Things to do in Salamander Bay, Port Stephens

Things to do in Salamander Bay, Port Stephens

Things to do in Salamander Bay, New South Wales include picnics at the Bob Cairns Reserve, wine-tasting at Tynan Wines and golf at the Horizons Golf Resort. But this Port Stephens suburb is primarily residential.

Salamander Bay is a suburb of Port Stephens in New South Wales. It is sandwiched between Nelson Bay and Soldiers Point, and most visitors won’t have much cause to stop there. Salamander Bay is primarily residential, although there are a couple of attractions worth looking at.

6 fantastic Port Stephens experiences worth going for.

  1. 4WD dunes tour with sandboarding – whizz down the Sahara-style dunes
  2. Dolphin-watching cruise with fun boom nets 🐬.
  3. Quad-biking over the Worimi sand dunes – learning about local Aboriginal culture along the way.
  4. Snorkelling with wild dolphins – the ultimate dolphin experience
  5. Port Stephens koala sanctuary admission tickets 🐨.
  6. Shallow water shark and ray encounter 🦈.

Salamander Bay beach and Bob Cairns Reserve

Salamander Bay does have a beach, but not an especially impressive one. The bay east of Wanda Wanda Head is largely dominated by mangroves and sand flats. The Bob Cairns Reserve behind the beach is more appealing, with playground equipment, barbecue facilities and picnic tables. If you want beaches in Port Stephens, you’re better off elsewhere. Try Birubi Beach in Anna Bay, home of Port Stephens camel tours, or clothing-optional Samurai Beach. There’s also Shoal Bay, home to the Shoal Bay Country Club – a great Aussie pub.

Things to do in Salamander Bay, Port Stephens: Tynan Wines

Beach aside, the two main things to do in Salamander Bay are Tynan Wines and the Horizons Golf Resort. Tynan Wines is a small winery which specialises in what it calls premium artisan wines. There’s no vineyard here, so don’t go expecting romantic views out over the vines. Tynan Wines sources grapes from wine regions across New South Wales. So pinot noir grapes come from Canberra and Tumbarumba, tempranillo grapes come from New England and cabernet sauvignon grapes come from Mudgee.

Tynan Wines does have a cellar door, and offers free tastings, but it is appointment-only. Ring ahead to book a spot.

Things to do in Salamander Bay, NSW: Horizons Golf Resort

kangaroos on the Horizons Golf Resort golf course in Salamander Bay, Port Stephens, NSW
Kangaroos on the fairway at the Horizons Golf Resort in Salamander Bay, NSW. Photo courtesy of Destination NSW.

Golfers will be more interested in the Horizons Golf Resort at the southern end of Salamander Bay, however. This Port Stephens golf course is in the Australian Golf Digest Top 100 courses, and weaves its way around several small lakes. Green fees for non-members at the Horizons Golf Resort cost from $55 for 18 holes, although it’s cheaper – $25 – after 3pm. You’ve also got a strong chance of bumping into kangaroos on the course. For more information, visit the Horizons website.

More New South Wales travel

Craft shopping at Glebe Markets in Sydney.

Riverboat Postman cruise on the Hawkesbury River.

Washerwomans Beach in Bendalong, NSW.

Toowoon Bay Holiday Park in Toowoon Bay on the Central Coast, New South Wales.

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