Bay FM 99.3 - Tourism

Port Stephens Tourism

The earliest inhabitants of Port Stephens were the Aborigines of the Worimi Tribe. Descendants still live in the area.

Port Stephens was first noted by Europeans in May 1770 when Captain James Cook referred to Port Stephens in his log as "an opening forming a bay". He went on to describe; "Wind southerly in the day and in the night westerly, a gentle breeze and clear weather. At 4pm past at a distance of one mile a low rocky point which I named Point Stephens... on the north side of this point is an inlet which I called Port Stephens that appears from the masthead to be sheltered from all winds".

Despite his description, Cook never entered the Port. It wasn't entered until 1791 when a whaler commissioned as a convict transport called the Salamander entered the Bay.

Numerous plans were made for Port Stephens including locating the Australian Capital at Pindimar on the northern shores and developing Port Stephens as a naval base.

The closest Port Stephens came with grand plans were during the Second World War when the Bay was taken over by General MacArthur and used as a training base. Residents required a pass to move in and out of the area and Tomaree Head became Fort Tomaree complete with radar, gun emplacements and lookout bunkers.

Today Port Stephens is a pleasant holiday centre known as the "Blue Water Paradise" and the "Dolphin and Whale Watching Capital of Australia".

As a major NSW Mid North Coast tourist destination, Port Stephens has everything the holiday maker could want:

• A resident population of bottlenose dolphins, migrating humpback whales in season and home of Australia's rarest seabird, the Goulds Petrel.
• Pristine, unspoiled waterways, over 25 golden sandy beaches, eco-diverse Marine and National Parks and spectacular bushwalking.
• Accommodation ranging from budget backpacker hostels through boutique B&Bs to luxury hotel and self catering family holiday accommodation.
• Eating establishments from fast-food and take-way to exclusive restaurants and romantic dining hideaways.
• Holiday activities & tourist attractions that run the gamut from lying on a sun-baked beach to high adventure in a helicopter or soft adventure on a quad-bike on the Stockton Bight

Getting to Port Stephens:

Port Stephens, NSW Australia Location Map - Click on maps for larger images

By Car: Port Stephens is located 50km north of Newcastle on the NSW North Coast of Australia and is a leisurely 2 1/2 drive along the F3 Freeway from Sydney.

By Air: Newcastle Airport is 30 minutes south of Nelson Bay at Williamtown with direct flights daily from Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Canberra and Sydney. Check flight details with airlines direct: Jetstar, Virgin Blue, AeroPelican, Brindabella.

Train & Bus: Uninterrupted train journeys are available from Sydney Central Station to Newcastle, with coach connections direct to Port Stephens.

Click to visit Port Stephens Tourism Web Site

For more Port Stephens Tourist Information, attractions, activities and accomodation, visit the Port Stephens Tourism Web Site

For information about joining Port Stephens Tourism Limited, Membership and Corpoate Information, visit the Port Stephens Tourism Corporate Web Site

Click here for Live Webcam at Shoal Bay

You'll also find a selection of photgraphs of Port Stephens in our Photo Gallery

A Scenic Tour of Port Stephens

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