Port Stephens
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Port Stephens is a large coastal inlet and Local Government Area of Newcastle in New South Wales, Australia. Port Stephens is located about 170 kilometers north of Sydney. It is larger than Sydney Harbour and has a narrow entrance between two striking hills of volcanic origin. The harbour is mostly shallow and sandy but contains sufficient deep water to accommodate large vessels, the Queen Mary docked there during World War II. It is excellent for fishing and recreational boating.
The area surrounding Port Stephens has mostly rather poor soil, and has limited agricultural potential. For this reason, no large towns developed there historically and it was never developed as a significant port. The major city and port of Newcastle developed at the mouth of the Hunter River, about 50 kilometers south of Port Stephens. A number of small towns developed around the port as fishing, holiday and retirement communities. Since the 1970s, with improved road access from Sydney, and the increasing popularity of coastal retirement lifestyles, there has been major expansion of these towns.
The Karuah River and the Myall River (through the Myall Lakes) drain into Port Stephens. Towns on the shores of Port Stephens include Shoal Bay, Nelson Bay, Salamander Bay, Lemon Tree Passage, Karuah, Tea Gardens and Hawk's Nest.