Diving & Travel Guide to New South Wales – Port Stephens

About New South Wales – Port Stephens

Port Stephens, located approximately two hours north of Sydney on the New South Wales mid-north coast, is one of Australia's most diverse and accessible temperate-water diving destinations, offering an extraordinary combination of dramatic offshore islands, historic wrecks, and sheltered bay diving in one of the state's largest natural harbours. Broughton Island, the region's premier dive destination located 12 kilometers offshore, is a stunning volcanic island surrounded by world-class dive sites including Looking Glass (a spectacular swim-through arch), The Canyons (deep gutters patrolled by grey nurse sharks), Pipeline, Little Broughton, and North Rock, each offering unique underwater landscapes with vibrant sponge gardens, kelp forests, and abundant marine life. The Hunter Coast wreck diving adds another dimension with the SS Catterthun and SS Birubi wrecks providing hauntingly beautiful artificial reefs, while the Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park protects the bay's diverse ecosystems including seagrass beds, rocky reefs, and the unique underwater environments around Moon Island and the entrance channels. Fly Point-Halifax Park in Nelson Bay is one of NSW's most popular shore dive sites, offering accessible diving with prolific marine life including sea dragons, cuttlefish, and diverse invertebrates. The Pinnacle and The Funnel provide dramatic bommie diving for boat-accessible sites, while Tomaree Head offers scenic headland diving with the possibility of encountering dolphins and seals. The region's proximity to Sydney, combined with its beautiful natural harbour, excellent beaches, and growing food and wine scene, makes Port Stephens an ideal weekend or extended diving destination.

Highlights

• ✓Broughton Island – dramatic offshore island diving with arches, canyons, and shark encounters
• ✓Fly Point-Halifax Park – one of NSW's best shore dive sites with sea dragons
• ✓Hunter Coast wrecks including the SS Catterthun and SS Birubi
• ✓Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park protecting diverse marine ecosystems
• ✓Accessible diving only two hours north of Sydney
• ✓Beautiful natural harbour with excellent topside activities and dining

Getting There

Port Stephens is most easily accessed from Newcastle Airport (NTL) at Williamtown, approximately 20 minutes from Nelson Bay, or by car from Sydney (approximately 2.5 hours north via the Pacific Motorway and Nelson Bay Road). Newcastle Airport receives flights from Brisbane, Melbourne, and the Gold Coast. The main dive departure points are Nelson Bay Marina, the fly Point boat ramp, and Shoal Bay. Broughton Island is approximately 40 minutes by boat from Nelson Bay, while the Hunter Coast wreck sites are located along the coastline to the south. The sheltered waters of Port Stephens harbour provide year-round diving opportunities, and the well-developed tourism infrastructure includes multiple dive operators, boat ramps, and marina facilities. The region is also accessible by train to Newcastle, with connecting bus services to Nelson Bay.