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Trip Report - Port Stephens

Sydney, Australia
Destination Expert
for Sydney, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Airlie Beach, Whitsunday Islands
25,591 posts
480 helpful votes
Trip Report - Port Stephens

Family Guru decided to join Gurus-in-laws for the weekend in the little village of Hawks Nest.

Accom: provided by Guru who went up earlier accompanied by Gurus daughter to pitch the tent at Hawks Nest Beach Caravan Park. Sites in the park are a little sandy but it is well located a 3 minute walk and you're in the water. Amenities block: we were "down the back" so mostly had the facilities to ourselves. Clean and plenty of them - no queueing.

Location: Hawks Nest is a quiet village for most of the week. It becomes somewhat busier on weekends and the park went from near empty to about 80 percent full. The town is bounded on 3 sides by water, a surf beach, snorkel location and the river (for launching of boats). There are a smattering of restaurants and two motels. Also lots of private rentals available.

Activity: We were on the beach early on Saturday morning and watched 6-8 pods of dolphins play in the waves and among the surfers. Water temp was still a bit cool (21c) but okay for a quick swim. Air temp however was around 30c making it very hot on the beach without shade.

The beach is very long and we walked for about an hour in the afternoon passing only 2 other people.

Dining: No trip to the area is justified without an evening meal at Tillerman's in tea gardens. Bookings are essential for Saturday evenings. Four "walk ins" were turned away. Food was lovely and they have an amazing wine list.

Remainder of the meals were self catered with the exception of pies from "the pieman" for Sunday Lunch.

Getting there: Guru left home at 2.40pm and arrived some time around 5. I left 1 hour later and arrived at 7pm. Moral..get out of Sydney before 3pm on a Friday! getting Home: 2 and a half hours.

Other things to do:

Snorkel at Jimmys beach.

Stop in at "The Rock" (a big fake Ayers rock)

Kayaking tours up the Myall River.

Fishing

Catch a ferry across to Nelson Bay

Visit Mungo Brush National Park.

Golf- popular golf course.

Sydney, Australia
Destination Expert
for Sydney, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Airlie Beach, Whitsunday Islands
25,591 posts
480 helpful votes
1. Re: Trip Report - Port Stephens

Snodge, Please read paragraph five

What time?

Sydney, Australia
9,398 posts
165 helpful votes
2. Re: Trip Report - Port Stephens

We would have been looking out from Hole in the Wall between 12:30 and 12:50ish I suppose. The woman on the beach was stripping down to a red bikini I think.

The picnic area at Hole in the Wall has no shelter whatever, which I guess makes less of an intrusion to the landscape. It would be OK for a winter picnic on a still day....too hot for summer though...still the table and seats make a good platform to stand on to look up and down the coast LOL

Sydney, Australia
Destination Expert
for Sydney, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Airlie Beach, Whitsunday Islands
25,591 posts
480 helpful votes
3. Re: Trip Report - Port Stephens

Not us..not until about 3.30pm. We left the kids in the surf between the flags..only saw the 14 yo for meals on Saturday..and walked and walked

Sydney, Australia
9,398 posts
165 helpful votes
4. Re: Trip Report - Port Stephens

Sounds like the perfect break for all concerned. One day I'll go back with my hubby and go for a long walk along that beach. This time I was with mum and she's not up to it. God Bless the surf life savers!

One thing I should have put in my comments about Myall Lakes for the lurkers who've been asking questions about holidays with kids, Myall Lakes, and Mungo Brush in particular, is a good safe swimming spot for younger kids. No surf and the water stays shallow at MB quite a way out over a sandy bottom. You could happily relax in the shade and watch the kids play in the water....just don't doze off! For anyone, it's a good safe spot to cool off if you're passing through at a time the beach isn't patrolled.

Sydney, Australia
Destination Expert
for Sydney, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Airlie Beach, Whitsunday Islands
25,591 posts
480 helpful votes
5. Re: Trip Report - Port Stephens

Also for Lurkers..

Life savers are not intended as a child minding service. ( I have seen this happen with younger children..parents not watching) The 14 yo is like most coastal Aussie teenagers grown up at the beach and is a strong swimmer. His school offers surfing for sport and the local primary schools attend Surf Awareness clinics run by the Lifesaving and local council.

Sunny Queensland...
2,374 posts
47 helpful votes
6. Re: Trip Report - Port Stephens

Port Stephens and the myall lakes are one of those hidden gems of australia.Just one correction-mungo brush is in the myall lakes national park.I used to go camping there in the 60's and loved it so much I became treasurer of the myall lakes committee back then to secure it as a national park.

Really fantastic to see that people now enjoy it and the sandminers didnt get everything.

Sydney, Australia
Destination Expert
for Sydney, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Airlie Beach, Whitsunday Islands
25,591 posts
480 helpful votes
7. Re: Trip Report - Port Stephens

yes I realise I should have put "in the national park" after I read the post..

We've been up there a few times..I wish they wouldn't let 4wd on the beach..a year or so ago they were tearing around the dunes pulling up the vegetation

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