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Discover Port Stephens, a stunning coastal escape just a 3-hour drive from Sydney. This ultimate day trip blends thrilling dolphin cruises, epic sandboarding, and delightful winery visits for an unforgettable experience.
Recommended Australia Trip
Port Stephens Infinite Tour Review
ⓒ Ssoejini
Hello. I'm Ssoejini, your travel companion :)
Port Stephens is a coastal resort located north of Sydney in New South Wales.
While it's about a 3-hour drive from Sydney city,
it's one of Australia's quintessential natural travel destinations.
Many of you preparing for a Sydney trip might be wondering,
“Is Port Stephens worth dedicating a full day to?”
Right?
Given the long journey, I really fretted over whether to rent a car,
join a tour, or if it would even be satisfying, you know?
So, after carefully weighing my options,
I decided on a tour that included a Dolphin Cruise + Sandboarding + Murray's Winery!
To cut to the chase,
it was an “unforgettable tour where every penny and minute was absolutely worth it!”
Thanks to our guide, I laughed all day,
didn't waste time waiting in lines, and even managed to capture some amazing life-shot photos.
Let's dive into my Port Stephens tour review now!
Table of Contents |
1. Australia Sydney Port Stephens Infinite Tour Course Types |
2. Wild Dolphin Cruise Review |
3. Desert Sandboarding & 4WD Review |
4. Murray's Winery Tour Review |
1. Australia Sydney Port Stephens Infinite Tour Course Types
I used Australia Infinite Tour.
Honestly, there were so many tour companies that I deliberated quite a bit.
I initially planned a solo trip, but since I'm now in my 30s, I considered my stamina
and decided on a tour with my friend. lol
Australia Infinite Tour is already famous, with celebrities like baseball player Lee Dae-ho
and Girls' Generation's Kwon Yuri having used it!
I guess that's one of the reasons I chose them among so many tour companies..!
Of course, they also had the most reviews, and high ratings for their course composition!
And personally, I tend to focus on reviews about the guides, and there were glowing praises for the guides too!
I was absolutely sold~~!
The tour operates with various programs, and in the case of the 'Value Tour' I chose,
we got to enjoy everything: traveling to Port Stephens
→ taking a dolphin cruise
→ experiencing 4WD and sandboarding in the desert
→ and even a winery tour!
Since it's a packed schedule covering the ocean, desert, and a winery all in one day,
make sure to check the overall itinerary and timings!
(Subject to change based on local conditions and weather)
Feel free to choose according to your preferences.
Many people also opt for the zoo to see koalas and quokkas!
> See Ssoejini's Chosen Value Tour here <
2. Wild Dolphin Cruise Review
The first stop in Port Stephens is the dolphin cruise departing from Nelson Bay.
The most crucial things here are
‘getting in a step ahead of everyone else’ and
‘choosing the right spot’.
Don't worry. Our guide was practically a speed demon..!
💡 Our guide's golden tip for the best spot
As soon as you enter, don't go inside; instead,
head to the front or side railing of the outdoor deck on the first floor to grab a spot!
Standing at the bow of the cruise, you'll see wild dolphins
literally leaping and following the boat in the sea!
You can see them up close!!
It's just full of people screaming 'Kyaaa! Kyaaa!'. Haha.
They say the frequency of dolphin sightings varies depending on sea conditions or weather,
but judging by reviews, everyone seems to have a 100% chance of seeing them!
3. Desert Sandboarding & 4WD Review
After seeing the dolphins, our next stop was
Worimi Sand Dunes (Anna Bay).
For me, this was the absolute highlight of the tour!
Actually, it's not a desert, but massive sand dunes formed by the ocean!
Bouncing and rattling in a 4WD vehicle,
the thrill began even before we crossed the first sand dune.
Ah, I truly am an activity lover at heart!
It was SOOO much fun!!
(I was having too much fun riding to take any photos... oops!)
Was it 55 meters high?
Sandboarding down from the very top of those dunes
was as exhilarating as sliding down a giant waterslide!
But going back up was a different story, haha!
Everyone was groaning, wondering 'Is this really worth it?',
but even the parents on family trips were walking up,
so I just zipped my mouth and followed along. Lol! 😭
After getting completely covered in sand from sandboarding,
and having a wild time, your energy levels will be completely drained, right?
That's when I thought, 'Choosing this tour was such a good idea!'
You know why?
Because you can just collapse and sleep on the bus back! Hahaha.
4. Murray's Brewery & Port Stephens Winery Tour Review
And finally, we arrived at Murray's Winery, our last stop.
Our guide told us that the owner is truly one of the richest people in the area,
and sitting amidst the vast green lawns with the vineyards as our backdrop,
we got to sample four different types of local wines.
After the sandy (and slightly gritty?) thrill of sandboarding,
that wine just goes down so smoothly – a pure delight for the throat!
Even if you're not a wine connoisseur, you can easily enjoy the lighter sparkling wines or
the sweet dessert wines without any pressure!
It was also a huge hit with families traveling with parents or children!
The feedback was overwhelmingly positive!
This wine with the two 'eyes' (label design) is apparently their signature!
It had a lovely coffee aroma, and both the smell and taste were excellent!
Even my friend, who isn't much of a drinker, said it was genuinely delicious.
Highly recommended as a souvenir! Make sure you grab a bottle (or two)!!
💬 Soejini's Tour Review
When Sydney city tours alone felt a little bit lacking,
this tour allowed us to experience the ocean, sand dunes, and wine all in one day,
making it incredibly satisfying and worth every penny of the tour cost!
Our guide, Danny, has absolutely incredible storytelling skills, you know?
He kept us entertained and chatting the whole time, haha!
Plus, his insider tips were insane, and he was super fast,
we arrived before the boat, and were first at the sand dunes,
so by the time others started waiting,
we were already well into our fun! LOL!
He also takes amazing photos, so next time,
I'm definitely going with Guide Danny again! 😭
Australia Unlimited Tour? Absolutely fantastic.
It's especially great for family trips, those traveling with parents,
and we saw many honeymooners too!
I was on a friendship trip with my buddy, but...
someday, I'll definitely go back with my boyfriend! 😉
Have a wonderful trip to Sydney, Australia! :)
📍 Australia Unlimited Tour
Unit 12/17 Wilga St, Burwood NSW 2134 Australia
📍 Port Stephens Council
Port Stephens Council, New South Wales, Australia
The 'Value Tour' includes a trip to Port Stephens to take a dolphin cruise in Nelson Bay. Afterwards, you'll enjoy a 4WD experience and sandboarding in the Worimi Desert, concluding with a wine tour at Murray Winery.
The sandboarding for the 'Value Tour' takes place on a 55m high sand dune. It's as fun as riding a slide, but climbing back up can be physically demanding.
At Murray Winery, you can taste four types of local wines. The 'two-eyed wine' with a coffee aroma was especially recommended as a signature.
When boarding the dolphin cruise, it's recommended to find a spot on the front or side railings of the 1st-floor outdoor deck rather than indoors. This is where you can see wild dolphin pods following the boat most closely.
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