Experiences & Extras

Make the most of your stay

Fishing, tee times, trail rides, beach 4WD adventures, a day among the Hunter Valley vineyards, or a massage without leaving the house. Tell us what you'd like and we'll organise it, or point you straight to the people we trust.

Things to do Extras & services

Things to do

Activities we can
organise for you

Everything below is close to Drift. We can book it for you ahead of time, or give you our local contacts so you can book direct.

A big flathead caught off the beach near Drift, Tea Gardens

Our favourite pastime

Fishing

Fishing is what this stretch of coast does best. Cast for flathead, whiting and bream in the Myall River, try your luck straight off the beach, or chase tailor and salmon in the surf at Hawks Nest. Tell us when you're coming and we'll point you to the best spots for the tides, plus where to get local bait and tackle.

A NSW recreational fishing licence is required for anyone 18 or over. It takes a few minutes to buy online.

We can help with: best spots and tides · bait and tackle · licence info

On the course

Golf

Hawks Nest Golf Club is a few minutes' drive away, set between the river and the national park. The resident kangaroos on the fairways are part of the charm.

We can help with: tee times · club hire · group bookings

Dolphin surfacing beside a boat on Port Stephens

In the wild

Wildlife tours

Dolphin cruises on Port Stephens, whale watching in season (roughly May to November), and guided walks through Myall Lakes National Park. See the Wildlife gallery for who you might meet.

We can help with: cruise bookings · guided walks · best spots and timing

Heading out by boat past the sand dunes near Hawks Nest

On the water

Fishing charters

Head offshore from Nelson Bay with an experienced skipper, or keep it relaxed on the Myall River chasing flathead, bream and whiting. Charters supply the gear, bait and know-how.

We can help with: offshore and river charters · half and full days

Friends with their 4WDs on the beach near Hawks Nest

On the sand

Beach 4WD driving

Let the tyres down and head for Stockton Bight, home to the largest moving coastal sand dunes in the Southern Hemisphere. Join a guided dune tour, or bring your own 4WD (a beach driving permit is required).

We can help with: guided dune tours · beach permit info · where to air down

Wine tasting glasses at a Hunter Valley cellar door

Day trip

Hunter Valley wine tasting

Australia's oldest wine region is under two hours' drive from Drift. Spend a day tasting at cellar doors with lunch among the vines, with a private driver so nobody draws the short straw behind the wheel.

We can help with: private tours · cellar door itineraries · transfers

White pony on the beach near Port Stephens

In the saddle

Horse riding

Trail rides through coastal bush and along the beach around Port Stephens. Options suit complete beginners through to confident riders, and there are gentle rides for kids.

We can help with: beach and bush trail rides · family groups

Extras & services

Book before you arrive,
or once you're here

Little things that make a big stay easier. Let us know what you'd like when you book, or any time during your stay.

Getting here & around

Private car transfers

Door-to-door transfers to and from Newcastle Airport, Nelson Bay and the Hunter Valley. You arrive relaxed and can leave the car keys on the bench.

At the table

In-house catering

From a private chef for a celebration dinner to catered meals for a big group, so everyone can sit at the long table and nobody's stuck at the stove.

Unwind

In-home massage & pampering

Mobile massage therapists and beauty treatments come to you at Drift. Book it for a girls' weekend, a birthday, or simply the last afternoon of a big week.

Free

Nights out

Courtesy bus

A free courtesy bus runs to the Country Club, the local pub and the Golf Club, so everyone can enjoy a night out without a designated driver.

Local favourite

Straight from the river

Myall River oysters & seafood on arrival

The Myall River is oyster country. We can have freshly shucked local oysters and prawns waiting in the fridge when you arrive, for a first-night feast on the deck as the sun goes down over the river.

Most activities and services are run by trusted local operators, and you pay them directly. Some book out in peak season, so let us know early.

Tell us what you'd like when you enquire or book, and we'll take care of the rest.

Make an enquiry Check availability

Activities we can organise for you