Saturday, 21 July 2012

Overnight adventures – Sandboarding and Flying Foxes, Port Stephens


Aka getting the most out of life - the holiday when you don’t have the time or the money for a long one…
By Lydia C Lee
We left early Saturday morning, arriving up the coast in time for lunch at the pub at Anna Bay. We had booked everything last minute so we knew the weather would be fine. We had planned on the Tin City tour, which included sandboarding, 4 wheel driving up the beach to the tin city left after the depression (and filmed in Mad Max) and also some fortifications and bunkers that were built in WWII in preparation for a Japanese invasion, in an attempt to protect the airbase in Newcastle.  Unfortunately that part of the tour was inaccessible, so we just settled for the Sandboarding tour. We used Dawson Tours, who were friendly and accommodating, but there are a couple of providers there.
Linking with #BlueMonday

You jump in the 4 wheel drive and drive down some massive dunes (I screamed!!) and then over to their sandboarding area. You get a little plastic board (like a skate board) and you sit or stand as you slide down massive dunes. It’s a blast – and suitable for all ages. Even our three year old could do it, sharing a board with us. We all loved it – it’s so much fun, and a bit of a workout as you have to walk back up the dune, every time you slide down. The surroundings are quite lovely, and I hadn’t quite realised the majesty of a beach with such dunes, that seem to stretch endlessly in all directions.


There are also camel rides on the same beach, which we plan to return another time and do, along with a quad bike tour. We raced off to do tobogganing at the Toboggan Hill Park. The kids loved it, but it is pricey unless you go for a full day – they have mazes and putt putt, indoor climbing, ice skating and jumping castles and a myriad of other activities.

We had got a cheap deal on Wotif at the Shoal Bay Beach Club Apartments – we turned up just before 6pm. The kids went off to the Wii room, while we started to prepare dinner – while we didn’t make use of any of it, the apartments have boogie boards, umbrella's, sand kits, cricket sets, cooler bags, beach chairs etc  that you can use at the beach, as well as a pool and gym. We had a BBQ on the balcony and enough plates for the other family we were travelling with to eat in our room, which was a 2 bedroom entertainer.
We checked out early and went to breakfast at the Marina, then headed onto the Treetops Adventure Park. This is an aerial ropes course – with 2 courses for the under 10’s and 3 courses for the over 10’s and over 140cms. I supervised the 3 year old and 8 year olds (as I’ve done the other course plenty of times before) while the 11 year olds and the other adults did the big course. Everyone’s favourite moment is the flying fox over the car park, this time caught on video but the short straw drawer (me). The younger kids spent about 90 mins on their courses, and then we headed down to the playground and maze across the car park. The others spent about 2 hours, though allow three in case of hold ups. There’s no shop for food, so bring your lunch to eat at the picnic tables at the course, amidst the State Forest.

All in all, we had a lovely weekend, felt we’d been away for a week and felt that rush of youth that only adrenaline inducing fun can bring. It was a weekend packed full of activities that every member of the group, from three to forty three could enjoy. No one was left out of the fun, and that is becoming harder and harder as my eldest hits his teens…
Please note, we really just picked randomly, so while I’m including the websites of those operators mentioned, there may be better deals or tours available. However the ones I’m mentioning, I would use again and have no complaints.
http://www.portstephensadventure.com.au/
http://www.nelsonbay.net/toboggan/
http://www.shoalbaybeachclub.com.au/
http://www.treetopadventurepark.com.au/homeM.php

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29 comments:

  1. Seana Smith10 August 2013 at 22:17

    LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this post... I'd never have known any of these things were there and you've mapped it all out for me, just need to book and turn up. Thank you, off to tweet.

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  2. The Travelling Lindfields13 January 2015 at 23:09

    I have always loved Port Stephens - a great place to find that holiday feeling without having to travel too far. I'm going to have to go back now though and do some of the things you mention - lol.

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  3. Unknown14 January 2015 at 01:42

    I have been sand boarding in Namibia and loved the adrenalin rush so would love to give this a go, and the tree top adventure too - oh so much to do! Thanks for joining in my #wednesdaywanderlust link party

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  4. badgergirl14 January 2015 at 22:07

    I have never been to Port Stephens. but I love the look of that sandboarding - and I have always wanted a camel ride! Thanks for sharing your holiday : )
    Sarah xo

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  5. Unknown14 January 2015 at 23:26

    My son would love the sand boarding and the tree top adventure

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  6. Alison Dennison (Roy)12 June 2015 at 21:21

    Sandboarding looks like so much fun!

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  7. Muza-chan15 July 2015 at 22:48

    Interesting place...

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  8. Budget Travel Talk15 July 2015 at 23:22

    Sounds like an action packed week-end. I bet the kids slept well afterward. :)

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  9. Jackie and Joel Smith16 July 2015 at 07:40

    Where is Port Stephens?

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  10. Ruth3 August 2015 at 18:06

    I have never thrown myself from the top of a big dune. I should plan to do something like that. I have tubed in snow and that is fun. I think I will prefer sand instead of snow.

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  11. Anonymous4 August 2015 at 08:01

    Wow what an amazing place! Looks like you can do lots and what fun adventure you can gave there =) #MondayEscapes

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  12. Unknown5 August 2015 at 03:22

    I never visited Port Stephens when I was out in Australia but I wish I had now. What an awesome adventure you all had. I have always wanted to try sandboarding. I think I would love it and so would Monkey. We're both adrenaline freaks! Thanks for linking up with #MondayEscapes

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  13. Coombe Mill - Fiona17 February 2016 at 12:29

    This looks like such a great weekend, you got up to so much and have plans for so much more too! Sandboarding sounds like such a great activity, my lot would jump at the chance to do that. I bet you can't wait to go back again and make the most of more of the activities you heard about. Thanks for linking up with me on #CountryKids.

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  14. pc11 May 2016 at 17:28

    Been to Port Stephen many years back, would love to revisit the place and get sandboarding and flying fox done! ;D TFS.

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  15. Melanie @ Life's Sweet Words12 May 2016 at 10:22

    This is awesome!! I have always wanted to go sandboarding and now I am wanting to go even more!! Thanks for linking up!! Happy Thursday!

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  16. Katrina Elisabet20 May 2016 at 16:53

    Ever since my husband saw sandboarding done on Amazing Race, he's wanted to do it! Thanks for linking up with Travel Tuesday!

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  17. Rachel ¦¦ A Nesting Nomad22 May 2016 at 15:16

    This looks like so much fun! And you're right, fun for all the family. Personally, I'd have enjoyed the historical bits (if they'd been accessible) and the picnic under the trees bits :)

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  18. Anonymous19 August 2016 at 18:17

    Sandboarding sounds like so much fun. Thanks for sharing at #TheWeeklyPostcard

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  19. Kreete19 August 2016 at 23:48

    Been to Port Stephens before for a day or two but I didn't even realise about the sandboarding! I have a friend coming over end of September and I am just looking for places to go and things for us to do. This sounds like a great option as I haven't done sandboarding yet. Wohoo! Thanks for the info! #TheWeeklyPostcard

    http://www.adventuroustrails.com/

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  20. Travel Notes and Beyond20 August 2016 at 22:12

    A cousin of mine drives one of those 4 wheel drive carts over the sand dunes, but I've never heard of sand boarding so far. It is probably more fun and less risky. Thanks for joining us for #TheWeeklyPostcard, Lydia.

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  21. Gemma Wiseman aka Pamela Adams29 August 2016 at 15:14

    Many many years ago I used to travel to Port Stephens from Sydney. Always loved the atmosphere there. But I had no idea about these adventures on offer. Great post.

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  22. Budget Travel Talk1 September 2016 at 21:01

    Thanks for sharing these fun things to do. I've tried walking back up the sand dunes in the Sahara in Morocco and it was sooo difficult!

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  23. Six Little Hearts24 November 2016 at 12:12

    This sounds amazing! I want to do it now. Must look into it.

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  24. Anonymous27 November 2016 at 01:25

    Such a great area with heaps to do! I think we will have to plan a holiday there one day as well. Thanks

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  25. Sammie @ The Annoyed Thyroid12 October 2017 at 21:44

    Awesome! We're headed to Newcastle at Easter and are hoping to get up to Port Stephens and surrounds while we're there. The sand dunes and camel riding looks so much fun!

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  26. Unknown14 May 2019 at 05:04

    Those are the best weekends, last-minute, jam-packed and adrenaline-fuelled. Sounds like so much fun, and a proper break from reality. #fearlessfamtrav

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  27. Keri | Ladies What Travel15 May 2019 at 06:29

    I'd LOVE to have a go at sandboarding!

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  28. Jenny - TraveLynn Family17 May 2019 at 03:07

    We love this area of NSW. My boys recently tried sand boarding in Morocco and LOVED it - so I know they would love this trip too. #fearlessfamtrav

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  29. Magical Mystical Teacher11 July 2021 at 19:34

    Camels! Yes!

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