About this tour
This seven-hour Port Stephens adventure from Newcastle puts you face-to-face with Australia's most recognisable animals. Start with a 1.5-hour bay cruise spotting over 160 resident bottlenose dolphins, then venture to the Southern Hemisphere's biggest sand dunes for sweeping coastal views. The day culminates at Oakvale Wildlife Park, where you'll hand-feed kangaroos, quokkas and emus, bottle-feed baby goats, and spend time with koalas. A BBQ lunch rounds out the experience, with return transport from your Newcastle base included throughout.
Highlights
- Bottlenose dolphin spotting cruise, 160+ resident pod
- Feed kangaroos, quokkas, emus and bottle-feed goats
- Private koala encounter at Oakvale Wildlife Park
- Southern Hemisphere's largest active sand dunes
- BBQ lunch with dietary accommodation
- Small-group format, expert local guides
- Round-trip air-conditioned transport included
What to expect
You'll depart Newcastle in an air-conditioned vehicle and head straight to Port Stephens for the boat experience. The 1.5-hour cruise targets the bay's established dolphin population—sightings are reliable but wildlife remains unpredictable. Next comes the sand dunes, where you'll have time to explore and photograph the vast landscape. The afternoon shifts to Oakvale, where animal interactions are hands-on: you'll hold feed whilst kangaroos eat from your palm, and staff will hand you a baby goat to bottle-feed. Guides provide animal facts throughout. Lunch is a casual BBQ meal eaten at the park.
Good to know
Wear sunscreen and bring a hat—the boat and dunes offer little shade. Sturdy footwear helps on soft sand. The tour suits all fitness levels but involves walking and standing. Dietary requirements are catered for at lunch; let the operator know when booking. Extra drinks aren't included, so budget accordingly.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BugBitten summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.