Top 15 things to do seasonally around Fingal Bay
Fingal Bay is the eastern-most suburb in the Port Stephens community. Fingal Headland marks the north-eastern head of the bay (the bay itself is less than two kilometres at its widest point) and is connected to the mainland via a sand spit. Much of Fingal Bay is part of the Tomaree National Park. The park provides a striking backdrop to the bays and beaches of the area. Whether it’s kayaking, fishing, surfing, mountain biking, bush-walking or bird-watching, or even just enjoying lunch on the beach, Fingal Bay and the Port Stephens area have a multitude of activities. Here are some of the best things to do while staying at Seaside Holiday Resort Fingal Bay.
1 - Enjoy Fingal Bay Beach
Fingal bay beach is a glorious white sand beach no wider than 2km at the furthest point. This family-friendly, wheelchair accessible patrolled surf beach is perfect to catch a wave, catch a fish, or just catch a sunrise on your early morning walk. Fingal Spit is a sand spit that links the mainland to Fingal Island. The island is still accessible by boat and well worth taking a cruise.
2 - Toomaree Summit Walk
Take the invigorating short walk to the summit of Tomaree Head, 161m above the Port Stephens entrance. As you hike the track, you’ll enjoy unparalleled views of idyllic Fingal Bay Port Stephens and its coastline. From the top, you can even see as far as Cabbage Tree and Boondelbah islands – these nature reserves are the world’s only nesting sites for the endangered Gould's petrel.
3 - Sand Boarding
Sandboarding in Port Stephens is a must-do for your bucket list. You will board our custom-built off-road vehicles for the short ride into the largest moving sand mass in the southern hemisphere. The dunes stretch 32 kilometres, that’s the entire length of Stockton Beach and can reach over 40-50 metres high. The thrill of sliding down the spectacular Stockton Sand Dunes is so much fun!
4 - Quad Bike in the sand dunes
Quad Biking at Stockton Beach is for the thrill-seekers among us. Ride a 350cc Yamaha Grizzly, or 150cc quad bike and press the accelerator down. !Quad boking in the sand dunes will put your machine through its pace and a smile on your face… or if you’re not in a fast-paced frame of mind, hang back and enjoy the dunes, which look like deserted island one moment and moon landing the next.
5 - Sahara Trails Horse Riding
Sahara Trails provide horse riding for the whole family, from the absolute beginner to the most experienced rider, they have a ride that will cater to your ability. Enjoy one of the scenic guided trails, relax and experience the peace and tranquillity of our beautiful surroundings.
6 - Dolphin & Whale watching tours
Dolphin & Whale Watching tours offers a great holiday experience for all ages. The whale watching season in Port Stephens runs from mid-May to August when humpbacks migrate north to their calving ground in the South Pacific region. The southern migration takes place from August to mid-November when mothers and newborn calves make their way back down to the feeding grounds in Antarctica. Dolphin watching is an attraction all year round.
7- Ferry to Tea Gardens
The one-hour ferry ride between Nelson Bay and Tea Gardens will take you straight through the heart of Port Stephens Marine Park. The park’s diverse marine life is abundant with dolphins, green sea turtles, fish and seabirds. Port Stephens Ferry Service runs daily ferry cruises 7 days a week between Nelson Bay and Tea Gardens. With informative commentary and panoramic views of beautiful Port Stephens, crossing the bay is a must for visitors to this blue water wonderland.
8 - Toboggan Hill Park
Toboggan Hill Park is a fun, adventure-filled activity park located in Nelson Bay. It features a toboggan track, mini-golf, giant maze, tractor ride, indoor rock climbing and more. Toboggan Hill Park is set amongst natural bush just off Salamander Way at Nelson Bay. Tobogganing is suitable for all the family as each toboggan is equipped with brakes so that you control the speed of descent, slow to thrilling!
9 - Swim with the Dolphins
Port Stephens is known as the Dolphin capital of Australia. While visiting the area why not swim with the wild dolphins in their natural habitat. This 4-hour tour is an adventure you will never forget. All equipment is provided, wet suit, mask, snorkel, safety harness, light breakfast, 4-hour cruise, educational commentary and complimentary above-water photos which are later uploaded to the Dolphin Swim Australia Facebook page for guests to copy and/or share. Swimming with the dolphins is a memory you will never forget.
10 - Irukandji Shark & Ray Encounters
Irukandji is a unique, interactive aquarium. This Unique experience is a lifetime opportunity to interact with marine life by joining them in their world. Irukandji’s ultimate purpose is to connect visitors to our natural world by introducing them first hand. Education on conservation plays a major role, focusing on passion and empathy to the fish family. Irukandji is a family-friendly hands-on experience you don't want to miss.
11- Tilligerry Koala Habitat
Tilligerry Habitat is always open for you to walk through. The Visitor Centre is open from 9am to 3pm daily, (closed on Christmas and Boxing Day). While visiting Tilligerry you will surely see koalas sleeping in the trees along with birds and wildlife. Take a self-guided tour, full interpretive guided tour or why not take a sensory walk, offering wheelchair accessible paths with look, touch, taste & smell points along the way.
12 - Oakfield Ranch Camel Riding
Take a camel ride along the beach. Camels are ridden in 2-person-per-camel denominations and the camels themselves are calm and very docile so that first-time riders don't have to be overly concerned about safety, with helmets also provided for an extra dose of reassurance. Throughout the ride, you'll encounter the beautiful sand dunes that are characteristic of the Port Stephens region, venturing into the heart of them – to the point that it gives the impression of being isolated in the desert rather than being near a major settlement of civilisation.
13 - Fighter World
Fighter World (Williamstown) is an attraction centred around two large hangers that are spacious and contain plenty of history, boasting an extensive collection of fighter aircraft from various periods of history. Fighter World is also gradually evolving to integrate more technology and interactivity into the proceedings to help augment the otherwise static exhibits; touch screens allow for personalised information and content so that you can choose to focus on what interests you and your family.
14 - Mountain Bike Adventures
What better way to explore the beautiful local surroundings than on a mountain bike exploring miles of beautiful beaches and national parks. Port Stephens Mountain Bike Adventures look forward to personalising each ride to meet your individual preferences including relaxing rides along the coastal pathways with stops to take in the views and enjoy a coffee along the way; relaxed rides through the national park; or more demanding routes that will challenge your fitness, endurance and mountain biking skills.
15 - Surf Lessons, Port Stephens Surf School
The easy access that Port Stephens' many beaches grant to the water coupled with its generally sheltered nature make for a great destination to try your hand at one of Australia's most popular national pastimes – surfing. Home to over 30 kilometres worth of beachfront that offers the potential for some surf adventures, and this number of spots to choose from comes with a range of difficulty levels to appease surfers of all kinds. Port Stephens Surf School offers a high standard of lessons across the board that all ages are welcome to participate in.
