Nelson Bay Travel Guide

 
by STRATOS79
 
  •   Nelson Bay
    by STRATOS79
  •   Nelson Bay
    by TheAndos
  •   Nelson Bay
    by BennyBeee
  • The Marina at Nelson Bay
      The Marina at Nelson Bay
    by TouristLife
  •   Nelson Bay
    by STRATOS79
 

Pro

iandsmith profile photo

 Glorious scenery, superb bay, a mecca for water sports 


Con

BennyBeee profile photo

 main strip is a bit takcy 


In a nutshell

hanabiwaiwai profile photo

 The sun, the sea, the sand 

 

Explore Nelson Bay

Things to Do  

Festivals in Port Stephens

Festivals in Port Stephens, Nelson Bay

 TheAndos Says:  Nelson Bay is only one of several towns on the shores of Port Stephens.Each year there are several festivals:Tastes of the Bay, Food and Wine Festival (second weekend of November)Carols at the Bay (Sunday before Christmas)Clans on the Coast, Celtic Festival (new in 2008)... 

Toboggan Hill Park

Toboggan Hill Park, Nelson Bay

 supercarys Says:  This is a fantastic small-time fun park. It has a great tobogtgan run that you will want to do over and over, mini golf, a maze, indoor rock climbing, bumper cars as well as arcade games and remote controlled cars and boats.OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK10.00am to 5pm Summer... 

Dolphin Watching Boat Trips

Dolphin Watching Boat Trips, Nelson Bay

 supercarys Says:  Dolphin watching is a 1.5 - 2 hour experience. You are almost guaranteed to see dolphins because this is their home!Most boats have a boom net that you can sit in that they lower into the water about 30cm at the deepest (you can stay dry on the sides). It's a lot of fun to... 

Fingal Bay

Fingal Bay, Nelson Bay

 iandsmith Says:  I remember getting this picture back and thinking how lucky we are in Australia. Imagine this beach in Europe in the middle of July yet, here in the middle of December, on a lovely summers' day in Australia it still has a little bit of room. Like, almost the whole beach is... 

Things to do

Things to do, Nelson Bay

 iandsmith Says:  Yes, that is exactly what this sign is all about. The hoarding at the eastern end of the D'Albora Marina at Nelson Bay is a feast for those who want to partake in water borne activities.There's dolphin and whale watching, fishing, kayaking, cruises, paddle boats for the... 

Nelson Bay Bowling Club - BINGO MADNESS!!!

Nelson Bay Bowling Club - BINGO MADNESS!!!, Nelson Bay

 Larnie Says:  If you are travelling the Port Stephens area, why not pop in for a game of Bingo with the locals.A few hours of enjoyment for only $22 with big chances of at least winning your fee back.Beware though...the excitement gets so big, you might forget to say BINGO!!!!Trust me,... 

The Anchorage

The Anchorage, Nelson Bay

 iandsmith Says:  So, there you are, rolling in dough and wondering what to spend it on. Here's a suggestion. Buy a large boat, anchor it here and pop up for the weekends.If you have a bit extra and, let's face it, if you can affort one of the boats, you can, you may choose to stay at the... 

Port Stephens Lighthouse

Port Stephens Lighthouse, Nelson Bay

 iandsmith Says:  From the headland where the previous picture was taken, Point Stephens Lighthouse looms just to the north. An eerie spectre shrouded in salt mist it has the aura of something-you-want-to-see-but-can't-quite-get-to about it. Many shipwrecks occurred before a lighthouse was... 

Hotels  

Peppers Anchorage Port Stephens

 2 Reviews and 265 Opinions  Staff friendly . Hotel needs a revamp . We will never go to nelsons bay again .What could have gone... 

Restaurants  

wharf restaurant: inedible and terrible service

wharf restaurant: inedible and terrible service, Nelson Bay

 e_r_p Says:  mains here are about $30-$40. they are a good size but my partner and i found our food to be inedible. it was served with the most disgutsing salty sauce which we were not able to eat. once the waitress delivered our food (after being slow in taking our order) she was no... 

Newcastle & Port Stephens Game Fish Club: Million Dollar view

Newcastle & Port Stephens Game Fish Club: Million Dollar view, Nelson Bay

 betska Says:  There wouldn't be too many places in the world where you can sit down to a $10 lunch or dinner and enjoy a view like this. This is a small, licensed club where a social membership costs just a few dollars each year. Visitors to the area are welcome and the small kitchen puts... 

Hog's Breath Cafe Nelson Bay: You won't go home hungary

Hog's Breath Cafe Nelson Bay: You won't go home hungary, Nelson Bay

 betska Says:  Hog's Breath Nelson Bay has a great location on the 1st floor overlooking D'Albora Marina. They specialise in slow-cooked steaks and curly fries, and also have some great seafood on the menu. Their serves are huge, I don't think I have ever been able to finish the entire... 

Rock Lobster: Seafood with a View

Rock Lobster: Seafood with a View, Nelson Bay

 TheAndos Says:  The Rock Lobster is situated upstairs at d'Albora Marinas, a few minutes walk from the centre of Nelson Bay and has views over the marina and water. It specialises in seafood but also does various meats. 

Tourist Traps  

Bookings

Bookings, Nelson Bay

 TouristLife Says:  Make sure you book in advance, we book through one place that does all the cruises and activites.They don't increase prices and they help you work out times so nothing clashes.We use BoatHireNB and found them on Facebook. 

Compare before u make a booking

Compare before u make a booking, Nelson Bay

 hanabiwaiwai Says:  We booked the package to Port Stephens from the Visitors Centre in Sydney. Remember to browse through all the brochures of various agencies before u make a booking. The price differs for the same itinenary. 

Off The Beaten Path  

Ride a Camel at Anna Bay
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RedEaredPanda 258 reviews
Riding a camel on Annay Bay Beach

One of the highlights of our trip was the spectacular camel ride on Anna Bay beach by the sand dunes a few kilometers from Nelson Bay. The price per person was $20 AUD and well worth it. The 3 camels were owned by a local and his family and besides the camel ride by the beach, they informed us that they also do private functions for anyone who's interested.. They would drive the camels to your destination..

Anyway, about the camel ride.. The ride took us on the sand dunes and then to the beach and back to where we started from.. The ride took approximately 30 minutes.. The camels would extend their long necks and snack on the green bushes along the sand dunes.. A meal referred to as "McDonalds for the Camels" by the guide. The guide was a very nice bloke and entertained us with funny camel facts as we rode.. Highly recommended as it's a great experience for both kids and adults and the view just comes as a bonus

Written Aug 31, 2005

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Sports & Outdoors  

Fingal Bay Surfing
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2.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

skatzcatz 634 reviews
Fingal Bay

Fingal Bay is a nice local hideaway for a surf. Waves arn't always so good, but the trip here just for the views is worth it.

Equipment: surfboard, wet suit, swimmers etc.

Written Nov 22, 2004

Address: Fingal Bay

Phone: 02 9585 6444

Website: www.npws.nsw.gov.au

Related to:
 Surfing

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Favorites  

The far side

The far side, Nelson Bay

 iandsmith Says:  Haven't got a boat? Ah well, you can hire one. Then again, they won't let you go outside. Better option is to get a mate who's got one! Then you can go anywhere and hang the cost. Thus it was that we went fishing one day off Port Stephens. No, let me rephrase that. We went... 

Shoal Bay

Shoal Bay, Nelson Bay

 iandsmith Says:  Yacaaba Headland is like a magnet for your camera. Whether perched on the end of Soldiers Point (about 10kms west) or sitting in a restaurant at Shoal Bay (as I was here when I decided to take this one) it constantly draws the eye. There's a couple of cafes across the road... 

Blue skies and Beaches indeed!

Blue skies and Beaches indeed!, Nelson Bay

 iandsmith Says:  When VT suggested "Blue Skies and Beaches" as a general tip heading they were obviously thinking of Port Stephens.It's that sort of place. It matters little what the weather is, the place always looks beautiful and this shot, taken from the next beach west of Dutchies Beach,... 

Anyone for tennis?

Anyone for tennis?, Nelson Bay

 iandsmith Says:  ....or golf. You can do more than one sport around the bay other than fishing.This is one of a number of golf courses available within the shire. It's called Horizons, located at Salamander Bay, and is a private course that the public can play on. Beautifully manicured it... 

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Map of Nelson Bay