its companion peak Mount Yacaaba, can be viewed from this location, which is popular for photography.

Additionally, looking south reveals the expansive dune system tracking Stockton Beach within the Worimi Conservation Lands.

The sunset views in the western direction are particularly spectacular, showcasing Soldiers Point and the indented shoreline of the harbour illuminated by golden hues in the evening sky.

5. Nelson Head Heritage Lighthouse & Reserve

Situated across Shoal Bay from Tomaree Head, this headland rises 53 metres above Port Stephens and has been home to a lighthouse since 1875. Nelson Head provides yet another breathtaking perspective of the ocean, vital to those who tended to this coastal beacon.

The charming historic cottage adjacent to the lighthouse has been preserved as a museum, showcasing original living quarters, the historic lightroom, photographs, maritime memorabilia, maps, and details about the rich history of this remarkable coastline.

Finally, visitors can enjoy refreshments at the tearoom, savoring a hot drink and cake accompanied by stunning views of Port Stephens.

6. Worimi Conservation Lands

Situated along and behind the extensive Stockton Beach is land owned by the Aboriginal Worimi People, managed in partnership with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.

This area houses the Southern Hemisphere’s largest expanse of mobile sand dunes, which can reach heights of 30 metres and move approximately four metres per year.

Visitors have the opportunity to explore this romantic landscape through hikes, horseback excursions, camel rides, 4WD adventures, or quad bike journeys.

Worimi Conservation Lands also feature significant Aboriginal sites, including middens, burial sites, campsites, and remnants of tool-making activities.

The park conserves over three-quarters of the 32-kilometre beach, surrounded by rolling surf and bordered by dunes extending as far as a kilometre inland.

7. Fingal Bay Beach

Completely encompassed by Tomaree National Park, this stunning sandy beach lines the crescent-shaped Fingal Bay.

The coastline here is shielded from open ocean currents by Fingal Island, which can occasionally be accessed from the northern shore via a sandy spit.

On this side, the water is calm and ideal for families, whereas the more exposed southern end typically has rolling waves.

Fingal Bay Beach is a surf patrol beach, flanked by landscaped foreshore and equipped with numerous shops and amenities in the small beach community adjacent to it.

When this list was compiled in 2020, land access to Fingal Island via the spit was restricted, but kayaking to the island is allowed, where visitors can view Point Stephens Lighthouse (built in 1862) and explore an Aboriginal fish trap.

8. Fly Point Aquatic Reserve

At the northern end of Little Nelson Bay, a prominent headland offers expansive views of the town, bay, and marina.

Just offshore, the area features kelp forests and sponge gardens, preserved by an aquatic reserve that extends half a kilometre into the sea.

This sanctuary serves as a habitat for a remarkable diversity of marine life, including blue groupers, octopuses, wobbegong sharks, and pineapple fish.

It is recognized as one of the premier diving locations in New South Wales, accessible directly from the shore, with several local businesses ready to facilitate your dive experience (e.g., Lets Go Adventures, Feet First Dive). Removing any marine life or even seashells from the reserve is prohibited, making it advisable to bring an underwater camera for the dive.

9. Irukandji Shark & Ray Encounters

There are various attractions nearby where families can engage closely with Australia’s wildlife.

Irukandji Shark & Ray Encounters at Anna Bay offers a variety of interactive animal experiences, allowing you to choose your preferred level of engagement with these often-misunderstood species.

Visitors can either stand in the shallows or sit on the rocks to feed and touch rays.

For a more adventurous experience, guests can don wet suits and either snorkel with rays or step into a lagoon with beautiful zebra sharks or nurse sharks.

Throughout the experience, informative insights regarding these animals’ behavior, temperament, and feeding habits are provided.

10. Oakvale Wildlife Park

Offering an enjoyable outing for families with children, Oakvale Wildlife Park accommodates numerous Australian native animals and domestic species across ten hectares of open park space.

Among its inhabitants are kangaroos, wombats, koalas, dingoes, and emus, in addition to horses, goats, pigs, cattle, sheep, and rabbits.

The park features a schedule of activities throughout the day, allowing children to feed, cuddle, and pet a variety of animals, including lambs, goat kids, koalas, and harmless reptiles.

Daily tractor rides and presentations for fascinating but less approachable species like the cassowary and Tasmanian devil are also part of the park’s offerings.

11. Little Beach Reserve

True to its name, Little Beach situated next to the Halifax Holiday Park benefits from a north-west facing orientation under the shelter of Nelson Head.

This positioning provides tranquil waters free from ocean currents, making it the ideal beach for young children learning to swim.

The small crescent of sand is flanked by fishing jetties and backed by grassy areas with children’s play equipment and facilities for picnics and barbecues.

Little Beach also features a boat ramp that proves popular with anglers, thereby often attracting a gathering of pelicans.

12. Oakfield Ranch

Riding camels across the expansive dunes of Worimi Conservation Lands presents perhaps the most unique way to explore this breathtaking landscape.

Oakfield Ranch, located at Birubi Beach, facilitates this experience.

The friendly and well-trained camels, known as “ships of the desert,” are exceptionally easy to ride.

For visitors with children or those short on time, a 20-minute daytime ride along Birubi Beach is available without prior arrangement.

Oakfield Ranch also offers 60-minute sunset treks, which require advance notice and take visitors into the dunes and down to the water. In addition, the ranch’s staff is more than willing to help capture memorable moments during the experience.

13. Toboggan Hill Park

Nestled in Nelson Bay’s steep hinterland and in proximity to Gan Gan Lookout, Toboggan Hill Park serves as a family activity hub amid natural bushland.

The main attraction is a one-kilometre toboggan track featuring eleven bends, starting with a 300-metre uphill tow.

Additionally, the park offers a 45-minute tractor train ride through the bush, stopping at the Giant Maze, where visitors may observe goannas and admire an impressive Dreamtime mural.

Visitors can also enjoy a 19-hole miniature golf course enveloped by Christmas bush and banksias.

14. Fighter World

On the route to Newcastle lies the Williamtown RAAF Base, established during World War II and currently serving as headquarters for the RAAF’s Air Combat Group and the Surveillance and Response Group.

An aviation museum housed in a hangar at the base maintains a collection of fighter jets from the past 70 years.

Key exhibits include the Gloster Meteor, two Avon Sabres, two Dassault Mirages, a Hawker Hunter, and an F-111 Aardvark.

The museum also features numerous replicas, equipment, jet engines, and weaponry such as a Bristol Bloodhound SAM and a GAF Jindivik target drone.

Visitors can also access an observation deck for a glimpse into the operations of a working air force base, supplemented by a live audio feed from air traffic control.

15. Nelson Bay Golf Club

Characterized as the “Bush Course by the Sea,” the highly-rated Nelson Bay Golf Club is situated within walking distance of the marina, adjacent to Tomaree National Park.

This description is fitting, as its three nine-hole courses weave through lush subtropical forests full of birdsong and home to wallabies, koalas, and kangaroos.

This natural landscape presents its own set of challenges, particularly on the narrow, undulating fairways, especially during the second loop (holes 10-18). As of 2020, green fees for non-members were $47 on weekdays and $52 on weekends, with discounts available for evening rounds.