Named after its semi-circular bay, Fingal Bay is a coastal suburb of Port Stephens in the Hunter Region of New South Wales. Much of its area is protected within Tomaree National Park, with coastal scrublands and blissful beaches to explore. Interestingly, Fingal Bay was originally known as “False Bay” as it could easily be mistaken for the entrance to Port Stephens.
Things to do in Fingal Bay
Spend a day relaxing on Fingal Beach, a crescent-shaped stretch of sand overlooking Fingal Bay. It provides an idyllic setting for swimming and sunbathing during the warmer months, with lifeguards on patrol throughout much of the year. The adjacent headland is a popular destination for spotting whales, which migrate along the coastline between May and November.
Located just offshore is Fingal Island, which can be accessed by boat cruises or on foot at low tide. It’s dominated by the Point Stephens Lighthouse, a 21-metre-high tower that has been assisting vessels entering Port Stephens since 1862. Now heritage-listed, the lighthouse was designed by Alexander Dawson and remains active to this day.
For elevated views across Fingal Bay and the Port Stephens area, climb to the summit of Tomaree Head. Located within Tomaree National Park, it rises 161 metres above the Port Stephens entrance and offers views of nearby Boondelbah Island. Surrounded by cliffs, this flat-topped island is one of only a few nesting sites for the threatened Gould’s petrel.
Getting around Fingal Bay
Fingal Bay is around an hour’s drive from Newcastle and 40 minutes from Newcastle Airport, which has flights to destinations across Australia. The much larger Sydney International Airport is three hours away. Renting a car is the most convenient way of getting to Fingal Bay and exploring the surrounding area.