We have something to suit all School Students and being an easy two and half hours north of Sydney, and a 45 minute drive from Newcastle and the Hunter Valley, Port Stephens is an ideal location for your next School Trip.
Port Stephens gives your students the ultimate educational experience! It is nestled away in a blue water paradise offering excellent school camp opportunities, as well as affordable school group accommodation. With a variety of natural features such as wetlands and dune systems, and many marine-based activities including dolphin and/or whale watching (from May to November migrating humpback whales travel along our coastal waters), guided snorkelling tours and swimming with the dolphins. Students have the opportunity to explore in the Great Lakes Marine Park which harbours turtles, fish and seabirds. In addition the ecology students will be in their element studying mangroves and saltmarsh ecosystems.
Port Stephens has a wide variety of activities and School Tour operators can design itineraries which incorporate HSIE, Geography, Science, History, Biology, Environmental Science & Conservation, Agriculture, Marine Studies, Food Technology & Business studies just to name a few. The 40 metre high sand dunes, cycling and hiking routes make Port Stephens the perfect place to train your sports teams. Fro something different enrol your students in our Surf School
Curriculum based learning activities can be complimented with wonderful activities such as Marine studies, Indigenous studies and National Parks Discovery Tours covering a variety of topics and much more! Explore ecosystems at risk including wetlands which vary according to the time of the year and time of day. School students will come to understand the importance of tides to life and its fragility in the littoral zone. Students can study different ecosystems combining different subject areas and staying in the student accommodation during the duration of their stay.
Primary Students will be delighted with their experience of Port Stephens. Fighter World is a totally ‘hands on’ experience. It is located at Newcastle Airport, adjacent to the RAAF Base. The children can enter the cockpits of some of Australia’s most well-known aircrafts including the F-111, Mirage and Macchi jets. There is a range of model aircrafts and weapons not seen anywhere else. In addition Oakvale Farm & Fauna World provides students opportunities to view and touch Australian native wildlife, and watch them feeding. There are go carts, and horse riding activities and camel riding along the beach.
Teachers will find it the perfect place to take students. Visit the Port Stephens website to see what is available, and think about the various options. It’s easy to organise a School Tour to Port Stephens – everything from organising your Student Accommodation to planning activities which challenge all ages and abilities. Or if your students would like more relaxing activities or the trip is planned to meet curriculum requirements, we are experienced in organising these as well. Nothing it too difficult and your will be delighted with the experience.
The Retreat Port Stephens offers all-inclusive packages which includes all meals, activities and accommodation or customise a package to your specific requirements. We’ll discuss with you your requirements and tailor it all to meet your wishes. We have relationships with service providers throughout the district who are well equipped to welcome School Students.
The Retreat Port Stephens is a unique property which backs directly onto the largest living sand dune system in the Southern Hemisphere. Situated in a peaceful bushland setting on 4 acres with self – Contained accommodation cottages as well as group accommodation it is ideal for school groups. Facilities include an In-ground pool, games room, campfires and covered BBQ areas and access to dunes.
The Retreat Port Stephens 
4302 Nelson Bay Rd
Anna Bay NSW 2316
