Who would have thought you could have so much fun on sand?
From camel rides to quad bike tours, from sandboarding down the slopes to cultural tours of a ‘Tin City’ and Aboriginal middens, the Stockton Bight Sand Dunes are one of Australia’s majestic natural wonders.
The dunes are part of the 4200-hectare Worimi Conservation Lands, including 1800 hectares of forest, and 32km of the longest moving sand dunes in the southern hemisphere.
The dunes reach heights of more than 30 metres and the slopes can be up to 60 degrees. On a cultural tour, you can learn about the Aboriginal middens, Tin City (a ramshackle collection of fishermen’s huts) and the wreck of the Sygna, a Norwegian bulk carrier that ran aground at Stockton Beach in massive seas in 1974.
There’s four-wheel driving (permits required), fishing, surfing, guided quad bike tours, horse and camel riding, and sandboarding down the slopes. The sand dunes are just part of the beautiful Port Stephens region.
The area is great for cyclists, from serious mountain bikers right through to those who enjoy a safe and scenic bike ride. You can take your own bike or hire one and head off on the extensive network of tracks, many through reserves and close to beaches.
For nature lovers there’s Tomaree National Park where you might spot koalas, kangaroos and plenty of other wildlife.
There’s also a 98,000-hectare marine park where, from May-November, there’s a good chance of spotting the resident dolphins or the passing parade of migrating humpback whales.
The climb up Tomaree headland is well worth the effort for the spectacular ocean views. If you’re keen to time your visit with a major event, the June long weekend is when music lovers gather for the Blue Water Country and Blues Music Festival (June 11-13) and the Sacred Tree Markets (June 11-12) all along the Nelson Bay foreshore.
Port Stephens Visitor Information Centre, 1800-808-900, portstephens.org.au
