The park
The park is an idyllic beachside holiday location just minutes from Newcastle’s CBD. Channel your inner Jamie Oliver in the camp kitchen with ample room for cooking and all the modern necessities, including commercial oven, gas cooktops and fridges. A large rec room offers hours of entertainment if the weather doesn’t co-operate, so you can keep occupied playing pool or the arcade games, and the group seating area and large screen projector is perfect for movie nights or sporting events. And did we mention it’s dog friendly?
The accommodation
There’s a range of cabin options to choose from if you’re travelling light or with the family in tow. The large Shipwreck Villas feature three bedrooms, a full kitchen and sleep seven. (Hot tip: The Sand Dune Villas are perfectly situated for instant beach access.) But if you’re just looking to escape the rat race with your significant other, pack up the tent or the caravan, and choose from any of the 177 perfectly positioned powered and unpowered tent and van sites and enjoy all of the amenities that a top Newcastle caravan park has to offer.
The neighbourhood
Stockton was known to the local Worimi Aboriginal peoples as “Burrinbingon”, which roughly translates to “the land of plenty”. With the abundance of oysters, pipis and all manner of fish species in the water, along with the variety of wildlife that can be spotted in the forest, it’s easy to see why. The more adventurous can tackle the nearby sand dunes in one of three ways: 4WD, quad bike, or on a board – the choice is yours. Stockton Beach also offers great surf right up and down the 36km stretch of coast. Beginners and kids alike can get to grips in the protected curve of the coastline in front of the park, while those looking for more challenging breaks can head further up the beach. If you take the short ferry ride into Newcastle city centre for a night on the town, Darby Street is the place to be. Have your pick from any number of fantastic cafes and restaurants to break out from the snags and salad rut: just make sure you leave room for a late night Coco Monde delicacy.