11:55 PM Wed 30 Dec 2009 GMT
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'd’Albora Marina Port Stephens has a village-like atmosphere'
Fiona Harper
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The expansive body of water known as Port Stephens penetrates far inland, creating a popular cruising destination north of Sydney.
One of the few all weather refuges on the NSW coast without a bar crossing, the entrance to Port Stephens is relatively straightforward using the entrance leads, with islands and prominent headlands protecting the entrance. Port Stephens is a short 25 nm hop north east of Newcastle, or a slightly longer 40 nm sail south west of Cape Hawke. Just inside the entrance, there are two exceptional marinas on the southern shore.
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Port Stephens, north of Sydney, has good anchorages aplenty - Fiona Harper
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Proclaiming itself to be the 'Dolphin Capital of Australia', Port Stephens was one of the first places to offer regular dolphin watch cruises to witness the 100 or so Bottlenose dolphins that call the port home. There's also quite an industry here, with whale watching cruises operating between May and October.
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Port Stephens offers sheltered water cruising - Fiona Harper
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Reasons to Linger
Comprising an area larger than Sydney Harbour, Port Stephens has enough bays, coves and inlets to satisfy the most jaded cruiser. With little major infrastructure spoiling the natural environment, much of the coastline is presumably as it was when Captain James Cook named the port in 1770. In the northeast, the Myall River connects the port with Myall Lakes, creating a unique inland navigable waterway that meanders past curiously named towns like Winda Woppa and Monkey Jacket.
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Anchorage Marina Port Stephens - Fiona Harper
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The main advantage of staying at The Anchorage Marina is that marina guests have full access to Peppers Resort. It's a sort of 'destination marina' that discourages boat maintenance and encourages boating enjoyment.
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Anchorage Marina Port Stephens is adjacent to Peppers Resort - Fiona Harper
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There's a heated pool and spa as well as an activities booking office that will recommend local attractions.
d'Albora Marina Nelson Bay is positioned within a boutique shopping village. Onsite there's restaurants and bars and a visitor centre. It may just be the only marina in the country that has cable TV access at most berths. Just plug into your onboard TV set and you're away.
Local Essentials
Nelson Bay CBD has supermarkets, cafes and shops a few minutes walk from d'Albora Marina and a slightly longer walk along the waterfront from The Anchorage Marina. There's also a hardware store and service station in this area. Port Stephens Coaches runs a daily service from Nelson Bay to Sydney (3 hours), for Sydneysiders wanting to hightail it back to the big smoke.
Maintenance & Repairs
Highly respected Noakes Boat and Shipyards have a haul out facility and boatyard at d'Albora Marina Nelson Bay. Onsite are a shipwright, rigger and painter with mechanical, electrical and fabrication services nearby. There's a chandlery right here as well.
Events
Club Marine Trailer Boat Sportfishing Tournament 3-5 April
www.tbft.com.au
Sail Port Stephens 20 - 26 April
www.sailportstephens.com.au
Recommended Reading
Cruising the NSW Coast by Alan Lucas
Fact File: d'Albora Marina Nelson Bay
9 Teramby Rd Nelson Bay
Ph 02 4984 1333
www.dalboramarinas.com.au
Lat 32d 43S Long 152d 09E
Wet Berths - 196
Fuel - Yes
Max berth length - 30 m
LPG - No
Haul out - Yes 45 tonne Travel Lift
Bar - Aqua Blue
Monitor VHF - No
Restaurant - Rock Lobster Restaurant
Coastguard - Port Stephens VMR 265 Ph 02 4982 4981
Chandlery -Nelson Bay Marine
Wifi Internet - Myport
Fact File: Anchorage Marina Port Stephens
26 Corlette Pt Rd, Corlette
Ph 02 4981 1388
www.anchoragemarina.com.au
Lat 32d 43S Long 152d 06E
Wet Berths - 90
Fuel - Yes
Max berth length - 30m
LPG - Yes
Haul out - No
Bar - Captains Bar
Monitor VHF - Ch 16
Restaurant - Merrets Restaurant
Coastguard - Port Stephens VMR 265 Ph02 4982 4981
Chandlery - Auto Marine Electronics nearby
Wifi Internet - Myport
For a complete directory of Australian marinas visit the Australian Marinas Guide
www.marinasguide.com.au
by Fiona Harper
Click on thumbnails to enlarge and find more photos:
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