Sail Port Stephens 2011 Lay Day - a perfect autumn day

by Sail Port Stephens media on 14 Apr 2011 This year’s Lay Day at Sail Port Stephens 2011 was another glorious autumn day, brilliant sunshine and with a gentle breeze blowing it was perfect for any activity the area affords.

Port Stephens is a large, natural Harbour with 113 kilometres of shoreline and is larger than Sydney Harbour with an area of 119 square kilometres (approximately).

In May 1770 Captain Cook passed by, naming the port after the then secretary to the Admiralty, his friend Sir Philip Stephens.

In 1791 the first ship to enter Port Stephens was the Salamander, and the suburb of Salamander Bay was named after her.

The beauty of Port Stephens is evident. Being just a two and a half hour drive from Sydney (approximately 160 kilometres) or just under one hour from Newcastle and with road, coach and train transport available, the area is readily accessible.

The Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park was established in December 2005 and Port Stephens is famous for its population of bottle nosed dolphins that inhabit the beautiful waters. Whale watching and dolphin watching tours are an important part of tourism in this diverse area and there is a strong focus on fishing and recreational boating in the area’s many bays.

For the food lover fresh oysters and seafood are available while restaurants, coffee shops and speciality food shops abound.

With a range of accommodation options available from five star through to budget, there is something to fit most visitors budgets.

Clean white sandy beaches and natural beauty welcome you and Port Stephens really is a blue water paradise, perfect for all the family.

And if you have missed this year’s Sail Port Stephens event, stay tuned as we bring you the SB3 Nationals, the IRC NSW Championship and the Sail Port Stephens Trophy action over the next three days.

Oh and be sure to mark the event on your 2012 calendar as a ‘must do’ – you will not be disappointed.

For more on Sail Port Stephens visit the website here

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