Nelson Bay Coast & Country
Days:
5 Days
Activity:
2. Moderate
Transport:
Drive
$1,995.00
Tour description
Tour Dates: 8th February – 12th February 2027
Call (02) 9986 2400 to book this tour or make enquiries
Discover the beauty and diversity of Port Stephens on this relaxing five day Nelson Bay escape, combining stunning coastal scenery, fascinating local history, wildlife encounters and charming country towns. Travelling north from Sydney, the journey begins with spectacular seaside views, a tour of historic Newcastle and a visit to Fort Scratchley before arriving in the heart of Port Stephens.
A highlight of the tour is the unforgettable Moonshadow Dolphin Watch Cruise, where guests have the opportunity to spot playful dolphins in the sparkling waters of the bay. Scenic beach drives, waterfront villages and a guided visit to the Medowie Macadamia Farm provide a wonderful taste of the region’s natural beauty and local flavours.
Guests will also explore the Inner Light Lighthouse Museum and Tea House, enjoying sweeping coastal views and fascinating maritime history before relaxing with free time in Nelson Bay to browse boutique shops, stroll along the foreshore or simply unwind at the resort.
Further highlights include a scenic inland journey to Gloucester and Ashmar Farm, where local produce, gardens and country hospitality create a memorable rural experience. The tour concludes with visits to Fighter World and the historic village of Morpeth before returning home after a delightful coastal and countryside adventure.
Itinerary
This morning we begin our journey with a stop for morning tea on the eastern side of Lake Macquarie, before continuing along the coast via a series of stunning beaches. On arrival in Newcastle, we take a tour of the city, highlighting its maritime history, architecture, and bustling foreshore.
Lunch is enjoyed at Queens Wharf, overlooking the busy harbour, followed by a visit to Fort Scratchley, where history comes to life through stories of coastal defence and local heritage. In the afternoon, we continue on to Port Stephens, arriving at our accommodation with time to relax before dinner.
Overnight: The Landmark Resort
Meals Included: Morning tea, Lunch & Dinner
After breakfast, we depart on a scenic beaches tour before boarding the Moonshadow Dolphin Watch Cruise. This 1.5-hour experience offers the chance to see pods of playful dolphins in the pristine waters of Port Stephens.
We continue to the Medowie Macadamia Farm, where we enjoy a guided tour and lunch, before travelling on to Lemon Tree Passage for a short visit and time to explore the waterfront.
Overnight: The Landmark Resort
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Following breakfast, we head to the Inner Light Lighthouse Museum and Tea House, where we explore local maritime history and enjoy morning tea with sweeping coastal views.
Lunch and the afternoon are at leisure in Nelson Bay. Guests may choose to browse boutique shops, stroll the foreshore, or simply relax and take in the holiday atmosphere at the resort. Dinner tonight will be at 7pm.
Overnight: The Landmark Resort
Meals Included: Breakfast, Morning Tea & Dinner
Today we travel inland via the scenic countryside route through Stroud to Gloucester, a charming country town nestled beneath the Bucketts Mountains. On arrival, we enjoy morning tea at Billabong Park before visiting the Gloucester Museum, where local stories and regional history are brought to life through fascinating displays and memorabilia.
We then continue to Ashmar Farm at Waukivory for a delightful garden and farm experience. During our visit, we enjoy a guided tour of the property and hear from local farm specialists about the region’s produce and rural lifestyle before sitting down to a relaxing country-style lunch.
Following our time at the farm, we return to Port Stephens with time to relax before dinner this evening.
Overnight: The Landmark Resort
Meals Included: Breakfast, Morning Tea, Lunch & Dinner
After breakfast and check-out, we visit Fighter World, where an impressive collection of aircraft and displays offers insight into Australia’s aviation and defence history. Morning tea is included here before continuing via Raymond Terrace to Morpeth, a historic riverside town.
We enjoy lunch, followed by some time to stroll through the boutique shops, heritage buildings, and galleries of this charming village before commencing our return journey to Sydney, arriving back in the late afternoon.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Morning tea & Lunch
Activity Levels
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1. Easy
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2. Moderate
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3. Active Moderate
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4. Adventurous
Testimonials
Dear John and Kerry, Debbie and Steve, thank you all so much at On Course Tours for the hugely successful and absolutely wonderful trip to South Australia. Tricia and I loved every moment and were amazed and delighted by how much South Australia has to offer in so very many ways, food especially and of course very many superb wines and wineries – topped off, as John rightly said, by Max’s selection of a delightful crowd of good club friends! John, you and On Course Tours are certainly a class act. You always try very hard, and you succeed, in going that ‘extra mile’. We could not have had better service, right from being picked up at the gate by Kerry, then enjoying your nearly 4,000km of safe, always careful but wonderfully exploratory driving, your delicious picnic provisioning, your excellent selection of accommodation and eateries and your very broad knowledge of all we saw, right thorough to being delivered safely home last night. With our best wishes and so many thanks to you all at On Course Tours for another truly wonderful holiday. We look forward with keen anticipation to the next!
Tricia and Martin
Hi Kerry Great trip as usual in the Alps. Hans was able to secure 2nd spot on the bus line and we were away very quickly leaving lines of buses behind us. The motel was excellent and the food service the quality A1. The chap in charge of the Bar and foor service, lan, was most attentive and with the help of Hans did a wonderful job of keeping everyone happy. The escorted Tour of Albury by Allan was one of the best I have encountered. The Hibernian Hotel was ‘spot on’, the hotel was spacious and the food perfect. The Red Stag Deer Farm was without doubt one of the highlights of the trip. The complex looks over the valley with sweeping views. The owners gave a very informative and entertaining talk and we really could have stayed longer. I believe it would be an ideal venue for a bit of variety to say have morning tea at Bright and then go to the Red Stag for Iunch and a talk by them. They did well out of the bus with people buying lots of their products. Most of the people on the bus have done the same Bright trip previously in one form or another and the inclusion of this I feel would draw other ‘past’ travellers to do the same trip again. I know I can speak for everyone, it was a top trip.
