At Easter we took our caravan to Shoal Bay Caravan park at Port Stephens which is located about ¾ of an hour drive north of Newcastle NSW.
Shoal Bay caravan park is located opposite Shoal Bay beach within walking distance of shops, restaurants, a Hotel and a couple of Clubs. There is also a shop that hires out pushbikes.
We went away with a group of friends who hired cabins for the weekend. The cabins were $250 per night, however our ensuite site only cost us $68 per night. Quite a difference you would agree. We spent a lot of time eating and sitting around the tables under our awning, we could seat eight people comfortably.
The caravan park was generally well presented, however we had to point out some maintenance issues that needed fixing in our ensuite. The ensuite sites had Foxtel (pay TV) available free of charge ($20 deposit for the lead). The caravan park does not have a shop; however they do sell ice at the office. The park does not have a swimming pool.
There are quite a few things to do and see around Shoal Bay and most are within walking distance from the caravan park. Shoal Bay is located on the Tomaree Peninsula which is at the entrance to Port Stephens from the ocean. The entrance has a mountain either side of it and there is a psychiatric facility at the peninsula. I was told that this facility was established to accommodate soldiers that had suffered mental trauma during the war.
In the early 1940s Port Stephens was a large natural harbour close to the vulnerable, yet essential steelworks of Newcastle. Australia was at war with Japan. An unguarded Port Stephens could have provided an easy landing place for any hostile force. The guns at Newcastle were too far away to provide protection for Port Stephens. By the end of 1942 Fort Tomaree was constructed on the Southern headland at Tomaree Peninsula, with two "six inch" (152mm) guns, torpedo tubes, mortars, machine guns, rifle pits, search lights, command posts, observation posts, barbed wire entanglements and accommodation. The guns were never fired in anger. Their installation did however provide peace of mind and the facilities for artillery training. The RAAF also established a radar station on the top of the headland.
There are walking trails to the locations where the guns were and a trail that takes you to the top where the radar was. It is well worth the walk to the top. From the top you have 360 deg views.Tea Gardens and Jimmy’s Beach can be seen to the North and Fingal head Lighthouse and sand spit to the South. You can also walk through psychiatric facility and almost to the entrance to Port Stephens where there are picnic and Barbecue facilities; you have to carry your picnic baskets etc as cars are not permitted.
Located a short walk in the other direction is another headland which is home to the old Nelson Head lighthouse. The Coastal Patrol Station is also located on this headland which commands views all over the Port Stephens area.
Being Easter we observed the no meat tradition of Good Friday. We enjoyed some nice prawns washed down with some cold beer for lunch. For dinner we pre-ordered fish and chips from what I consider to be one of the best fish and chip shops I have eaten from “Aussie Bobs fish and chips”.
Shoal Bay is a hive of activity at Easter; we intended to eat out on Saturday night at one of the restaurants but left our run to late and could not find one that could accommodate six of us. We had to settle for takeaway pizza which we had to wait an hour for.
We had to pay for a minimum of 5 nights accommodation so we stayed until late Monday afternoon before returning home as we both had to work on the Tuesday.
We had a very enjoyable break away and will return for another stay at Shoal Bay Caravan Park.

We have posted quite a few photographs in the gallery of our website www.caravanersfriend.com which we hope you will find of interest.