Port Stephens

Wet

If frolicking with pods of dolphins is something you've only witnessed in a Mariah Carey video then you need to get wet behind the ears with the smartest animals on the planet. Port Stephens offers one of the best chances of getting intimate with one of the two pods that dwell in these parts. Several local operators run dolphin and whale watching tours out of Nelson Bay (the main town in the Port Stephens area) and if you're game, there is also the option of finding the dolphins by kayak with local operator Ocean Planet.

If you prefer a little distance between yourself and these brainiacs of the sea, a cruise on the Imagine might do the trick. A luxury catamaran operated by Frank Future and Yves Papin leaves Nelson Bay's marina daily at 10.30am for a two-hour dolphin trip. The company also run humpback whale trips between June and mid-November when the whales flock to the bay's calm waters during their northbound migration from Antarctica. Imagine Cruises.

Wild

A visit to Tomaree National Park offers the chance to see a koala colony up close. Apart from sleeping and eating, koalas get in a little nookie for breeding purposes, and this park helps ensure their future. Tomaree is an expansive wildlife reserve that backs onto Nelson Bay where you'll find all the creature comforts required to make a weekend away complete.

Wheeling

If you prefer hurtling over nature in 4WD air-conditioned comfort, Stockton Beach is a 32km-long playground of dune-bashing fun - that is, if you don't get embarrassingly stuck and need to get towed out by a local. It's near the small town of Anna Bay and some of its dunes reach up to 30 metres in height.

Where to stay & eat

Peppers Anchorage Port Stephens

Part of the Peppers chain, this is a top-class resort right on the water. Private balconies offer sweeping views across the bay.
$368 weekends (minimum 2 nights).

Port Stephens Motor Lodge

A small motel just a short stroll from town, with a swimming pool.
Rates $80-$155.

Salamander Shores

A pleasant hotel featuring rooms with sea views, a pretty garden and a good restaurant.
Rates from $149 midweek.

Getting there

By car

Take the Sydney to Newcastle Freeway (F3/Route 1). Travel time is about a 2.5hr drive.

By train

CityRail trains run almost hourly from Central Station to Newcastle. Buses connect with the trains for transfers to Port Stephens.

By bus

Port Stephens Coaches (1800 045949 ) runs a daily service to Nelson Bay, departing Eddy Avenue, Central Station  at 2pm. It leaves Nelson Bay for the return trip at 9am daily. The journey takes between three and four hours.

Book whale or dolphin watching

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