Port Stephens sits on the East Coast of Australia, which would suggest that maybe you could pick up some good seafood here. This is very true, you have the choice of cafes and restaurants in town and overlooking the water that specialise in or at least offer, some fresh local seafood. There are also two fish coop’s located just past d’Albora Marina, Nelson Bay, where you can purchase a range of seafood and cook up a storm yourself (or just whip up a tasty prawn sandwich).
Port Stephens is famous for our local oysters, the Sydney Rock variety which are farmed here and sold to some of the top restaurants in Australia. If you are in Port Stephens there are a number of places you can source local oysters, including the fish coops in Nelson Bay and Holberts Oysters on Diemars Road at Soldiers Point. If you happen to see some Myall River prawns for sale then they are also well worth a try (and again a local specialty). Plus, call into Tailor Made Fish Farms to check out the barramundi hatchery or sample some in their restaurant.
Not a seafood lover? Don’t despair, the area is also home to Sam’s Figs and Olives and Medowie Macadamia’s where you can visit the farms and sample the produce. Dotted throughout Nelson Bay, Shoal Bay, Fingal Bay and Soldiers Point are cafes and restaurants that all have their specialties… the best idea is to ask a local what their favourite restaurants are.
On your way into Nelson Bay or on your way home you might also like to call into one of our local wineries or Murrays Brewery. Murray’s Craft Brewing Co shares its home with Port Stephens Winery, the region’s oldest vineyard. Showcasing beer and wine together is quite a natural thing for us. Bringing the two together in a great tourist location seemed like a great way to provide visitors with a wide variety of taste sensations. Visit us at Bobs Farm and sample Murray’s beers – there’s up to 10 on tap at any one time, plus bottled specials. Taste local and regional wines, enjoy a delicious meal from the Brewery Restaurant, play a game of bocce, enjoy our entertainment and events, and learn more about craft beer by taking a Brewery Tour (public tours are daily at 2.15pm).
Don’t forget that the Hunter Valley is only 1.5 hours from Port Stephens. So base yourself here and enjoy a beachside holiday with a day trip to the Hunter Valley.
All this and only a 2.5 hour drive from Sydney, 1 hour from Newcastle or a short flight from Melbourne, Brisbane or the Gold Coast. If all this sounds good, then you will need at least a few nights to sample it all. Browse and book online!
