Places worth discovering
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Natural Attractions
Get back to basics and spend a relaxing weekend by the Karuah River in the Karuah National Park and the Karuah Nature Reserve. Pack your mountain bike and explore the park on the network of 4WD trails. It's also a great place for picnicking by the water. Launch your boat, kayak or canoe and enjoy paddling on the beautiful waters of Karuah River.
Karuah NSW
3.5 km away
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National Parks and Reserves
Get back to basics and spend a relaxing weekend by the river at Karuah National Park. Pack your mountain bike and explore the park on the network of 4WD trails. It's also a great place for picnicking by the water. Launch your boat, kayak or canoe and enjoy paddling on the beautiful waters of Karuah River. Take advantage of this popular fishing destination and try your luck fishing with the kids. Then wander back to your campsite to watch the colours in the sky transform at dusk and get up close with some of the locals bandicoots, goannas and brush-tailed possums, to name a few. Sleep under the stars and wake up to the sound of birdcalls welcoming a new day. Enjoy a hot brekkie around the campfire looking out across the river from your campsite, as you get ready for another day surrounded by nature.
Limeburners Creek NSW
7.3 km away
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Natural Attractions
If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle for the day, you couldn’t find a more peaceful picnic spot than Double Wharf picnic area. On the banks of Karuah River, it’s a picturesque spot to just sit back and relax – yet there’s also plenty to see and do. With easy access to the river, it’s a great place to launch your kayak or canoe and head off paddling up the river. The mangroves areas along Deep Creek, Limeburners Creek and Karuah River make this area an important fish habitat and a popular fishing destination, so don’t forget your fishing tackle. Keen birdwatchers will find plenty to feast their eyes on with the abundance of birdlife in the area. Watch the magnificent yellow-tailed black cockatoos going about their early morning feeding routines in the casuarinas along the river’s edge, or go for a short bushwalk and see if you can see one of the local koalas in the eucalypts.
Limeburners Creek NSW
8.6 km away
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National Parks and Reserves
Tilligerry Habitat is a nine-hectare crown reserve in Tanilba Bay on the foreshore of beautiful Port Stephens. Tilligerry Habitat showcases koalas and wildlife habitat, as well as a native nursery. Visitors are welcomed in the information centre, which is an eco-friendly straw bale building, where interactive displays and a souvenir shop are located. Local natives and garden plants are for sale from the onsite nursery. There is a wide range of scenic forest, scrub, wetland and coastal environments accessed by a network of paths and boardwalks. A fully accessible picnic area is situated next to the visitor centre. An easy two-kilometre walk on flat gravel paths and boardwalks will afford the visitor the opportunity to see native plants, birds and possibly even a koala in the wild.
Tanilba Bay NSW
9.3 km away
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Zoos, Sanctuaries, Aquariums and Wildlife Parks
Some places you visit. These Animal Adventures will stay with you forever. Port Stephens Animal Adventures is a fully indoor, all weather wildlife and aquarium attraction, one of the most interactive family attractions in the region and a popular choice for things to do in Port Stephens. Visitors can feed and interact with nearly 150 sharks and rays in a supervised touch pool, some 2.5 metres long and some that will sit in your hand. Guests can also enter the water with sharks, rays, freshwater eels, moray eels, zebra sharks and a giant grouper. Our Rescued Reptile Encounters happen all day and offer genuinely close up experiences with snakes, lizards and bearded dragons, handled by the animal care team and ready for photos. Out in the farmyard, sheep, goats and an alpaca are waiting to be hand fed. Australia's most interactive Macaws are a must do experience, along with feeding our famous rescued long necked turtles. All ticket holders also get entry to the Crocodile Encounters billabongs next door, three indoor pools home to 21 saltwater crocodiles including Rocksteady. The ultimate experience is the Crocodile Swim and Giant Grouper Shark Feed, featuring Rocksteady, Australia's largest crocodile you can swim up to at 4.8 metres and 800 kilograms. Located near Nelson Bay, Newcastle and just 2.5 hours from Sydney.
Bobs Farm NSW
13 km away
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Shopping and Markets
Readers Retreat is a bookshop where words and people come together. Their bookshop stocks an eclectic range of new and used books. Not only are local authors a feature, but a range of the latest fiction, non-fiction, classics, young adult and children's books are available for purchase. They also stock beautiful stationery, gifts, cards and a selection of art works.
Salamander Bay NSW
14 km away
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Entertainment Venues
Looking for the ultimate school holiday activity? Join them at Bricks n Things LEGO Fan Space for their LEGO Experience and Build Sessions. Whether your kids are aspiring Master Builders or just love to get creative with bricks, their space is the perfect place to spend the morning. You can walk around and get inspired by their 14 massive LEGO displays created by Kevin, Angela, and Tristan.
Taylors Beach NSW
15 km away
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National Parks and Reserves
Worimi Conservation Lands includes Worimi National Park along with Worimi State Conservation Area and Worimi Regional Park. Located near Newcastle, the Worimi Conservation Lands are owned and co-managed by the local Worimi Aboriginal community in partnership with NSW National Parks. The Stockton Bight landscape is home to an extraordinary number of ancient cultural sites. If you're visiting for the day, you'll find there is heaps to do; fishing, birdwatching or the ever-popular pastime of beach driving. Take a guided tour and check out traditional Aboriginal sites of the Worimi People, take a sand dune safari or go horse riding along the beach. And don't miss the gigantic Stockton dunes, the largest moving coastal sand dunes in the southern hemisphere. With so much to do, you might need to extend your stay. Find out more about camping in the Worimi Conservation Lands. A range of accommodation options are available within a short distance of the park - contact the Port Stephens Visitor Information Centre for more details.
Bobs Farm NSW
15 km away
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Spas and Retreats
Tucked within the waterfront surrounds of Anchorage, Spa Lucca is a private sanctuary devoted to rest, restoration, and unhurried indulgence. From the moment you arrive, every detail invites you to slow down. Retreat into one of our private treatment rooms, share the experience with someone special in a double treatment room, or linger in the Hydro Suite and relaxation lounge. Leave feeling lighter, calmer, and completely renewed Spa Lucca provides eco-luxe products from Sodashi, Dermaviduals, and Simka which are sustainably made, ethically produced, and use no harmful chemicals. Appointments are essential.
Corlette NSW
16 km away
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Amusement and Theme Parks
Experience the best outdoor laser tag in Port Stephens with Battlezone Laser Tag – an action-packed adventure for families, school groups, and team-building events. Located in Salt Ash, Battlezone delivers unforgettable battles using professional-grade, Australian-made equipment. No lasers – just safe, high-tech infrared phasers, medic boxes, and immersive battlefield missions for all ages 7 and up. Perfect for kids' birthday parties, school excursions, youth camps, and corporate team bonding, their 2-hour sessions are designed for maximum fun, strategy, and screen-free outdoor activity. Hidden in the bushland of Salt Ash, just minutes from the beaches of Port Stephens, lies a battlefield like no other – welcome to Battlezone. Here, kids become heroes, parents relive their glory days, and teams come together like never before. Players dive into fast-paced missions that are all about strategy, teamwork, and laughter. With picnic spots, toilets, parking, and BBQ hire on site, it's more than a game — it's an unforgettable adventure in Port Stephens. Whether you're visiting Port Stephens or planning a group event, Battlezone offers an adrenaline-charged, family-friendly outdoor experience that's engaging, safe, and seriously fun.
Salt Ash NSW
16 km away
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Zoos, Sanctuaries, Aquariums and Wildlife Parks
Experience one of Australia's most interactive wildlife attractions at Oakvale Wildlife Park, where unforgettable animal encounters await. Get up close to native Australian wildlife, friendly farm animals and fascinating exotic species, with opportunities to feed, pat and connect with many of the park's incredible animals. Set across 25 acres of natural bushland in Port Stephens, this family-owned and operated wildlife park is home to more than 110 species. Meet iconic Australian animals including koalas, kangaroos, wombats, dingoes and emus, alongside exotic favourites such as red pandas, ring-tailed lemurs and meerkats. Enjoy a full day of family fun with daily keeper talks, bottle-feeding presentations, tractor-trailer rides, free-roaming animals, shaded playgrounds, complimentary barbecue facilities, undercover picnic areas and an onsite café. Admission also includes Splash Bay Water Park, open year-round for the perfect way to cool off—don't forget your swimmers! With accessible pathways suitable for prams, wheelchairs and mobility scooters, Oakvale is designed for everyone to enjoy. Located just 2.5 hours north of Sydney in beautiful Port Stephens, Oakvale Wildlife Park is the perfect destination for a fun-filled day of wildlife encounters and lasting family memories.
Salt Ash NSW
16 km away
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Zoos, Sanctuaries, Aquariums and Wildlife Parks
Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters are leaders in marine education, conservation and fun. This unique experience is unmatched by any other location in the country. Visitors interact with marine life during a self guided tour of the aquarium, joining them in their natural-style lagoons, petting and feeding them all under the ever-watchful eyes of the experienced guides. There are even opportunities to get up close with a special encounter with sharks and rays or to snorkel in the deep and swim amongst them. Irukandji is a massive family; fish and staff alike, as they set out to reveal the true character of some of the worlds most beautiful, intelligent, elusive creatures. With a mission to inspire change, Irukandji educate svisitors about Australia's delicate ocean ecosystems and ocean pollution, in attempt to change the world: one shark at a time.
Anna Bay NSW
16 km away
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Sports and Recreation Facilities
Clarence Town Bowling, Sport and Recreation Club is a community venue for social and community forums, meetings, seminars and Council issues. The Marias Kitchen restaurant provides an excellent atmosphere for weddings, birthdays, and special functions, seating up to 90 patrons, with the adjacent auditorium seating an additional 100 patrons. Weekly specials and themed nights are available for all members and guests. The wonderful management, staff, caterers, and facilities will make your visit very much worthwhile.
Clarence Town NSW
18 km away
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Natural Attractions
The boat ramp at Bridge Reserve (adjacent to the Williams River Holiday Park) at Clarence Town is a great spot to access the Williams River. One option is to travel upriver under the historic “Brig ‘O Johnson” Bridge and continue north along the Williams River towards Rowlands Falls. Your peaceful journey upstream will be through farmland and there is abundant birdlife to view and take photos of. Pick up a bird brochure from the Visitor Centre to take with you. Clarence Town has a shipbuilding industry where Australia’s first ocean-going steamer was built. An important part of the region's economy in days gone by. The early establishment of relatively small farms on the river, and the ease of river transport led to rapid growth. Along with tobacco factories and steam-driven flour mills, one of the earliest National Schools was founded here in 1849 - Source History in the Williams River Valley.
Clarence Town NSW
18 km away
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Landmarks and Buildings
Clarence Town School of Arts Hall was built in 1915 and is maintained by a small group of volunteers. The Hall has magnificent chandeliers, pressed tin walls and ceiling, original coloured glass windows and a tin roof. There is a main hall with a stage and separate supper room and a large fully equipped kitchen. The walls in the supper room have made an ideal place for historical photos of Clarence Town, the river and boats that frequented the port. An ideal place for weddings, family functions, Corporate Events, and Fundraising activities. Regular classes are held each week, including Exercise Boot Camps, Tai Chi, Exercise, Children's Gymnastics, Dance and Hunter Valley Performing Arts, also host the Boomerang Bag sewing bees and other community events. Suitable for: wedding reception, wedding ceremony, parties and celebrations, meetings, group fitness and dance, concerts and plays, conferences.
Clarence Town NSW
18 km away
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Natural Attractions
Just 20 minutes from Newcastle Airport and Nelson Bay, you’ll find the quiet surfing neighbourhood of Anna Bay which is the entry point to one of the most significant land formations on the east coast. The Stockton Bight Sand Dunes, in the Worimi Conservation Lands, are the largest moving coastal dunes in the southern hemisphere. The 32 kilometres of sandscape reaches heights of 40 metres and slopes of 60 degrees. here are many ways to explore the dunes. Take a sunset camel or horse ride, cruise around in a four-wheel drive or climb to the top to slide down the slope on a sandboard. Further south, you can join Sand Dune Adventures for a cultural quad bike tour, learning about the local Aboriginal heritage and visiting ancient campsites. Though the dunes provide the main attraction Anna Bay has much more on offer; discover rockpools, great surf, four-wheel driving and beach fishing. Birubi Beach is a patrolled surf beach and Crest Cafe sits atop where you can enjoy a coffee and beautiful views. Along the main road, you’ll find fresh produce from farm gate stalls where you can try the famous, tasty Anna Bay tomatoes and farm-fresh eggs. A little further along is a golf driving range and mini-putt course. Accommodation ranges from lodge-style cabins, to holiday parks and seaside holiday homes.
Anna Bay NSW
18 km away
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Galleries, Museums and Collections
Clarence Town and District Museum is a former courthouse building (1869) and now the site of a local history museum that focuses on Clarence Town as a terminal of navigation and river port. Its collection encompasses shipbuilding, exploration, maps, documents, photographs, memorabilia, household items, timber-getting, agriculture, and Williams River's settlement history. Come in and view the wonderful display. The friendly staff welcome you.
Clarence Town NSW
18 km away
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Landmarks and Buildings
The Brig O'Johnston Bridge sits over the Williams River at Clarence Town and was built in 1880 and is the oldest surviving timber truss bridge in NSW. The bridge is one of 26 bridges identified for conservation in the Roads and Maritime Timber Truss Bridge Conservation Strategy, which was developed in consultation with the Heritage Council of NSW. The strategy was developed to address the long-term management of these structures and aims to establish a balance between infrastructure provision and heritage conservation. The strategy was displayed for stakeholder and community comment in 2011. Given its heritage significance the Brig O'Johnston Bridge was identified for rehabilitation to meet current vehicle load standards while preserving its heritage feature. A new bridge is currently being constructed next to the Brig which will become a pedestrian bridge.
Clarence Town NSW
18 km away
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Natural Attractions
The Myall River is one of several beautiful rivers born in the hinterland of the Barrington Coast. As their crystal clear waters tumble from the rugged peaks, they breathe life into the land; for this is the Barrington Coast - a place where the leaves touch the waters from the mountains to the sea. The Myall River is renowned for its calm scenic beauty, perfect for boating, paddle boarding, kayaking, fishing, swimming and scenic cruises. It's formed in the Kyle Range near Stroud, flows south-eastwards for 92 kilometres and descends 355 metres before joining the bay of Port Stephens at Hawks Nest. After flowing past the town of Bulahdelah, the Myall River enters the Bombah Broadwater, which is the most southern lake of the three Ramsar-protected Myall Lakes within the Myall Lakes National Park. Between the towns of Tea Gardens and Hawks Nest, the Myall River is crossed by the famous Singing Bridge, whose railing plays mournful sounds during strong winds, acting as a wind
Hawks Nest NSW
19 km away
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Entertainment Venues
Their storefront has a range of hand made and hand-crafted products from over 35 local artisans. They sell souvenirs, jewellery, artworks, gifts, bags, homewares, creative holiday gift packs and more. They are an inclusive store with artisans from all walks of life including teenagers and people with a disability. They create personalised items to suit your preferences and tastes. They also have a creative studio with workshops for kids, teens and adults that isn't your standard paint and sip studio. They create an experience for all.
Nelson Bay NSW
19 km away
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Entertainment Venues
d'Albora Marina Nelson Bay is a vibrant waterfront destination featuring boutique shopping and a variety of dinning options. Just a short walk from town centre, it's the perfect place to enjoy local food and wine, waterfront walks, fish feeding and family friendly activities. Relax by the water, watch the boast come and go, and enjoy live music on Saturday afternoons! Check out their socials for more information and other marina activities.
Nelson Bay NSW
19 km away
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Galleries, Museums and Collections
The Gallery is home to the largest, ever-changing display of artworks by Galleries in the Gardens artists - from the renowned artists community of Tea Gardens/Hawks Nest/Myall Coast. This waterfront cottage sits within its lush garden opposite the Myall River, and is just a two-minute flat walk from the Tea Gardens ferry wharf. Artworks by Galleries in the Gardens members include paintings, drawings, pastels, lino cuts, etchings and art prints, sculptures, ceramics, jewellery, original art cards, music and more – and are for sale. Regular specially-themed exhibitions are also held. Come and have a browse, enjoy the artwork and the beautiful, tranquil garden. There you may see some of the Galleries in the Gardens artists in action, too.
Tea Gardens NSW
19 km away
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Galleries, Museums and Collections
Located at Newcastle Airport, Fighter World is a hands-on experience. Visitors can walk around, touch and view some of Australia's most iconic military aircraft plus enjoy the added benefit of sitting in the cockpits of a Mirage jet fighter, Macchi jet trainer and a CT-4B basic training aircraft. There are many historic aircraft, replicas and weapons on display. Inside the main hangar, you'll also discover the Norm Forrester Collection; one of Australia's greatest displays of hand-built model aircraft. State of the art Flight Simulators provide the chance to test your 'Top Gun' skills and must be booked separately. In addition, step up to the Observation Deck where you can view some of the world's most advanced aircraft take-off and land and on your way out don't forget to stop at the souvenir shop for something truly unique. After your adventure, enjoy the warm welcome, great food and friendly atmosphere of the Fighter Beans Café before you depart. Fighter World is an accessible and inclusive venue.
Williamtown NSW
19 km away
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Amusement and Theme Parks
Splash Waterpark Nelson Bay offers the ultimate inflatable playground on water—an exciting challenge of agility, balance, and endurance, all set against the stunning backdrop of sunlit skies and sparkling waters. Whether climbing, jumping, or navigating the floating course, every moment at Splash is packed with energy and fun. Time flies when you're having this much fun—especially with family and friends by your side. Perfect for school groups, team-building events, and special occasions, Splash Waterpark caters to a wide range of group bookings, ensuring a memorable experience for everyone involved. To join the fun, participants must be at least 6 years old and 110 cm tall. Children aged 6 to 9 must be accompanied by a responsible person aged 16 or older. All guests must be confident swimmers. For safety, every participant is fitted with a buoyancy vest and given a full safety briefing before entering the waterpark. Trained lifeguards are stationed on and around the course to ensure everyone stays safe while having the time of their lives. Jump into the adventure—Splash Waterpark is waiting!
Nelson Bay NSW
19 km away
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Explore EventsUse Things to Do for attractions and experiences that are not tied to one event date.
