The Port Stephens beachside suburb that's perfect for a family getaway

There are two things I reckon you can use to judge the quality of a small Aussie town: the pies at the bakery, and the lunch options at the local bowling club. 

And though I'd never heard of Soldiers Point before taking a family holiday there, I'm glad to report that it scored very highly on both of these metrics.

Just over two hours from Sydney, the small suburb of Port Stephens really delivered as a perfect spot for a weekend getaway. 

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Earlier this year, Port Stephens was crowned the 'Town of the Year' by Wotif, after it saw a huge surge in accommodation searches. 

It makes sense – the region is home to stunning, pristine beaches, kilometres of coastal walks, the famous Stockton sand dunes, cute neighbourhoods, great dining options, and some of the best whale watching in NSW. 

While Nelson Bay is the main tourist destination for the area, for our weekend away, we based ourselves in Soldiers Point, a peninsula neighbourhood that juts into Port Stephens, offering calm swimming beaches and great fishing spots. 

And, of course, the aforementioned bakery and bowling club. 

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Where to stay in Port Stephens

Travelling with our nine-month-old, we chose a two-bedroom cabin at the BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Soldiers Point, giving us more space than a hotel room, and better amenities than a classic holiday rental. 

It was the perfect place to come with a child – even one who's so young he can't partake in the classic caravan park rituals of riding his bike around or making friends with neighbouring kids. 

Let's start with the amenities.

The park has both an outdoor and indoor swimming pool; the latter is heated and great for little bubs even in winter. It has a huge jumping pillow for the older ones, and an indoor soft playground for kiddos under five. Our son absolutely loved writhing around in the ball pit and going down the cushioned slide. 

There's also an on-site bowling alley which you can book for groups of up to 12, perfect for whiling away rainy afternoons. 

My favourite thing, though, was the text message that all guests receive every morning when the coffee van is parked up at reception. There's nothing better than getting handed a steaming, barista-made latte without having to walk more than 50 metres from bed.

More things to do

As for the location, it couldn't be in a better spot. It's across the street from a long, white sandy beach perfect for swimming, and a short walk from Sunset Beach, for which you can probably guess the drawcard. 

I really suggest you head to Seaview Cafe, tucked above the sailing club, for coffee in the morning or afternoon snacks and drinks on a Friday and Saturday. The views out over the water are amazing.

There's a direct walking path linking the holiday park and the bowling club, which has lunch specials, a playground and cheap drinks – the holy trinity, in my humble opinion. And any place where adults are allowed to order meals from the kids menu is a win in my books.

The bougie resort Bannisters is directly opposite, too, where there are two restaurants including the celebrated Rick Stein eatery. You can pop into the Cheeky Dog for low-key drinks on the terrace with views of the beach through the trees.

Soldiers Point shops are just a short walk away, home to Bakers La Vie where you can get yourself that great pie I mentioned. They also do great ham sambos and banh mi, perfect for picking up on your way to a hike or a day at the beach. 

What is the best month to visit Port Stephens?

Port Stephens is beautiful year-round. You'll get the warmest, driest weather in the summer months, but winter is peak whale-watching season.

How to get to Port Stephens without a car?

From Sydney, you can take a train to Newcastle Interchange, where there is a bus service to Port Stephens.

Where to eat in Port Stephens

• Cellar Cafe Fingal Bay for the best pizza and wine in the area
• Rick Stein at Bannisters for upscale dining
• Little Nel Cafe for great breakfast and brunch
• The Poyer's for high-end seafood
• John Dory's for takeaway fish and chips
• Little Beach Boathouse for casual dining on the water
• Shoal Bay Country Club for a chic beachfront lunch

The writer and her family stayed as guests of Ingenia Holidays.