Explore Port Stephens and the Hunter Coast of New South Wales

Australians know the Hunter Coast & Port Stephens well, but this region of New South Wales doesn't receive the international publicity it deserves. It may be because it has never been developed as extensively as other vacation areas in NSW or it may be because Australians want to keep this magnificent region to themselves. Whatever the reason may be, what Port Stephens and the rest of the HunterCoast lacks in large scale development, it makes up for in large scale hospitality and scenic wonders. Once you've been there, you'll agree that the Hunter Coast & Port Stephens is one of the most precious vacation gems of the NSW coast.

Port Stephens' European history goes all the way back to Captain Cook, who noted it on the 11th of May, 1770 and named it after the Secretary of the Admiralty. Twenty-one years later, in 1791, the first ship explored the inland waterways and by the first decades of the 1800s, Port Stephens was being used for shipping timber and other goods and as a stopover for the whaling ships that were active up and down the NSW coast in that era.

While the days of the whaling ships have ended, the great humpback whales continue their annual migration. Today, Port Stephens is well known as the launching point for whale watching vessels. Renowned as the Dolphin Capital of Australia because of the great numbers of bottleneck dolphins that call the Port Stephens area home, during the migratory months of May-June and September-November, those who go on dolphin tours often get the extra thrill of spotting migrating humpbacks. Because of the abundance of unique marine life in the region, the HunterCoast from Newcastle's StocktonBeach to Forster at its northern border has been declared a MarinePark, including the KaruahRiver, the MyallRiver and other inland tidal waterways.

If one thing defines the HunterCoast, it would be water. Surfers and other ocean sports lovers find everything they want along the 90 miles (145 kilometers) of coastline, including sheltered beaches for family fun and exposed points and reefs for experienced surfers only. The inland waterways of the Great Lakes are a paradise for jet skiers, water skiers and everyone else who likes to get out on the water. Between the coastal beaches and the vast network of inland waterways, there's nothing you can't find on the Hunter Coast if you love the water.

There is so much to do and see in the Hunter Coast & Port Stephens region, you can't even begin to appreciate it in a single day. The only way to do it justice is to book into a Port Stephens accommodation and give the area a weekend at the very least. There is no shortage of places to stay in the region. If you like pitching a tent, there are dozens of campgrounds in the area. If you prefer more luxury and all the comforts of home, then choose a cozy Nelson Bay Bed & Breakfast or a Port Stephens resort hotel. Next time you start planning your New South Wales vacation; plan it around Port Stephens and the HunterCoast. You'll be glad you did.