A beachside suburb of Newcastle with enormous dunes and coastal campgrounds.
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The best camping near Stockton Beach, NSW guide
Overview
About
32 kilometres of sprawling dunes stretch into the horizon at Stockton Beach. Stretching from Stockton to Anna Bay, Stockton beach is home to many hidden treasures that will keep any camper entertained.
While camping near Stockton Beach, you can rent quad-bikes to explore the vast landscape that once appeared in the original Mad Max film. Stockton Beach is well known for its many shipwrecks, some of which are prominently displayed in the waters along the coast.
So many ships ran aground here in the 19th century that several shacks were built and filled with provisions nearby to assist the many shipwrecked sailors. Visit Stockton beach to take in the natural beauty of the area and enjoy the exciting history associated with the land.
Stockton is a northern suburb of Newcastle city that sits on a peninsula. It’s separated from Newcastle by the Hunter River, and a ferry connects the two parts of the city in just five minutes. Stockton is perhaps most famous for its enormous sand dunes at Stockton Beach, which are part of the Southern Hemisphere’s largest moving sand dune system. Campers can stay in the holiday park in the town of Stockton itself, or head further up the coast to the beachside camp on Worimi conservation lands and to other nearby national and regional parks.
Where to go
Worimi Regional Park
The dramatic Stockton Sand Dunes cover the Worimi Regional Park and Worimi National Park conservation lands. Here, visitors can enjoy fishing, whale watching, horse riding, and four-wheel driving on the beach. There’s only one campsite on these conservation lands–the Ganyamalbaa Beach Camping Area—and camping isn’t permitted elsewhere. The remote beachside camping area is suitable for tents and single axle camper trailers, and bookings are necessary.
Tomaree National Park
At Tomaree Head east of the Stockton Sand Dunes, and less than an hour’s drive from Stockton, the Tomaree National Park offers many scenic walks and opportunities for whale watching in winter. The hike to Tomaree Head Summit is worthwhile, and there are World War II-era sites to check out around Fort Tomaree. You can’t camp in the park itself but there are well-equipped holiday parks in nearby towns, and the park has toilets, picnic and barbecue facilities, drinking water, and showers.
Hunter Wetlands National Park
Across the Hunter River’s North Channel from Stockton, the Hunter Wetlands National Park is a wildlife sanctuary and a wetland of international importance (a Ramsar site). There are many walking, cycling, fishing, and birdwatching opportunities in the park. Although you can’t camp in the park, there are toilets and picnic facilities for day use, and it’s an easy day-trip destination from Stockton and other parts of Newcastle.
When to go
As a beach destination, the best time to visit Stockton is the summer, when temperatures are hot and conditions are ideal for swimming and other beach activities. Spring and autumn can also be a good time to camp, with cooler temperatures but conditions that are generally comfortable for outdoor activities. Winters are mild, but night-time temperatures may be too cold for many campers. Even still, migrating humpback whales can be seen from the shore between June and September.