The perfect Port Stephens weekend getaway

Two and a half hours north of Sydney, Port Stephens packs 26 beaches, the Southern Hemisphere's largest sand dunes and a dolphin-filled bay into a stretch of coast made for a short escape. It is close enough to reach after work on Friday, and far enough to feel a world away by the time you wake on Saturday. It adds up to one of the easiest Port Stephens weekend getaway options in New South Wales.

This Port Stephens weekend itinerary maps out two unhurried days from a waterfront base at Corlette, shaped around what the weekend has to offer, from Saturday and Sunday markets to a morning on the water. Follow it from start to finish, or lift the parts that suit your pace.

Morning, breakfast then the sand dunes

Start with the buffet breakfast at The Galley Kitchen, a generous spread of hot and cold dishes, fresh pastries, local produce and a chocolate fountain the kids never quite believe. Suitably fuelled, point the car toward Anna Bay, fifteen minutes away, and the Stockton Bight Sand Dunes. As the largest moving coastal dunes in the Southern Hemisphere, they are the region’s hero experience. Sandboard down the slopes, ride a camel along Birubi Beach with Oakfield Ranch, or take a cultural quad tour with the Worimi-owned Sand Dune Adventures. Book the tour ahead, since weekend sessions fill fast.

Midday, lunch and a swim at Shoal Bay

Loop back toward the bay for lunch, then spend the warm part of the day at Shoal Bay, one of the calmest and clearest swimming beaches in Port Stephens. The sheltered water suits a lazy float, and the sand runs right up to a row of cafes if you would rather watch the water than get in it. The still bay is also ideal for a paddle, so hire a kayak or stand-up paddleboard if you want to see the coast from the water.

Sunrise or late afternoon, climb Tomaree Head

The Tomaree Head Summit walk is the classic Port Stephens hike, and the light is best at either end of the day. Keen walkers set the alarm for a sunrise climb, when the coastline glows and the track is all but empty. If an early start is a stretch after a big Saturday, late afternoon works just as well. The climb takes around twenty to thirty minutes from the car park, steep in places but well made, and the reward is a 360-degree view over the islands, the bay and the open ocean. The track closes for maintenance from time to time, so check for current alerts before you set out.

If you would rather skip the climb, Gan Gan Lookout gives you a similar sweep for the price of a short stroll. From 160 metres up, the view runs from Newcastle in the south to Myall Lakes in the north, and it is a favourite sunset spot with an easy boardwalk where you might catch a koala in the trees.

Evening, dinner by the water

Back at Corlette, trade the day's salt and sand for a long dinner. The Galley Kitchen carries its à la carte menu through the evening, and a table on the pool terrace as the marina lights come on is a fine way to close a full day.

Morning, browse the weekend markets

Port Stephens has markets on most weekends, and the Sunday ones are worth planning around. The Nelson Bay markets at Neil Carroll Park (Fly Point) run on the first, third and fifth Sundays of the month, while the Tomaree markets take the second and fourth Sundays, both from around 9am with local produce, handmade goods, coffee and a relaxed foreshore setting. On the first Saturday of the month, the Marina Market lines the Nelson Bay foreshore with makers and street food if your weekend leans that way instead.

Check the dates before you travel, since the market rotates by week. Either way, a slow wander with a coffee in hand is the right speed for a Sunday.

Late morning, out on the bay

No weekend trip to Port Stephens feels complete without time on the water. Cruises depart daily from Nelson Bay Marina, so a Sunday dolphin-watching cruise slots in neatly after the markets. Between May and November the same boats follow the humpback migration, and the bay's resident dolphins turn up year-round. It is an easy, gentle way to spend a last morning before the drive home.

If a slower morning appeals, book in at Spa Lucca, the hotel’s day spa. Its four treatment rooms, including two for couples, run a full menu of massages, facials and body treatments, with a steam room and a relaxation lounge to sink into afterwards. A treatment before check-out is the gentlest possible way to end a weekend, and visitors can book a treatment as well as hotel guests.

Afternoon, one last long lunch

Check-out does not have to mean straight to the car. High Tea by the Sea is served at The Galley Kitchen from 2pm, a leisurely spread of house-made sweet and savoury treats with a glass of sparkling, available with a day’s notice. Book it in and stretch the weekend out a little longer before the drive south.