Things to do while on site

The Retreat Port Stephens is a safe, private and enjoyable place for all families. No matter the size of your family or ages of the kids there is just so much on offer.

Firstly take the kids straight out the back to the sand dunes for some energy burning sand boarding. You can sit at the top of the dune and the kids can go up and down a few times. After half an hour or so they are exhausted and want to come back for a swim in our in ground salt water swimming pool.

The kids  can have a swim while you sit back and relax on our sun chairs with a great book and take in the country air.

Next to the swimming pool is the games room with Table tennis, pool table, pin ball machine, video machine, air hockey and stereo. There is a TV and DVD player in the games room to watch a favourite movie or sports games that is LIVE on tv. We also have board games and card games available for hire at the office.

Next is the play ground area with monkey bars, cubby house, baby swing seat and 2 childrens seats. Open area next to this which is great for a games of soccer, cricket or boche.

Bring along your push bikes as the kids can ride around the property and you can also ride on the many bike tracks that are around the Port Stephens area.

FAMILY FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES OFF SITE

Oakvale farm is wonderful expreience for ages. You can hand feed all the animals, bottle feed the baby animals, pat a koala, hug a Kangaroo and be hands on with all the animals in the farm. There are BBQ area and covered eating areas. This is a great day out and well worth the trip.

Australian Shark and Ray Centre is another must do trip. This is just awesome and an expreience to get over any fears of sharks and rays. You can either pull on Waders, snorkel or even scuba with the sharks and rays. There are water tables to touch sea horses, feeding times, interesting info and best of all an unforgetable experience.

Port Stephens Learn to Surf School is a great family activity to all do together. Learn how to get up on the board and gain the confidence to surf. You can either do a one off leason or do it over a couple of days. Great summer activity and you learn a new activity.

Dolphin & Whale watch cruises are great as they give you a year round choice. In summer jump on a cruise for a swim with the Dolphins in a boom net, then in winter just on board with all your winter woolies for an experience that you will always treasure. You can see the Humpback whales which are so graceful and harmless or even the more active Southern Right which we now have approx 5000 left in the world.

Port Stephens Winery and Murray's Brewery a just a 5 minute drive down the road where you can taste some of the best wine that Port Stephens has to offer as well as the World Famous Murray's Brewey beer. There are Brewery Tours everyday and this is very informative for those who love their beer. This is also a great venue for a lunch stop and the food is simply fantastic. We highly recommend a visit to the Port Stephens Winery.

There are many local walking tracks through the National Parks close by and a family favourite of ours is the Tomaree Headland walk. This is about an half hour walk to the peak with spectacular views of the bay and out of the headlands. Great photo opportunities at the top and also a great vantage point during Whale watch season for the brave.