Location ~Hunter Region New South Wales

• Nelson Bay Whale and Dolphin Cruises
• Nelson Head Lighthouse
• Gan Gan Hill Lookout
• Tomaree National Park (Fingal Bay)
• Bartlett Cycle Way

Nelson Bay is a significant township of the Port Stephens local government area and the Hunter Region. It is a coastal town with a population of around 5000. It is 60 kms north east of New Castle.

It is a very pretty coastal resort town with so much to do. We stayed the night at Marina Resort on the hill and had the best view looking down into the bay. We took advantage of this seaside town and had lunch down at the Marina. Fish n Chips was definitely on the menu the fish was so fresh we watched the local fisherman come in to the Marina to drop their catch off for the day too the restaurant we were dining at. Be prepared for the cost though our lunch cost over $100 for the both of us i guess if you add in 12 oysters and prawns 🍤 it is worth it.

Nelson Bay is a perfect place to explore the port and surrounding areas and other bays. A short drive down the road you can visit Solider’s Point,Salamander and Shoal Bay.

A bit of history about this place the Chinese established a camp here in the 1800s. A post office and school were built later on in the century. The bay became a popular tourist spot in the 20th century and still is to this day.

The town itself offers a lot of sheltered beaches, it is a good place to snorkel or dive. If you are into surfing you can drive 5 minutes down the road past shoals beach and be greeted by huge booming waves.

A trip on the water is very popular for the tourist there are many options of what type of Cruises you can take, dolphin and whale watching, fishing or dinner cruises to see the bay from the water. For those of you who want a bit more excitement you can also hire jet skis and explore the bays for a couple of hours at you own pace.

There are many walks and cycling paths around Nelson Bay so once you have visited the many superb cafes or restaurants you may want to take this option too walk off the rich foods the bay is famous for. We only stayed one night here but enjoyed the relaxing vibe this place has to offer. Well worth a visit