Things to do in Shoal Bay (2025): Top nearby activities,popular attractions,itinerary planning,weather,accommodation,food,transportation,and more - all you need to know (updated August 2025) | Trip.com
Lavender and Sun:“Port Stephen has unscrupulous blue sea and blue sky, and a fresh environment. Come to Port Stephen, intoxicated with the relaxing outdoor environment, feel comfortable and comfortable leisurely holiday, and return to the embrace of nature.”
358***33:“The Moon Shadow Dolphin Watching Cruise is a cruise for watching dolphins in Nelson Bay, Sydney. The boat is relatively large, especially the hull is very wide, and the ride is very stable. There are many dolphins here, and watching them swim in groups is a spectacular scene. The facilities of the dolphin watching boat are also very good, and a rich buffet will be provided to tourists. I feel that the 22 Australian dollars ticket is worth it”
千山任我行:“Port Stephens is located in the north of Sydney. In this coastal town, there are half-day tours to go out to sea to watch dolphins. If you encounter a large group of dolphins, the scene is really spectacular. It takes about three hours to drive from Sydney.”
zhweiei:“Anna Bay is a scenic spot with half sea and half beach, so you can play sandboarding here. It is to take a skateboard and control it by hand to slide down the sloping sand slope. It is controlled by hand, which is definitely a handbrake! It is a bit scary, but it is actually very fun and not dangerous at all. It is just that you have to climb to the top of the sand slope every time you slide, which is a bit tiring. The main problem is that the beach is not covered at all. If you encounter very hot weather, you will feel like you will be sunburned.”
Mags Travel:“It is quite amazing for the kids to swim with the sharks and stingray and the staff there are all super friendly, worth the money to visit”
_FB***29:“Poor overall experience. My mother ended up in the hospital with torn ligaments that she still has not recovered from. Staff was rude to my children. Left injured and let down. Dangerous and poorly staffed.”
逸白爱旅行:“👍Recommendation reason:
Combining natural beauty, exciting activities and leisure time, there are fine wines and delicious food, you can watch dolphins, sandboarding, and ride camels, the experience is rich and exciting.
📍Address of the attraction: Port Stephens in Nelson Bay, Australia, about 3 hours drive from Sydney.
👣Travel route:
1️⃣Depart from Sydney Chinatown Holiday Inn at 7:30.
2️⃣11:00 Go to Anna Bay for sandboarding. The sand dunes are 40-50 meters high, with beautiful scenery and can be climbed many times.
3️⃣After lunch (self-care) at 13:30, take a 1.5-hour cruise to watch dolphins in Nelson Bay.
4️⃣After that, you can choose to go to the winery for wine tasting.
5️⃣Return to Sydney Chinatown at 18:00.
🍗Food recommendations:
1️⃣Shoal Bay Country Club: It is a popular sea view restaurant in Shoal Bay. The white building and terrace are set against the blue sea and sky. There are European-style stairs. The average cost is AUD$50 per person.
2️⃣The Wharf Restaurant: Located at the port of Nelson Bay, the seafood is fresh. It is great to enjoy dinner by the window on the second floor to watch the sunset skyline. The average cost is AUD$60 per person.
👍Must-visit attractions:
1️⃣Anna Bay: There are Stockton Sand Dunes here, which are half sea water and half desert. The long coastline and flying desert are integrated, and the pink sunset is more beautiful at sunset.
2️⃣Nelson Bay: "Australia's dolphin capital", hundreds of bottlenose wild dolphins live here. You can take a boat to watch dolphins jump out of the water, and you can kiss dolphins in good weather.
3️⃣Local winery: You can taste a variety of flavored wines, with 20 categories to choose from.
🎫Tickets:
1️⃣Dolphin cruise: Adult ticket price is usually around 51 Australian dollars, child ticket price is about 21 Australian dollars, and children under 3 years old are free.
2️⃣Sandboarding: Sandboarding in Anna Bay costs about 30-35 Australian dollars per person.
3️⃣4WD experience (partially included in the relevant tour package):
4WD beach dune adventure, price starts at about 34.92 Australian dollars.
4WD passenger tour, price starts at about 83.94 Australian dollars.
4WD group tour, price is about 221.60 Australian dollars per group (charged by group).
💖Other tips:
1️⃣Wear comfortable casual clothes and shoes, and bring a jacket in cold weather.
2️⃣If you want to swim or use a sling net, bring a swimsuit and towel.
3️⃣Bring sunglasses, hats and sunscreen. #Creative Incentive Program shares 10,000 yuan in cash #Port Stephens, Australia #Have Fun in Stephens Bay #Couple Travel #Travel with Cute Kids”