About this tour
An 11-hour private day trip from Sydney to Port Stephens, featuring a dolphin-spotting cruise on a triple-deck catamaran and visits to white sand beaches and the largest sand dunes in the Southern Hemisphere. You'll travel in private transport with hotel pickup, cross the iconic Harbour Bridge, and have the option to add sandboarding on Stockton Beach. The bay's 160+ resident bottlenose dolphins make sightings highly likely.
Highlights
- Private hotel pickup and drop-off from Sydney
- Triple-deck catamaran with boom-net for swimming between waves
- Over 160 resident bottlenose dolphins with high sighting success rate
- Gan Gan Lookout panoramic views across Port Stephens to Newcastle
- Stockton Beach — Southern Hemisphere's largest sand dunes
- Nelson Bay seaside town exploration
- All-weather indoor and expansive open deck viewing areas
- Optional 4WD sandboarding adventure (own expense)
What to expect
You'll be picked up from your Sydney hotel and driven north for approximately three hours, crossing the Harbour Bridge to reach Port Stephens. Once there, you'll board the Moonshadow catamaran — a public cruise vessel with three decks — where you can move between indoor sheltered areas and open decks while spotting dolphins. The boom-net experience lets you safely swing out over the water and dip into the waves. You'll visit Nelson Bay's seaside town, explore white sand beaches, and stop at Gan Gan Lookout for sweeping views south to Newcastle and north to Myall Lakes. The return journey to Sydney takes another three hours, allowing you to rest after your day.
What travellers say
- High dolphin sighting rate — 160+ resident bottlenose dolphins in the bay
- Boom-net swing experience unique to this catamaran setup
- Scenic lookout spans Newcastle to Myall Lakes panorama
- Private transport eliminates group tour logistics
- Suits all fitness levels — no hiking required
- Three-hour drive each way — significant travel time investment
- Food and drinks not included — must budget separately
- Optional sandboarding incurs additional cost and weather-dependent
- Moonshadow is a public catamaran, not a private vessel
Themes summarised by our team from public information about this tour. Verify specifics on the operator's page before booking.
Good to know
This works well for families with young children (prams and infant seats available with advance notice), active groups wanting water interaction, and anyone keen on wildlife spotting without strenuous hiking. Bring a swimsuit and be prepared for ocean spray on the catamaran. The 11-hour commitment includes significant driving time, so it suits those comfortable with a full day away from the city. Meals and drinks aren't included — bring money for Nelson Bay cafes or pack provisions. Optional sandboarding has an extra cost and depends on day-of availability. The boom-net experience is weather-dependent. Seatbelts must be worn during vehicle transport.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BookNow summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.