Port Stephens Tours: 15 Ranked on What Lands in the Price

1.Port Stephens: Dolphin Discovery Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 926 reviews · 1h 30m · from $28Our pick

Spend 90 minutes cruising Port Stephens from Nelson Bay, watching for wild bottlenose dolphins and taking in Tomaree and Yacaaba Headlands. The captain provides live commentary, while the boat adds a licensed bar, toilets, and a boom net for a wet finish. Sightings are not guaranteed, but a return ticket may be offered when dolphins stay out of view.

“Great experience. Saw some dolphins considering the bad weather and the kids loved it. With the boat ride. Highly recommend.”

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2.Port Stephens: Unlimited Sandboarding & 4WD Sand Dune Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 540 reviews · 1h 30m · from $30

Meet at Birubi Beach for a bouncy 4WD ride into Stockton Sand Dunes, then learn to use a custom sandboard and make as many runs as you like. English-speaking instructors help beginners, and staff such as Shaq and Isaac have been praised for friendly assistance. Bring water, sunscreen, and a light jacket.

“Sandboarding was a lot of fun and the sand dunes were stunning! It was extremely hot (to be expected in the summer) so we didn’t sand board as much as we thought we would as it’s pretty tiring work. Lots of fun and a worthwhile visit especially if you want to do the camel rides and go to the beach as a day trip.”

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3.Port Stephens: Dolphin Discovery Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 401 reviews · from $32

Join Moonshadow-TQC Cruises aboard Moonshadow V for a 90-minute dolphin cruise from Nelson Bay. You will search for wild bottlenose dolphins, hear commentary on marine life, photograph Tomaree and Yacaaba Headlands, and ride the boom net if conditions suit. Indoor and outdoor seating make it workable in changing weather.

“Friendly staff, great captain, interesting commentary, we were lucky enough to see a small sighting of playful dolphins”

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4.Unlimited Sandboarding

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 285 reviews · from $30

Meet at Birubi Point’s lower car park in Anna Bay, ride a 4WD into Stockton Beach’s white dunes, and learn sandboarding from an instructor. Your pass allows unlimited runs during your stay, with regular shuttle rides back. Choose smaller slopes for beginners or taller dunes for a bigger thrill. Bring water, a camera, and clothes suited to sand.

“Really fun activity to enjoy with friends or family. The check-in is smooth and quick, and once you get to the sand dunes, they give quick instructions on how to sit it stand on the board. There is no time limit, so you can sandboard as much as you want.”

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5.Port Stephens Dolphin Cruise & Sandboarding Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 219 reviews · from $145

Travel from Sydney to Port Stephens for a 90-minute dolphin cruise, lunch, the PS Koala Sanctuary, and 4WD sandboarding at Anna Bay. Guides such as Alfie, Gordon, Chen, and Yan are praised for lively commentary. Bring swimwear for the optional boom net and shoes you do not mind filling with sand.

“We had a great day, each part of the experience was good fun. Unfortunately the dolphins were a bit shy so we only saw their fins but nevertheless, the views were lovely! The Koala Sanctuary was special, it’s nice to see them being looked after so well and in a safe space. The sand-boarding was really fun too, but expect some energy to be drained walking up the sandy hill each time you want to go down it! I went down it 3 or 4 times but that was more than enough. I’d suggest not wearing trainers for this part as they will get ruined with the sand; I wore…”

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6.Anna Bay: Irukandji Entry Pass with Shallows Encounter

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 211 reviews · 2 hours · from $29

At Irukandji Shark & Ray Encounters in Anna Bay, you walk barefoot into two shallow lagoons to feed and pet rays and small sharks. Keepers explain safe handling and marine conservation, then bring larger tawny nurse and whitetip reef sharks into the shallows for a talk. Stay ankle-deep in your clothes or hire a wetsuit for closer access.

“Good experience for kids to learn about the water creatures”

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7.Port Stephens Dolphin, Koalas, Lunch & Sandboarding

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 211 reviews · from $142Top rated

Leave Sydney at 6:45 a.m. for Port Stephens, where you’ll cruise for bottlenose dolphins, visit the Koala Sanctuary, eat an Aussie-style lunch, and ride a 4WD onto Stockton Dunes for sandboarding. Guides such as Alfie, Yan, Gordon, Chen, and Tom are praised for friendly help. Expect a long day, with about six hours on the road.

“Got to see some dolphins, weather too hot for sand dunes, Koala Sanctuary a hit / miss. Journey to and fro from Sydney CBD about 6 hours”

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8.Port Stephens: 2.5-Hour Whale Watching & Outer Island Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 156 reviews · from $53

Cruise from Nelson Bay past Tomaree and Yacaaba headlands toward Port Stephens’ Outer Islands aboard the Hinchinbrook Explorer or MV Osprey. You’ll watch for humpback whales, dolphins, seals, and seabirds from two outdoor decks, with indoor seating, tea, coffee, and live English commentary. Bring sunscreen, layers, and motion-sickness medicine.

“Great experience! Saw lots of dolphins but you have to be patient for the whales”

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9.Port Stephens: Unlimited Sandboarding with 4WD Dune Transfer

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 155 reviews · 1 day · from $28

Sand Dune Safaris takes you from Anna Bay into a private Worimi Conservation Lands sandboarding area by 4WD. Choose sit-down, basic stand-up, or pro boards, learn from the instructors, and ride as long as you like. A shaded picnic area, water, goggles, and shuttle rides are included.

“Very smooth. Easy pick up and easy to fit your schedule can stay as long as you please. 1 hour is really all you need though.”

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10.Unlimited Sandboarding Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 132 reviews · from $31

Meet Port Stephens 4WD Tours at Anna Bay and ride a 4WD to Stockton Beach’s tall moving dunes. Mick, Josh, and the team provide a safety briefing, boards, water, and supervision. You slide down seated or lying down, with unlimited runs during the roughly one to two-hour session. Standing on the boards is not allowed.

“Absolute fun! We had to change the timing of our booking and the staff were so flexible. The guides on the dunes were great. There are choices for all levels of experience and thrills! Would highly recommend!”

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11.Port Stephens 4WD Beach Sand Dune Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 113 reviews · from $39

Meet at Anna Bay for a one-hour 4WD trip along Birubi Beach and into the Stockton Sand Dunes. Your guide explains the dune ecosystem, helps you search for pipis, then takes you to the high dunes for sandboarding. The air-conditioned vehicle, board, water, and park fees are included.

“Great fun. Excellent activities. Special thank you to the person assisting us with sand boarding. Will definitely visit again.”

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12.Port Stephens: Birubi Beach 4WD Tour with Sandboarding

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 111 reviews · 1h 15m · from $38

Join Port Stephens 4WD Tours for a 75-minute ride along Birubi Beach and into the Anna Bay dunes. Your English-speaking guide shows you how to find pipis, shares local stories, and helps with sandboarding down 40-meter dunes. Guides such as Stephen, Paul, Peter, and Bruce have made the tour especially welcoming for families.

“Super fun, even on a wet overcast day! Beautiful views and good times sliding down the sand.”

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13.Port Stephens: Whale Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 108 reviews · from $54

Cruise from Nelson Bay for about 2.5 hours during Port Stephens whale season, May to November. Choose a morning or afternoon departure, hear live commentary, and watch for humpback whales, dolphins, seals, and seabirds from open decks or indoor seating aboard a comfortable catamaran.

“Very informative got to see a whale breaching and multiple whales blowing and a couple of tail flicks. Saw some dolphins and seals as well.”

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14.Port Stephens: Koala Sanctuary General Admission Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 84 reviews · 1 day · from $19Best value

Spend a few hours or a full day at Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary, where you can see rescued koalas, peer into the working Koala Hospital, and walk the 225m Newcastle Airport SKYwalk. Guide Ken offers informative talks, while the gentle paths suit most ages and abilities.

“Excellent. Lovely welcome from Mel on arrival and then Ken an ambassador was charming and informative. The whole visit was most enjoyable. We went early in the day and saw quite a lot of activity as the Koala’s were receiving new feed.”

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15.Nelson Bay: Dolphin Watch Cruise and Sail

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 74 reviews · 1h 30m · from $35

Spend 90 minutes aboard Imagine, a spacious sailing catamaran, searching Nelson Bay for bottlenose dolphins. You get 360-degree views, tea and coffee, a dry bow net, and a wet boom net for swimmers. The crew shares local information, and if no dolphins appear, you can return free.

“Very pleasant experience. Kids love the front boom net and watching the beautiful dolphins so closely. The staff are very friendly and helpful.”

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