Although Port Stephens is known for its sand dunes and whale watching, it’s an equally awesome place to catch incredible sunsets.
From Nelson Bay to Soldiers Point, there are plenty of locations to watch the day end spectacularly while you’re in Port Stephens.
In no particular order, here are our top sunset spots in the area.
Gan Gan Lookout, Nelson Bay
Gan Gan Lookout is the highest point in Port Stephens. Not only does it offer stunning views of Nelson Bay and beyond, but it is also an amazing spot to watch the sunset.
To get to Gan Gan Lookout, you’ll need to drive up Lily Hill Road from Nelson Bay Road. Simply follow the signs till you reach the end of the road.
Parking is limited, so come early. Once you step out of your car, you’ll notice a radio transmission station for Bay FM.
Next to the parking lot, there is a lookout point towards the Stockton Sand Dunes. But to catch the sunset, you’ll need to walk towards the main lookout point.
There is a short and narrow footpath from behind the parking lot that heads towards Gan Gan Lookout. The lookout is a wooden platform with expansive 360-degree views of the area. The red Gymea lilies on the hill add to the scenic beauty that surrounds you.
Come early and get a spot at the lookout that faces west.
- Beautiful sunset from Gan Gan Lookout
- The sky turns deep red after the sunset – Gan Gan Lookout, Port Stephens
Soldiers Point
Soldiers Point is another suburb in Port Stephens with amazing views of the sunset. In fact, there is a Sunset Beach at Soldiers Point that, as the name implies, is a great spot to catch the sunset.
However, we personally felt the view to be slightly obstructed from the beach. So we drove down a little further to the boat ramp towards the end of the peninsula.
To get to the Soldiers Point Boat Ramp, take Mitchell Street from Soldiers Point Road. Drive till the end of the road and park your car before the boat ramp area.
The views from here are far less obstructed. Besides the area is more secluded and serene with water all around. In fact, while we were here watching the sunset, there were plenty of pelicans flying around us and into my photos.
- This pelican decided it wanted to be in my sunset shot
- One of the best sunsets we saw at Port Stephens from Soldiers Point
- A sunset that looks like a painting – Soldiers Point, Port Stephens
- Watching the colours of the sky change from Soldiers Point Boat Ramp
After the sunset, you can head down to The Point Restaurant for an amazing dinner experience. The restaurant is right beside Sunset Beach and overlooks the marina.
Little Beach, Nelson Bay
If you’re looking for a location to catch the sunset which has more people, Little Beach at Nelson Bay is a great option.
This little beach (pun intended) faces the west and has plenty of parking nearby, along with a park with benches to sit. To get to the beach, make your way down Beach Road in Nelson Bay and park opposite the beach.
- A pelican at sunset
- Beautiful sunset at Little Beach Reserve, Nelson Bay
- Little Beach, Nelson Bay
After the sunset, if you fancy a meal, make your way down to Little Beach Boathouse. This was by far one of the best restaurants in Port Stephens where we ate. The seafood here is simply amazing and it’s the perfect way to end your day in Port Stephens.
Catch the Sunset in Port Stephens
And finally, here’s a quick video of the sunsets from these spots.
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We hope that you enjoyed our recommendations for some amazing sunset spots in Port Stephens along with restaurants to grab dinner thereafter. As always, please feel free to share this post and check out more photos from Port Stephens in our gallery. And if you want to learn more about this amazing destination, check out our post on the top things to do while you’re in Port Stephens.
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