Payments made by partners impact the order of prices displayed. Room types may vary.
The listings of booking offers for each property take into account the compensation paid to us by our partners. Prices shown may be for varying room types. Prices displayed are the lowest available, corresponding to the least expensive room type available, as provided from our partners as of the time of the user’s search.
Marina Resort
33 Magnus St, Nelson Bay, Port Stephens, New South Wales 2315 Australia
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Did you already book this hotel?
Tell us so we can help you plan.
About
#11 of 15 hotels in Nelson Bay
Location
Rooms
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
MARINA RESORT TEMPORARILY CLOSED FOR RENOVATIONS Marina Resort is a great place to stay to experience Port Stephens. Centrally located in the heart of beautiful Nelson Bay, this traditional, family friendly hotel has magnificent views over the local harbour. Marina Resort is conveniently located near all of Port Stephens' major tourist attractions. Dolphin/Whale Watch Cruises, Restaurants, Cafes and the scenic waterfront are all just a 5 minute stroll down the road. This recently refurbished 44 room hotel offers spacious comfort with great views of the bay, excellent evening dining in the 4th floor restaurant and a great hot/cold all-you-can eat buffet breakfast.
Read more
Suggest edits to improve what we show.Improve this listing
Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Pool
Restaurant
Fishing
Conference facilities
Banquet room
Steam room
Parking
Wifi
Outdoor pool
Fence around pool
Breakfast buffet
Complimentary Instant Coffee
Meeting rooms
Baggage storage
Newspaper
Non-smoking hotel
Laundry service
Self-serve laundry
Room features
Air conditioning
Desk
Private balcony
Safe
Coffee / tea maker
Microwave
Flatscreen TV
Bath / shower
Seating area
Telephone
Iron
Wake-up service / alarm clock
Refrigerator
Hair dryer
Room types
Ocean view
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Budget
Harbour View
Languages Spoken
English, French
Location
33 Magnus St, Nelson Bay, Port Stephens, New South Wales 2315 Australia
Getting there
Good for walkers
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Grade: 86 out of 100
86
Williamtown Airport
30.6 km•
See all flights
Rental Cars
41 Restaurants
within 0.5 kilometers
ReviewsWe perform checks on reviews.Tripadvisor’s approach to reviewsBefore posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
Traveller rating
- 41
- 84
- 94
- 43
- 27
Time of year
Traveller type
Language
Selected filters
- Filter
- English
Popular mentions
Sort by:
Detailed Reviews
The building does not look appealing but the room we stayed in was pretty large and clean. My family of 4, including 2 teenagers, was very satisfied with the facilities and the warm welcome of all staff: we had fresh linens and towels almost daily, the staff was always cheerful and very helpful, the facilities were clean and functioning. We had a balcony looking to the beach and the city, which was the view we needed to chill.
The room we stayed looked exactly the photos on the website.
The location is a walking distance to all the beach / restaurants / Woolies.
The room we stayed looked exactly the photos on the website.
The location is a walking distance to all the beach / restaurants / Woolies.
Read more
Date of stay: January 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The building has been around for a while, and it shows. That said, age can be a good characteristic - our room had plenty of space, the bed was comfortable, and the supplies (shower gel etc) were in perfectly good condition.
The staff were uniformly pleasant and helpful with advice on where we might eat in the evening. The restaurant was not operating for dinner (the chef was out of action), but provided a reasonable breakfast at a reasonable price over the weekend.
All in all, a worthwhile visit for a reasonable price.
The staff were uniformly pleasant and helpful with advice on where we might eat in the evening. The restaurant was not operating for dinner (the chef was out of action), but provided a reasonable breakfast at a reasonable price over the weekend.
All in all, a worthwhile visit for a reasonable price.
Read more
Date of stay: April 2021
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stayed with a work colleague for a couple of nights during the January break. Upon arrival, the resort looks quite outdated; it looked much more like an old hotel. Staff were friendly and even allowed an early checkin for no extra cost as we arrived a bit early.
The room from the second view was quite amazing as it overlooked the water; we enjoyed utilising the balcony to take in these views. While the room and bathroom were spacious, the room itself looked quite outdated.
The location itself is great; we were just a short walk to the cbd of Nelson bay and a short drive to shoal bay for a swim.
While the price was somewhat reasonable in price for this hotel, I would still recommend for those who are willing to stay in more of a hotel with friendly staff and a great location.
The room from the second view was quite amazing as it overlooked the water; we enjoyed utilising the balcony to take in these views. While the room and bathroom were spacious, the room itself looked quite outdated.
The location itself is great; we were just a short walk to the cbd of Nelson bay and a short drive to shoal bay for a swim.
While the price was somewhat reasonable in price for this hotel, I would still recommend for those who are willing to stay in more of a hotel with friendly staff and a great location.
Read more
Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Reception Staff, Guest Services / Front Office at Marina Resort
Responded 17 May 2020
We are grateful for you taking the time to leave us your impressions. Marina Resort is a hotel, the name 'Resort' is a legacy of former days. While the hotel is older in style, most of our guests tell us they find it clean and comfortable and good value for the price as compared to other hotels in area. We are very lucky to have such a magnificent location and the views out across the Nelson Bay harbour are hard to beat. We truly hope we can welcome you back to Port Stephens in the future.
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I don't get all of the harsh reviews - this was great. The location was great, we came here on the long weekend for fishing, and you could pretty much walk to the dock. You had to get the key by yourself at night as there was no reception, but this was not much of a problem. The room was great, it was pretty big. It had a table, a couch, a kettle with coffee, and tv. The bathroom was big and very clean, and had both a bath and shower, and the basin was big. The breakfast was honestly great. It was $15 for cold breakfast (croissants, toast, cereal, milk etc). I highly recommend the hot breakfast for an extra $12, which has battered chicken, battered fish, chips, hashbrown, sausages, eggs, bacon and other things. We then went to reception to check out and pay for the breakfast and they said there was breakfast discount so it was $10 per person for hot breakfast! An absolute bargain especially for long weekend.
Read more
Date of stay: June 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: Get the hot breakfast
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stayed for one night in a fourth floor suite. Very good view of the bay and marina. Large windows and balcony allowed for a fantastic view of the sunset and warmed the room on an otherwise very cold day. The room was large with a separate bedroom and two lounges and dining table in the main room. The room did not have any utensils or wine glasses so make sure you bring your own. The location was on the top of a short hill and the walk from town may be a little tough for those not so physically able.
Read more
Date of stay: June 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Room was on an elevated floor and had great views of the water. The manager and staff were exceptional and more that helpful. They stored our excess baggage when asked and I would recommend this stay to anyone. There is ample parking and it is short 5 minute walk to all shops and amenities.
Read more
Date of stay: March 2022
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: Very quiet and spacious. Great views from balcony. Short walk to shops.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed here as most other resorts were completely booked out and this place had one room left.
It ended up being great; huge room, clean, very comfortable huge bed, good air conditioning, off-street parking with security cameras.
The location is very central, you can walk to town in about 5 minutes where the shops, cafes, restaurants and the main Marina is. There is a huge Woolworths in town and several bottle shops.
There is a nice pool area which families with kids absolutely loved.
Yes, in places it’s a little bit tired and could do with some updating, but that’s reflected in the price (good value) so that’s fair.
It ended up being great; huge room, clean, very comfortable huge bed, good air conditioning, off-street parking with security cameras.
The location is very central, you can walk to town in about 5 minutes where the shops, cafes, restaurants and the main Marina is. There is a huge Woolworths in town and several bottle shops.
There is a nice pool area which families with kids absolutely loved.
Yes, in places it’s a little bit tired and could do with some updating, but that’s reflected in the price (good value) so that’s fair.
Read more
Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Reception Staff, Guest Services / Front Office at Marina Resort
Responded 17 May 2020
It is always a pleasure to have such lovely, positive guests like yourselves stay with us. We thank you for leaving your honest impressions. Marina Resort is more of a classic style hotel offering rather than ultra modern, but it is clean and comfortable and has one of the best locations in Nelson Bay. Thank you for staying with us. We hope we can welcome you back some time.
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Avoid! Avoid! Avoid! We had booked for 6 nights based on photos posted by so called resort. These photos are fake and do not represent the dungeon that we entered. The place was filthy from used soap and hair in bathroom to massive stains on the Lounge and bedding, food caked on teaspoons and the revolting smell of dampness. To top it off the staff were rude and defensive when approached. We canceled our stay and would NOT RECOMMEND!!!
Read more
Date of stay: March 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip: Avoid this place!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Our group was lucky to get five rooms over a weekend. The rooms are basic, but very large and clean with lovely views over the marina. We were able to have one breakfast at the hotel, but the facilities are quite limited. Everyone on the desk during our stay was helpful and we were able to easily access the marina and the main shopping area without using the cars.
Read more
Date of stay: November 2020
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: Try to get a room overlooking the marina.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Our second stay at the Marina Resort in 9 months, this time for 3 nights. We had a room on the 4th floor, with fantastic views across the waters of Port Stephens. Day or night the view is sensational. But what makes this place really that little bit special are the wonderful staff, honestly it is hard to think of a place where nothing is a problem when you ask a question, helpful and knowledgeable they do it with such care. Everyone is extremely happy and pleasant.
We opted to dine out as we have friends living up in the area so cannot comment on the restaurant but we have heard excellent things about the meals. And the view from the restaurant is also located on the 4th floor. They supplied us with wine glasses and ice in our room and helped us with luggage as we had been on a spree prior to arriving in Nelson Bay.
Thank you for looking after us and we will indeed see you again soon.
We opted to dine out as we have friends living up in the area so cannot comment on the restaurant but we have heard excellent things about the meals. And the view from the restaurant is also located on the 4th floor. They supplied us with wine glasses and ice in our room and helped us with luggage as we had been on a spree prior to arriving in Nelson Bay.
Thank you for looking after us and we will indeed see you again soon.
Read more
Date of stay: February 2020
Rooms
Location
Service
Room Tip: One of the best places to stay in Nelson Bay
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Reception Staff, Guest Services / Front Office at Marina Resort
Responded 17 May 2020
Thanks Fenima. Lovely guests like yourselves make our jobs very easy. It was a pleasure having you stay with us and we really appreciate you taking the time to leave your feedback. The views from the balcony rooms at Marina Resort make it one of the best locations in Nelson Bay, and while the furnishings are more classic in style, it is a clean and comfortable place to stay. We are really happy you enjoyed your time here and we certainly hope we can welcome you back soon.
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Dear Peskyposs - not sure if the renovations are complete as have not visited since last visit in September, 2017. The manager seemed to be very approachable so suggest a call directly to the resort.
"If you do decide to stay at this property make sure to stay on 3rd floor or above for views. And know that the rooms are old and tired"Read full review
…
ALSO KNOWN AS
port stephens marina hotel nelson bay
LOCATION
AustraliaNew South WalesGreater NewcastlePort StephensNelson Bay
NUMBER OF ROOMS
44
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
Is This Your Tripadvisor Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim Your ListingMARINA RESORT - 2024 Reviews (Nelson Bay) - Photos of Hotel - Tripadvisor
Frequently Asked Questions about Marina Resort
Which popular attractions are close to Marina Resort?
Nearby attractions include D'Albora Marinas (0.4 km), Splash Waterpark (0.2 km), and Nelson Bay Cinema (0.4 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Marina Resort?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, a pool, and an on-site restaurant.
Which room amenities are available at Marina Resort?
Top room amenities include air conditioning, a flat screen TV, and a refrigerator.
What food & drink options are available at Marina Resort?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant and free instant coffee during their stay.
What are some restaurants close to Marina Resort?
Conveniently located restaurants include The Little Nel Cafe, Sandpipers Restaurant, and Nice Cafe.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Marina Resort?
Yes, guests have access to a pool during their stay.
Are any cleaning services offered at Marina Resort?
Yes, laundry service and self serve laundry are offered to guests.
Does Marina Resort offer any business services?
Yes, it conveniently offers meeting rooms, a banquet room, and conference facilities.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Marina Resort?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English and French.