Frommer's Australia from $50 a Day 13th Edition - To Parent Directory

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CHAPTER 4 . NEW SOUTH WALES
Tomaree National Park boast more species of birds than even Kakadu National
Park in the Northern Territory. Two pods of bottle-nosed dolphins, around 70
individuals in all, call the bay home, and you are almost certain to see some on
a dolphin-watching cruise. Port Stephens is also a fabulous place to watch whales
during their migration to the breeding grounds farther north (roughly from June
1 to mid-Nov—though they are less frequently seen in Aug). There is also a large
breeding colony of koalas in Lemon Tree Passage on the south side of the Tomaree
Peninsula, which makes up the southern shoreline of the bay.
The main town, Nelson Bay (pop. 7,000) is on the northern side of the
peninsula. The township of Shoal Bay, farther along the peninsula, has a spectacular
beach edged with wildflowers. Another small resort town, Anna Bay, is
the largest development on the southern side of the peninsula, and has excellent
surf beaches. The Stockton Bight stretches some 32km (20 miles) from Anna
Bay south to the large industrial town of Newcastle. The beach here is popular
with ocean fishermen who have the awful habit of driving their four-wheeldrives
along it. The first 500m (1,640 ft.) of the beach is swimming and surfing
only. The Stockton Sand Dunes, which run behind the beach, are the longest in
the Southern Hemisphere.
Opposite the Tomaree Peninsula, across the bay, are the small tourist townships
of Tea Gardens and Hawks Nest, both at the mouth of the Myall River.
ESSENTIALS
GETTING THERE To get to Port Stephens, take the Sydney to Newcastle
Freeway (F3) to its end, then follow the Pacific Highway signs to Hexham
and Port Stephens. Port Stephens Coaches (& 1800/045 949 in Sydney, or
02/4982 2940) travel between Port Stephens and Newcastle, and to Nelson Bay
from Sydney daily at 2pm. Buses from Sydney leave from Eddy Avenue, near
Central Station; the journey takes 3 1 ⁄2 hours. Return tickets cost A$44 (US$29)
for adults and A$31 (US$20) for children.
VISITOR INFORMATION The Port Stephens Visitor Information
Centre, Victoria Parade, Nelson Bay (& 1800/808 900 in Australia, or 02/4981
1579; fax 02/4984 1855; www.portstephens.org.au), is open Monday through
Friday from 9am to 5pm and Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 4pm.
SEEING THE AREA
Several operators have vessels offering dolphin- and whale-watching cruises.
Some of the best are aboard Imagine (& 02/4984 9000; www.portstephens.
com.au/imagine), a 15m (49-ft.) catamaran operated by Frank Future and Yves
Papin, two real characters. They offer a daily “Island Discovery” trip that
includes dolphin-watching and a trip around the offshore islands. The 4-hour
cruise departs from D’Albora Marina in Nelson Bay daily at 11am and costs
A$49 (US$32) for adults and A$25 (US$16) for children 4 to 14, including
lunch.
Finds Through the Dunes on Horseback
You can ride a horse through the dunes with Sahara Horse Trails (& 02/
4981 9077). A 2-hour trip costs A$60 (US$39), and a half-day excursion is
A$120 (US$78). Bookings required 1 day in advance.