EAST COAST HIDEAWAY
If you were thinking of ideal places to live, you could make a list of the things that appeal. OK, the budget may be limited, so perhaps Bora Bora is out of reach. Anyway, they don't have a Bunnings.
But keeping it real, most of us would choose somewhere not too hot and not too cold as a good start. Near the water would be nice. Long sandy beaches, plenty of good fishing spots, a few top restaurants. Not too far from a big city, but not too crowded. You get the idea.
Well, I might have found the ideal location that ticks all these boxes, and it's only around three hours out of Sydney.
Port Stephens is a natural harbour stretching 24km westward to the mouth of the Karuah River and fronted by the imposing Tamari and Yacaaba Headlands at the entrance. Covering 135 square kilometers and with a boundary of 113km, there is an abundance of secluded places to explore. And yet despite its undeniable charm, the population is only around 35,000 for the entire sprawling area, so it's still uncrowded, especially if you visit in the quieter times away from the peak summer holidays.
Europeans first sighted Port up the Coast in 1770. He named the opening after his mentor Sir Philip Stephens, Secretary to the Admiralty and noted the sheltered stretch of water offered protection from all wind directions. Before that, the Worimi people called it home and for millennia enjoyed the rich bounty of the sea and a mild climate suited to their lifestyle.
