Nelson Bay is a tourist hot spot all year around, due to its balmy weather, scenic beauty, outdoor lifestyle and gorgeous, sandy beaches. Each weekend and school holidays, the town attracts thousands of visitors from Sydney (2.5 hours away), from overseas and those who are travelling up and down the highway between Sydney and the Gold Coast.
So what is there to do in Nelson Bay in a weekend? Plenty! See below for your A-Z Guide of things to tick off on your next visit to this Port Stephens town. Let's get started....
Cafes, beaches & views!
is the first thing you should do when you visit Nelson Bay, as the water is particularly clear and the fine sand creates an aqua hue. The closest bay to town is
Little Nelson Bay.
BIRUBI BEACH is located 15 minutes from Nelson Bay and is a popular
beach for swimming, surfing and exploring the Stockton Sand Dunes. Go
sand boarding,
ride a camel or take a
4WD tour through the sand dunes, which are part of the Worimi Conservation Lands.
CAFES are an enjoyable way to sit back and take in the ambiance of this popular, waterside town. Popular cafes include
The Little Nel,
Inner Light Tea Rooms and
In House Kitchen.
D'ALBORA MARINAS is an
tourist area by the water with
restaurants,
cafes and
cruise boats. There is
fish feeding daily for the kids at 10:30am. The
Sacred Tree Markets are also held there seasonally throughout the year.
EVVIVA CAFE & BAR is a
cafe on the main street of Nelson Bay, with retro furniture and delicious coffee.
FISHING is a popular sport in Nelson Bay, with marlin fishing boats often going out through the heads of Port Stephens to catch the big ones! There are also many
family friendly areas and jetties inside the port to throw in a line.
Go fishing off the Nelson Bay Breakwall, or Soldiers Point Jetty (above)
GAN GAN LOOKOUT is located on the main road into Nelson Bay and shows the beauty of
Port Stephens from above.
HOLBERTS OYSTER FARM can be found on the way to Soldiers Point and you can sit in the small picnic area with fresh
oysters and prawns.
IRUKANDJI, SHARK & RAY ENCOUNTERS will be opening in their new location in
Anna Bay in mid - 2020. Get into a wet suit and meet some of the ocean's most interesting creatures!
JELLY FISH can also be seen at the venue above!
KOALAS can be viewed at a new
Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary which is being built at One Mile, just 10 minutes from Nelson Bay. Visitors will be able to visit it from
mid - 2020.
LITTLE BEACH BOATHOUSE is one of the most scenic and popular
seafood restaurants in the region, located right on the water at
Little Beach.
MURRAY'S BREWERY is located at
Bobs Farm, on the main road that travels into Nelson Bay. It is a family-friendly pub with kid's activities and a large beer garden.
NUDE KAYAKS is a company at
Bagnalls Beach who have see-through kayaks, so you look under the water as you kayak.
OAKVALE WILDLIFE PARK is a popular family attraction located at
Salt Ash, on the road into Nelson Bay. It has baby farm animals, Australian animals and a Splash Park in summer.
Fun for kids at Oakvale Wildlife Park
is a fun way to learn
how to surf on beaches around Nelson Bay.
QUAD BIKE TOURS are a "must-do" for thrill-seekers over the
Stockton Sand Dunes.
RICK STEIN SEAFOOD RESTAURANT is located at Soldiers Point in the
Bannisters Hotel. This seafood restaurant, from the UK celebrity chef, is a highlight for all seafood-loving visitors.
SHOAL BAY COUNTRY CLUB is one of the most scenic venues in the region, located right across the road from
Shoal Bay. Enjoy cocktails and share a seafood platter with a view!
TOMAREE SUMMIT WALK is another "must-do" in the area, with
spectacular views after the steep walk up.
UNCORK A WINE BOTTLE at the Hunter Valley, which is just under
2 hours from Nelson Bay.
V-BUFFET is an all-you-can-eat
buffet underneath the Landmark Resort.
WHALE WATCHING CRUISES occur between May and November with
Moonshadow TQC Cruises and
Imagine Cruises. Spot whales just outside of Port Stephens heads!
X-TREME fun for kids can be found at
Toboggan Hill Park, with downhill toboggan rides, indoor rock climbing and more. See
here for more ideas of family fun in Nelson Bay.
YOUNG & OLD love to jump all over
SPLASH Waterpark inflatable water park, which is set up in Nelson Bay each summer.
ZZZZ'S are what you will need after a big day in Nelson Bay!
Enjoy your holiday!
Discover the beauty of Shoal Bay and have fun with the kids!
