Things to do in Hunter Region

Experience the thrill of riding a high-quality ATV through the Worimi Sand Dunes on this tour from Port Stephens. Cruise at high speeds over seaside grasslands and feel the challenge of tackling towering sand dunes.  Meet your guide in Williamtown and listen as you are provided with a tutorial on how to confidently operate your bike. Follow your guide on a high-octane ride over maintained tracks through coastal grasslands to get to the dunes.  Travel over more and more challenging sand dunes. Enjoy privacy as your ride as the local tour provider has exclusive access to the highest sand dunes on Stockton Beach.  Climb large sand dunes that are 12-30 meters high. Take a tour that is tailored to meet your needs and experience level. Have the option to add sandboarding to your tour. 

Short on time in the Hunter Valley? Get on board for a morning tour of 3 boutique wineries on a half-day trip to try local wines and cheese. An ideal taste of what the Hunter Valley has to offer. Visit at least 3 unique wineries enjoying private tastings of their delicious wines. One of the wineries visited is Two Fat Blokes Gourmet Kitchen. Here you can indulge in their famous cheese and wine experience which matches 9 different kinds of cheese with 9 different wines. Keep your eyes on the horizon during your tour, the Hunter Valley is home to many Australian wildlife species, and there is a good chance to see kangaroos hopping amongst the vineyards. With fun and entertaining hosts who are passionate about wine, your half-day tour gives you a taste of the Hunter in a short amount of time.

You have to experience sandboarding in Port Stephens. The thrill of sliding down the spectacular Stockton Sand Dunes is so much fun. From the meeting point at Birubi beach, you will board the custom-built off-road vehicle to start your adventure on the short, bouncy ride into the largest moving sand mass in the southern hemisphere. The dunes stretch 32 kilometers, the entire length of Stockton Beach, and can reach over 40 meters high, the same as a 10 storey building. The views alone are spectacular. Once you are in the dunes, the team will give you a rundown on sandboarding and how to use the handmade custom-designed boards for maximum safety and speed. Then you are off. Climb to the top of the dunes, jump on your board, then slide on down and repeat. Your ticket includes unlimited sandboarding so you can stay and play as long as you like. For most people that’s about 1 – 1.5 hours. When you're done just jump back aboard one of the 4WD buses, that leave every half an hour, and be taken back to the Birubi Beach starting point. It’s an amazing experience for everyone, no matter your age. The instructors are always on hand to help, answer any questions about sandboarding, Port Stephens or the dunes and to make sure you have maximum fun. Don’t forget to bring your camera along as you’ll have the chance to capture some amazing Port Stephens holiday snaps.

Take a cruise around magnificent Port Stephens Harbour on the biggest boat in the bay. Keep an eye out for the resident Bottlenose Dolphins as you head out on the water. Take in the sights of Tomaree and Yacaaba Headlands, Shoal Bay, Nelson Bay, and the Northern Harbour. Sit back and relax on the deck area, or if you feel like getting a bit wet, join in the boom net action. Slide down the Twist, Twirl, and Splash Waterslide attached to the boat, which whirls you into the boom net. Enjoy entertaining and informative commentary on board. If you feel like indulging in something a little different, there is a licensed bar on board that you can choose to purchase from. 

Enjoy an award-winning tour from Pokolbin which travels into the Hunter Valley, one of Australia's best known wine regions. Sit down to a delicious local lunch with a drink. Immerse yourself in Hunter Valley wines. Be picked up from the convenience of your accommodation in Pokolbin. Board a comfortable, air-conditioned, and well-maintained vehicle. Take in the lush rolling hills of the Hunter Valley on your way to wineries, cellar doors, and vineyards.  Sample fine wines at 3-4 wine cellars. Savor local flavors at a tasting at in Hunter Distillery. Have a fresh lunch before visiting a cheese outlet. Indulge in something sweet at a handmade chocolate and fudge shop.  Let your local host delight you with commentary along the way. Sip on chilled water to keep you hydrated during the tour. Spot local wildlife like kangaroos as you travel. Return to your accommodation in Pokolbin at the end of the tour. 

Spend a magical 2 hours looking for dolphins off the coast of Nelson Bay and get some time to splash about in stunning blue water. Choose from a morning, afternoon or tea-time departure and be entertained by the informative commentary as you go on search of beautiful dolphins jumping through the ocean waves. Get stunning views of the harbor, including spectacular Tomaree and Yacaaba headlands. Relax on the deck with a stronger drink and snacks purchased at the licensed bar. Laugh your way around the harbor as you make use of the large boom net and water slide. Soak up your surroundings at the on-board salt water spa.

Uncork unexpected and unique experiences on a tour of Australia's Hunter Valley. Your 7-hour tour includes multiple wine tastings, a cheese and wine masterclass, a mystery wine experience, chocolate and wine pairings, a generous lunch, a glass of wine, and a tour of a working brewery. Go off the beaten track with your small group and find great Hunter wines that exist beyond the shelves of a bottle shop. Don’t expect to go on the path well-traveled—it’s too busy there, and there’s no room for surprises.   Speaking of surprises, did the mystery wine experience catch your eye? Your tour includes a unique wine encounter that is not available to your average walk-in wine-taster. The mystery wine experience is designed to build your wine knowledge while getting you involved, having a few laughs, and teaching you what makes Hunter Valley wine unique.   Your best day ever wouldn’t be complete without the dream weavers: knowledgeable guides are a huge part of what makes your day unforgettable. They’re passionate locals who love their wine and the Hunter Valley. So, are you ready for the best day ever?

Enjoy a day tasting Australia's wine, food, cheese, chocolate, beers, and spirits on this tour of the Hunter Valley. Get picked up from your hotel and visit 3 local boutique wineries and distillery, with a guided tasting at each stop. Taste chocolates enjoy fine wines paired with Australian cheeses to your tastebuds exploring the flavors of Australia's first wine region. Feeling hungry? No worries, you will enjoy a relaxed one-course lunch with a glass of wine, beer, or cider to wash it down. Enjoy some free time to marvel at the views or go for a wander, if you like. At the end of the tour, you will return to your hotel in Hunter Valley.

After meeting your tour guide at the departure location, you’ll board a red, air-conditioned 4WD vehicle. Enjoy commentary provided throughout the tour onboard the vehicle. The first stop is 2 kilometers down Birubi Beach, where your tour guide will show you how to find and dig for pipis under the sand. Feel free to take photos, and you may even have a chance to see some RAAF fighter jets fly past at low level. After 20 minutes on the beach, you’ll head into the sand dunes to the sandboarding area. Your tour guide will show you how to sandboard correctly, assist with photos, and answer any questions you may have. Slide down the dunes for 45-50 minutes before returning to the departure location.

Your dolphin adventure begins at d'Albora Marina, Nelson Bay at 6:15 AM. Once you've checked in and been fitted with your wetsuit, mask and snorkel, the vessel leaves the dock and travels out through the heads of Nelson Bay. Whilst traveling out to the Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park, you'll be trained in the swim protocols and given a snorkel briefing (if swimmer option selected). Once the dolphins have been located and their behavior monitored and found to be favorable for a swim, the the first group of swimmers enters a net at the bow of the vessel, all the while attached with a safety lanyard to the catamaran. The vessel will stop while your group (and your divemaster) enter the water - it will then begin to move slowly forward. The dolphins will swim back and forth between the bows of the vessel, quite often within a meter of the swimmers and seemingly fascinated by the strange creatures being towed in the water behind them! You'll be so close to the dolphins, it will be just like being a part of the pod! You can of course also just observe the dolphins from the boat without entering the water.