Port Stephens Tour Sydney 2026: Dolphins & Sand Dunes
Join me on an epic Port Stephens day trip from Sydney! From spotting wild dolphins to sandboarding down massive dunes, here is my full 2026 tour review.
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Hey everyone, welcome back! |
Today is the day I've been waiting for!
It's time for the Port Stephens Dolphin Cruise Tour!
The weather was absolutely perfect, so I was beyond thrilled.
Words & Photos | Yuncooing
Copyright. YUNCOOING. All rights reserved.
Sydney 8-Night, 10-Day Independent Trip
Day 6
Dolphin Cruise + Port Stephens + Winery Tour
Good morning!
Thankfully, the weather was amazing.
I layered up with shorts and a tank top under a light long-sleeve shirt and pants,
and headed down for a super quick breakfast right before we had to leave!
For our second accommodation in Sydney, we stayed at
We rushed into the dining area right when breakfast started, finished in a record 5 minutes, and hit the road!
The meeting point for the Port Stephens Tour was near Darling Harbour,
so we had to power-walk to get there.
To be completely honest, we took a wrong turn at one point lol.
We were practically sprinting through the streets,
but we miraculously managed to arrive exactly on time... phew!
The company we booked with was
I compared a few different tours, but I chose Zigzag because they included a winery tour at the very end of the day.
We hopped on the tour bus and we were off!
The bus had a 1-2 seating layout,
which honestly wasn't the most spacious or comfortable ride... haha.
We stopped at a rest area along the way.
Unfortunately, the women's restroom was under construction,
leaving only one single stall available.
With everyone from multiple tour buses trying to use it, the line was massive.
By the time I finally finished, our entire break time was already over... ⭐
After driving a bit further,
we finally arrived at the Dolphin Cruise location!
The weather was crisp, and the fluffy clouds looked absolutely picturesque.
We boarded the ferry to go see some dolphins!
Honestly, if I hadn't been traveling with a coworker,
I would have stripped down to my tank top in the heat,
but sadly(?) this was the most appropriate I could be lol.
Our Blue Mountains tour guide had recommended Carlton Beer,
so I decided to grab one on board!
If you're traveling to Sydney,
definitely give Carlton a try!
The dolphin watching was a huge success!
The dolphins swam right alongside our ferry,
making them super easy to spot.
A quick tip: the ferry has a boom net where you can sit in the water in your swimsuit,
but there are no changing rooms or showers on board,
so I wouldn't highly recommend it unless you don't mind staying salty!
However, if the dolphins come close,
you might get some pretty epic photos or videos from down there! haha.
I still can't forget this view!
From the vibrant color of the water to the clear sky, it was a flawless day.
Since we booked a tour that included lunch,
we had some delicious bibimbap nearby to refuel!
We had a little free time before heading to the Port Stephens dunes,
so I snapped a few photos
with the stunning blue ocean in the background!
Next stop: the Port Stephens sand dunes!
We transferred to this rugged 4WD vehicle
and drove right into the middle of the desert!
There were already so many people enjoying the Port Stephens tour lol.
First things first, we had to take some proof shots.
I rode the sandboard about 3 or 4 times here lol.
Sliding down is incredibly fun,
but trudging back up the steep sand is a serious workout.
It drains your energy super fast! haha.
After we finished sandboarding,
our final stop was the winery.
We tasted a variety of local wines,
bought a refreshing drink at the cafe next door,
and then started our journey back to Sydney!
Recommended Port Stephens Tour & Sandboarding Itinerary
I slept like a rock on the bus ride back.
When I woke up, we were entering the city,
but we hit rush hour, so traffic was quite heavy.
We got back to the hotel, dropped off our bags,
and quickly freshened up before heading out again.
We had a fantastic dinner at an Asian fusion restaurant near our hotel.
Chef N Wok: Asian Fusion Restaurant Near Darling Harbour
Grabbed a beer each,
and on our way back, we enjoyed the gorgeous lights at the Town Hall.
We popped into a supermarket to buy some souvenirs.
I checked out the pawpaw cream,
but it wasn't the original brand,
so I passed on that.
I did, however, stock up on Grants toothpaste!
Since the Christmas season is approaching,
the shopping streets were beautifully illuminated with festive lights!
We dropped off our souvenirs back at the hotel.
Since my coworker was flying back to Korea the next day,
we headed to a pub near the hotel for one last round
of beers and french fries before calling it a night.
The exterior of The Fullerton Hotel looked absolutely stunning
on her last night!
(Though it wasn't the last night of *my* Sydney trip! lol)
📍 Nelson Bay
Nelson Bay, New South Wales 2315, Australia
📍 Stockton Beach
Stockton Beach, New South Wales, Australia
📍 CHEF N WOK
70-72 Druitt St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
