Port Officer's Information Port Stephens, NSW Mid Coast
CCCA Port Officer : Cherylle Stone phone 02 4984 7113 or 0407 984 113, email cherylles@bigpond.com
November, 2008
General Comments Located 25 miles ENE of Newcastle and 40 miles SW of Fortser/Tuncurry, Port Stephens and the Broughton Islands, offer excellent sailing and an extensive choice of anchorages. While there are clearly charted, shallow, sandy spots within Port Stephens, there are also large expanses of deep flat water which afford excellent sailing.
Nearest VMR : VMR Port Stephens, located on Nelson Head, overlooks the entrance and operates 24/7 with offshore rescue capability. Call on VHF 16, repeater channel 80 or HF 2182. Weather forecasts and bar conditions are available on request. Weather warnings are broadcast as issued.
Entry Precautions : Refer to Cruising the NSW Coast by Alan Lucas plus chart AUS209. Port Stephens is not barred and can be entered in all but the most extreme weather and tide conditions by using the entrance leads. In very strong to gale force onshore winds with an outgoing tide there may be overfalls outside the entrance and breaking waves on Entrance Shoal immediately inside.
Berthing and Moorings : d’Albora Marina, Nelson Bay (Ph 49841333) The Anchorage Marina, Corlette (Ph 49811388) Soldiers Point Marina (Ph 49827445) Lemon Tree Passage Marina (Ph 49824422).
Free Public Berths (4) suitable for monohulls up to 12 metres are located at the Public Wharf in Nelson Bay Harbour. Maximum length of stay is 72 hours. d’Albora Marina has several free public berths available for use in daylight hours only.
Maritime NSW Public Moorings have pink markers and are located in Shoal Bay (1), Nelson Bay (3) Dutchies Beach (1) eastern side of Salamander Bay under Corlette Point (1), Fame Cove (3) Karuah (1) and North Beach, Broughton Island (1). Maximum length of stay is 24 hours.
On-shore Amenities : Public toilets and showers are located on beaches adjacent to public moorings except at Fame Cove.
Availability of Diesel and Water : Water can be obtained on the front face of the Public Wharf at Nelson Bay (take care not to impede commercial traffic). Fuel and laundry facilities are available at all marinas. Other laundries are located in shopping centres at Shoal Bay, Nelson Bay, Little Salamander, Lemon Tree Passage and Karuah.
Shops, Supermarkets, Chandleries : Bi-Lo supermarket and other shops are a 5 minute walk from the Harbour at Nelson Bay. There is a large regional centre at Salamander with K-Mart, Woollies and Bi-Lo 15 minutes walk from Salamander Bay. Little Salamander has a small IGA, pharmacy, newsagent, butcher and baker. Soldiers Point has a convenience store. Tanilba Bay has Bi-Lo and other outlets. Karuah has a general store and butcher. There is a small chandlery at Nelson Bay Harbour, a sailmaker (John Herrick) at Nelson Bay, a rigger (Michael Lee) at Corlette plus a variety of outlets selling mechanical bits and services.
Haulout Facilities: There is a travel lift and a full range of services at Noakes Boatyard, Nelson Bay (ph 49844150) and slipways at Soldiers Point and Lemon Tree marinas.
Cove Marine (Ph 49824832) at the far western end of the Port, uses a mobile trailer/slip for haulout, making it suitable for catamarans. It has a small chandlery and offers long-term hard stand storage, marina berths, moorings, sand blasting, spray painting, mechanical and canvas work services at competitive prices. However, the lack of public transport, or a courtesy vehicle, and its 20 km distance from shops necessitates that clients have their own transport. If members intend to use this yard, they may be able to negotiate a loan of a car from the Port Officers.
Restaurants, Cafes : There are numerous clubs, pubs, food and restaurant outlets throughout the area. The Port Stephens Yacht Club, adjacent to Soldiers Point Marina, is open on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons and Friday nights
Land and Air Access : Port Stephens Coaches runs a daily service to/from Sydney via Newcastle, or there is the inter-urban train to Newcastle (50 kms away) and Newcastle Airport (25 kms away).
Updated Dec 08