Mention the word ‘surf’ and you usually think of water and waves. But in the coastal town of Port Stephens, about a 2.5-hour drive north of Sydney, your experience on a board might not be surfing in the traditional sense.
The Stockton Bight Sand Dunes are the largest moving dunes in the Southern Hemisphere and an impressive natural landscape to witness. These towering golden sands stretch for 32 km between Birubi Beach and Stockton.
They extend as far as the eye can see, with 4,200 hectares of endless sands making up the Worimi Conservation Lands, which are jointly managed by NSW National Parks and local Traditional Owners.
These sand dunes in Australia offer more than one way to find adventure, making them one of the most unique landscapes in the country. Seek out thrills or discover the cultural significance of this otherworldly landscape.
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Explore the golden dunes by quad bike
You can tour the terrain with a local Aboriginal guide and the thrilling power of quad bikes. Sand Dune Adventures is a not-for-profit tourism enterprise that ventures across parts of the Stockton Bight dunes not always accessible otherwise.
Learn about the landscape and Indigenous heritage, gain a greater understanding of the history of these protected lands, and get to know the culture of the traditional owners, the Worimi people. Made up of 18 clans, the Worimi people were hunter-gatherers, and you can discover noteworthy sites such as the Aboriginal middens, where people feasted on fish and shellfish.
If you’re just after pure thrills, Quad Bike King will tour you out to the dunes on a 350cc Yamaha Grizzly or 150cc quad bike so you can kick up sand and enjoy the ride at the same time. Cruise down Stockton Beach, then up into the open landscape for an hour of thrills. If you’re keen to really go for it, choose the “sandpit” tour to use the area as your playground and let loose with no instructor to follow. Race your mates, drift around the dune circuit and practice donuts in the sand.
Trek the dunes by camel or horseback
If you’ve ever wanted to ride a camel, this is your chance. Oakfield Ranch Camel Rides treks over the dunes at Birubi Beach, at the northern end of the dunes. Your camel caravan will move slowly through the bush and beach, over the dunes and along the oceanfront. Go at sunset to witness the spectacular coastline aglow.
Or turn up the pace a little with a horseback ride along the vast open beach. Saddle up with Sahara Trails and hit the sand for a relaxing ride by the coastline. Time your ride to venture here in the morning when the dunes feel largely undisturbed after the sands have shifted overnight with the winds, covering any footprints or tracks.
Take your 4WD onto the sand dunes at Anna Bay
If you’ve got off-road wheels, then take your 4WD onto the sand and drive up Stockton Beach. With a large area of dunes to explore with your vehicle, which you can access via Lavis Lane at Williamtown, Gan Gan Road at Anna Bay, or via the Fern Bay 4WD access track. You’ll need to pay and display a valid beach permit to enter the Worimi Conservation Lands. If you don’t own a 4WD, get Sand Dune Safaris to take you around in its Toyota Land Cruisers.
Surf down the dunes on a sandboard
Get a real adrenaline rush as you surf down these 30-metre high, up to 60-degree angled dunes. While each way of exploring the dunes is unique, this is really a memorable experience that’s perfect for people of all ages and abilities.
Sand Dune Safaris will take you there, lending you hand-made sand boards designed for sitting, sliding or surfing down the dunes solo or in tandem. Those who are keen surfers or snowboarders can give sand surfing a go, strapping themselves into specially designed standing boards with foot bindings. They’ll drop you at the best sandboarding dunes for unlimited rides. Just give them a call when you want a lift back to the car park.
Where to stay near Port Stephens sand dunes
After a day out on these Australian sand dunes, you’re only a 10-minute drive back to your room at Oaks Port Stephens Pacific Blue Resort, where you can unwind by taking a leisurely swim in our large lagoon-style pool.
