Port Stephens - Aussie beach vibe at it's best

Tucked away on a peninsula north of the busy port city of Newcastle is Port Stephens. Jutting out into the Pacific Ocean it has numerous enchanting bays and pretty beaches that appeal to all kinds of traveller - this is Australian beaches as you picture them in your dreams. From the bustling harbour town of Nelson Bay, full of cafes, bars and restaurants and the departure point for the numerous dolphin and whale watching trips, to Wreck Beach which is only reachable by a gentle bush walk and long climb down to the deserted sands below.

I found myself exploring as many as I could. My first step on arriving at Port Stephens, a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Sydney, was Nelson Bay and a brunch spot that came highly recommended to me by a frequent visitor to these parts, The Little Nel. A short walk up from the bustling harbour this cute spot is bustling with a beach front vibe. The Little Nel is a mix of inside and outside dining overlooking the turquoise bay beyond. The menu is pretty big and it took me some time to decide, finally being enticed by the Blue Swimmer Crab omelette with fried mushrooms and house made chilli oil together with a freshly squeezed pineapple juice. I honestly felt as though I was on a remote Pacific Island rather than a bustling Australian resort town. I’ll be honest though I do really love a good Australian seaside town, they have such positive fun vibes it’s hard not to enjoy.

After thoroughly enjoying my brunch, I was ready to continue my journey around the peninsula. My next stop was the much more peaceful Wreck Bay. Only a couple of kayaks and a couple of fellow solo walkers were present here. A complete contrast to the hectic Nelson Bay. Oh, and also some large creature that I never actually spotted that I could hear rustling around in the nearby bush at the side of the sandy path down to the beach.

The sandy bays at Fingal Beach are not to be missed when visiting Port Stephens

After driving through Shoal Bay, another beautiful but busy beach, very popular judging by the fact that there were no parking spaces to be found anywhere, I made it to Fingal Bay. A vast expanse of beach framed by sand dunes and sheltered by the presence of Shark Island across the water, meant that a safe lagoon area was created to paddle and swim in. Fingal Bay has a small scattering of homes and a holiday park and is a gorgeous spot to loose the jandels/flipflops/thongs and stroll out along the beach enjoying the fresh sea water lapping up at your ankles.

Nothing can beat a paddle in warm sea water to cool the toes

After a few hours of lingering and enjoying the magnificence of Fingal Bay I made my way further across the peninsula to Anna Bay. Bordering on the Worimi National Park, this area is renowned for its untouched sand dunes and natural beauty. Unfortunately, for my visit the wind had whipped up in a fury from the sea, so it was difficult to appreciate the natural beauty of the place with an eye full of fine sand, although I did try my best! A couple of tour operators offer various 4WD tours and sand boarding activities from the car park behind the beach. Personally, though I was here for a different type of ride, find out more in my new Port Stephens instalment.