Extending from Hawks Nest to Caves Beach, the Hunter Coast is a blue-water paradise with unspoilt beaches and sheltered bays. Towns in this region include: Anna Bay, Boat Harbour, Corlette, Fingal Bay, Hawks Nest, Lake Macquarie, Nelson Bay, Newcastle, Salamander Bay, Shoal Bay and Tea Gardens. With a superb range of accommodation from holiday units and apartments to holiday parks and motels, this is a great region for families and friends to holiday. Experience 4WD at Stockton Beach, dolphin cruises at Port Stephens, sailing on Lake Macquarie or the cafes and restaurants along the Newcastle foreshore.

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Australian Coastal Holiday Accommodation Guide

Anna Bay information

Located 198km north of Sydney, Anna Bay is part of Port Stephens. Port Stephens is today a tourist and fishing area.

Attractions and activities include big game fishing, dolphin and whale watching cruises, sailing, parasailing and diving charters to off shore wrecks & Broughton Island, jet-skiing, water skiing and kayaking, camel rides, golf and beach and bush horse riding, quad biking, go-karts and surf school.

Accommodation options for visitors include hotels, motels and resorts, apartments, holiday units and lodges, holiday parks and bungalows.

Corlette information

Located 206km north of Sydney, Corlette is part of Port Stephens, which is today a tourist and fishing area.

Attractions and activities include dolphin and whale watching cruises, sailing, parasailing and diving charters to off shore wrecks & Broughton Island, jet-skiing, water skiing and kayaking, camel rides, golf and beach and bush horse riding, quad biking, go-karts and surf school.

Accommodation options for visitors include hotels, motels and resorts, apartments, holiday units and lodges, houseboats, holiday parks and bungalows.

Fingal Bay information

Located 213km north of Sydney, Fingal Bay is part of Port Stephens, which is today a tourist and fishing area.

Attractions and activities include big game fishing, dolphin and whale watching cruises, sailing, parasailing and diving charters to off shore wrecks & Broughton Island, jet-skiing, water skiing and kayaking, camel rides, golf and beach and bush horse riding, quad biking, go-karts and surf school.

Accommodation options for visitors include hotels, motels and resorts, apartments, holiday units and lodges, houseboats, holiday parks and bungalows.

Hawks Nest information

Located 218km north of Sydney on the northern shores of Port Stephens, Hawks Nest has both ocean and river frontage. Previously established for its timber and fishing, Hawks Nest and neighbouring Tea Gardens today depend upon sand mining and tourism.

Attractions and activities include beach, river, bay and deep-sea fishing, sailing, boating and wind surfing, water skiing, diving and canoeing, horse riding, sand boarding and jet boating, golf, tennis and 4WD on beaches and National Park tracks. Experience koala spotting, whale watching and dolphins on the south side of Yacaaba Headland. Explore Winda Woppa Reserve walking trails, Myall Lakes National Park, Mungo Brush rainforest walk and Cabbage Tree Island rainforest habitat.

Accommodation options for visitors include houseboats, caravan parks and holiday units, motels, apartments and B&Bs, beach houses, cottages and town houses.

Lake Macquarie information

Located 125km north of Sydney, Lake Macquarie is an extensive coastal lagoon four times the size of Sydney Harbour. Lake Macquarie has 175km of lake foreshore and includes the towns of Morriset, Mannering Park, Swansea Channel, Toronto, Warners Bay, Belmont, Wangi Wangi, Cams Wharf, Nords Wharf and Caves Beach. Previously established as grazing land, Lake Macquarie’s main industry today is coal mining.

Attractions and activities include sailing, canoeing and boating, fishing, water skiing and jet skiing aqua bikes, surfing and lake cruises, walking, horse riding and cycle paths around the lake, golfing galleries and museums. Explore sea caves at Cave Beach, Kilaben Bay boardwalk and Watagan Mountains National Park State Forest, Munmorah State Recreation Area, camping at Frazer Beach and Dobell House.

Accommodation options for visitors include house boats, hotels and resorts, motels, apartments and holiday units, holiday houses, cottages and Bed & Breakfasts, holiday parks, cabins and camping.

Nelson Bay information

Located 207km north of Sydney, Nelson Bay is one of the main centres of Port Stephens. Previously established as a fishing area, Port Stephens is today a tourist and fishing area.

Attractions and activities include big game fishing, dolphin and whale watching cruises, sailing, parasailing and diving charters to off shore wrecks & Broughton Island, jet-skiing, water skiing and kayaking, camel rides, golf and beach and bush horse riding, quad biking, go-karts and surf school. Explore Nelson Head Lighthouse Museum, Fighter World and Tomaree National Park walking trails and 4WD tracks, the Shell Museum, Toboggan Track and Oakvale Farm and Flora World.

Accommodation options for visitors include hotels, motels and resorts, apartments, holiday units and lodges, houseboats, holiday parks and bungalows.

Newcastle information

Located 159km north of Sydney at the mouth of the Hunter River, Newcastle is a vibrant city with magnificent surf beaches, fashionable café culture, live music scene and historic architecture. Previously established for its coal, Newcastle today is a port city with a strong manufacturing centre.

Attractions and activities include ballooning, surf and city helicopter tour and kite boarding at Nobbys Beach, 4WD at Stockton Beach, surf school at Redhead and deep-sea, harbour and river cruises, sea kayaking, cycling and golfing. Explore Blackbutt Reserve, Wetlands Centre at Sandgate and Newcastle Regional Museum, Fort Scratchley and Maritime Museum, The Bogey Hole at the foot of Shepherds Hill and surfing competitions at Newcastle Beach, Shipwreck Walk, Breakwater Walk and the Great North Walk. Experience the hinterland vineyards, skydiving at Maitland and Newcastle’s Famous Tram, horse riding, galleries, nightlife and historical buildings.

Accommodation options for visitors include hotels, motels and apartments, Bed & Breakfasts, backpackers and lodges, holiday units, guesthouses and tourist parks.

Salamander Bay information

Located 202km north of Sydney, Salamander Bay is part of Port Stephens, which is today a tourist and fishing area.

Attractions and activities include dolphin and whale watching cruises, sailing, parasailing and diving charters to off shore wrecks & Broughton Island, jet-skiing, water skiing and kayaking, camel rides, golf and beach and bush horse riding, quad biking, go-karts and surf school.

Accommodation options for visitors include hotels, motels and resorts, apartments, holiday units and lodges, houseboats, holiday parks and bungalows.

Shoal Bay information

Located 210km north of Sydney, Shoal Bay is part of Port Stephens, which is today a tourist and fishing area.

Attractions and activities include big game fishing, dolphin and whale watching cruises, sailing, parasailing and diving charters to off shore wrecks & Broughton Island, jet-skiing, water skiing and kayaking, camel rides, golf and beach and bush horse riding, quad biking, go-karts and surf school. Explore Nelson Head Lighthouse Museum, Tomaree National Park walking trails, the Shell Museum, and Flora World.

Accommodation options for visitors include hotels, motels and resorts, apartments, holiday units and lodges, houseboats, holiday parks and bungalows.

Tea Gardens information

Located 216km north of Sydney on the northern shores of Port Stephens, Tea Gardens has both ocean and river frontage. Previously established for its timber and fishing, Tea Gardens and neighbouring Hawks Nest today depend upon sand mining and tourism.

Attractions and activities include beach, river, bay and deep-sea fishing, sailing, boating and wind surfing, water skiing, diving and canoeing, horse riding, sand boarding and jet boating, golf, tennis and 4WD on beaches and National Park tracks. Experience koala spotting, whale watching and dolphins on the south side of Yacaaba Headland. Explore Winda Woppa Reserve walking trails, Myall Lakes National Park, Mungo Brush rainforest walk and Cabbage Tree Island rainforest habitat.

Accommodation options for visitors include houseboats, caravan parks and holiday units, motels, apartments and B&Bs, beach houses, cottages and town houses.

 

Contact the Visitor Information Centre at Nelson Bay (02 4980 6900) for more information on the Hunter Coast, NSW.