With a winning trifecta of sand dunes, historic shipwrecks and incredible views, Stockton Beach manages to lure visitors from around Australia. But its claim to fame doesn’t end there. At 32km it is said to be the longest beach in all of NSW, stretching from Stockton to Anna Bay. While most famous for its expansive sand dunes, which are part of the largest moving sand dune system in all of the Southern Hemisphere, the beach has also famously been the site of many shipwrecks and airplane crashes over the years, some of which you can even see today. It’s a quick drive from Sydney and a perfect weekend trip with plenty of adventure for the whole family. Here’s everything you should see and do at the famous beach.
Stockton Beach, NSW
The beach is located at the southern end of Newcastle Bight which is home to stunning sand dunes set against a backdrop of equally picturesque views. There are plenty of ways to experience the 4200 hectares of sand dunes. Go quad biking with Sand Dune Adventures, and try sandboarding or sand surfing with Sand Dune Safaris. Visitors also have 4WD access to more than 19 km of Stockton beach and it’s the best way to take in the full expanse of the incredible dunes. The beach is also famous for camel and horse rides.
Visitors will need to apply for a valid beach permit to drive at the Worimi Conservation Lands. Find more information and permit costs here. The beach is also unpatrolled and remote and therefore it is advised against swimming here.
The most famous shipwreck on the beach is MV Sygna, a Norwegian Bulk Carrier that ran aground on Stockton beach during a major storm in 1974. It’s in a state of decay due to time and environmental causes but remains popular in the area and you can find it south of Birubi Point on the beach. Another famous shipwreck is that of Uralla, a cargo ship built in Scotland that ran ashore in June 1928. While there, don’t forget to visit the “Tin City“, a bunch of fishing shacks nestled between the dunes and the beach.
If walking along Stockton beach has felt akin to entering a scene from Mad Max, it’s because the iconic flick was shot on the beach. Several scenes from the hit 1979 movie were shot on the beach and included the surrounding dunes. Read more about the beach here.
Getting there
Sydney to Stockton Beach is a 2.5-hour drive along the M1. You can also catch a bus from Sydney to Port Stephens and back, book here.