Welcome to our tour of Australia. During the month of April we are going to visit our favourite spots in Australia. Come join us on our walkabout through the land down under.
Yesterday's post was about going to the footy game. Click here if you missed that post. Today we head a few miles north to Stockton Beach.
We have showcased a lot of beaches during our A-Z challenge but this one is so unique it needed to be included. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the people in Newcastle, the Hunter Valley, Central Coast and the Sydney area who have been affected by the wild storms over the last few days.
Stockton Beach is located just north of Newcastle and has miles of sandy dunes. It is the perfect place to go driving on the beach. The beach stretches for over 30km/20 miles and due to the dunes being shifted by the winds each trip is a little bit different. It is also the site of a ship wreck and you may find other unusual things on your visit.
What I Loved: The dunes were huge and it was an adventure to see what was over the next dune. The beach was much wider than any beach I had ever been to and this gave it a much more spacious feel.
Cost: Prices are in Australian Dollars
Access to the beach is free. Permits are required to drive on the beach. Annual passes are $30 per vehicle ($24 USD) and a 3 day pass is $10 ($8 USD). Click here to get more info on passes
More Info:
Stockton Beach: Learn more about the beach.
Address: Stockton Beach (Click link for map)
The beach is much wider than any other beach I have ever been to.
You can see the city centre in the background.
but look the other way and it is nothing but sand and surf.
The wind shapes the dunes and sometimes leaves ripples like this.
Shipwreck near the beach.
Some of the dunes are pretty tall and provide a panoramic view.
We made it to the top on our first try. We watched a few other people attempt it and they weren't always successful.
Getting There.
Car: Driving on the beach is limited to 4WD vehicles only. There is limited parking nearby if you wish to go onto the beach on foot. There is a petrol station a few kilometres from the entrance so you can reinflate your tires after driving on the beach. The beach is about a 30 minute drive from Newcastle. Air: Newcastle Airport is the closest airport. (35 minute flight from Sydney) It is about a 10-15 minute drive from the airport.
Train: Newcastle station is the closest station and is about 30 minutes from the beach.
What is your favourite beach and why? What are you blogging about today?
Oh wow, that is really pretty and an unique beach! I do like the way the sand looks on it! I do hope a lot has not been destroyed in the storms that passed by recently there.
ReplyDeleteLa Jolla Shores in San Diego area is my favorite beach; pretty area, a mix of grass and sand.
betty
Wow, that is a beautiful beach! I'm jealous! It's pretty much cold 8 months out of the year here (I'm from northeastern US) so the water is rarely warm enough to make it worth going to the beach. Although, I've become partial to a beach called Beavertail; the beach itself is grass, but its elevated up over the water, so you get quite the view. You have to climb down a rock wall to get to the shoreline and its all colorful pebbles and seashells (water shoes are a must at this beach!)
ReplyDeleteOk, I'm going to say How Pretty or those pictures! Very cool. I really like the wind ripple one.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to go hang out on that beach! Our beaches are mostly rocky around here.
ReplyDeleteOh wow. Those pictures are breathtaking! My job requires me to patrol 2.5 miles of beach here in Florida and it looks *nothing* like that. I am really enjoying your challenge topic. Thanks so much for sharing.
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The shipwreck shot looks like a postcard! Well done!
ReplyDeleteI visit Newcastle fairly often, have been to Stockton, but never been onto the beach like that. I must do it sometime.. It looks fantastic.
ReplyDeleteThis is a really cool looking beach, love the huge sand dunes and the ship wreck (I always love ship wrecks).
ReplyDeleteThat is a gigantic beach! In your first photograph, you'd have no idea there was even an ocean anywhere nearby. It's just sand forever... Elle @ Erratic Project Junkie
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