Vacation rentals in Nelson Bay

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Top-rated holiday rentals in Nelson Bay

Guests agree: these stays are highly rated for location, cleanliness, and more.

Guest favourite
Guest suite in Nelson Bay
Studio Lu.
Studio Lu is a unique and cozy space and is 800m from Nelson Bay CBD,restaurants,the marina,cafes and clubs.Shoal Bay is less than a 10 min drive. You will have private access to your accomodation and 1 undercover parking space. You have a HD TV with Netflix and a Sony blue-tooth speaker for your use. The adjoining room has a comfy 3 seater lounge,table and chairs. For my guests I offer loose leaf tea,herbal teas and a coffee plunger for some delicious coffee! (Not suitable for pets or kiddies)
23 – 30 May
4.91 out of 5 average rating, 141 reviews
Guest favourite
Guest suite in Nelson Bay
Nelson Bay Garden Suite - Private Entry
Quiet street 15mins walk to shops, restaurants and bay beaches. The ground floor bedrooms of our home converted into a self contained visitors suite. You have a separate entrance from your sunny deck looking out to the street over the front garden. The kitchenette is designed for the convenience of travellers light meal preparation only. Renovated, bathroom with ceiling & floor heating, comfort of 2 ceiling fans,A/Con, WiFi TV, BT speaker, purified water,. Secure screens for breezes.
25 Aug – 1 Sept
4.96 out of 5 average rating, 451 reviews
Guest favourite
Guest suite in Nelson Bay
NelBay Private apartment with great views
Lux very private apartment, great location conveniently between Nelson Bay Town Centre Marina and Salamander Shopping Square with a short walk to Bagnalls and Dutchmans beaches. The balcony overlooks the beautiful Nelson Bay Water, great sunsets and views to the Whispering Bridge at Hawks Nest. Access through a private entry off your own garden giving seclusion and privacy. All new contemporary designed with a spacious bedroom, bathroom and well equipped kitchen, smart TV. and free Wi-Fi.
4 – 11 June
4.95 out of 5 average rating, 191 reviews

Popular amenities for Nelson Bay holiday rentals

Stay near Nelson Bay's top sights

Little Beach Boathouse110 locals recommend
Little Beach Reserve15 locals recommend
Toboggan Hill Park46 locals recommend
Wests Nelson Bay25 locals recommend
D'Albora Marinas61 locals recommend
Gan Gan Lookout52 locals recommend

Other great holiday rentals in Nelson Bay

Guest favourite
Guest suite in Fingal Bay
Accommodation by the sea
16 – 23 Nov
4.97 out of 5 average rating, 190 reviews
Guest favourite
Home in Nelson Bay
WhaleTail at the seaside
31 May – 7 June
4.96 out of 5 average rating, 125 reviews
Guest favourite
Apartment in Corlette
Corlette apartment with 5 min walk to beach.
11 – 18 June
4.89 out of 5 average rating, 264 reviews
Guest favourite
Guest suite in Corlette
Coastal Views - Corlette
19 – 26 May
4.94 out of 5 average rating, 157 reviews
Guest favourite
Apartment in Nelson Bay
Nelson Bay Prime Location - Free NBN Internet
14 – 21 May
4.87 out of 5 average rating, 338 reviews
Guest favourite
Apartment in Shoal Bay
Tranquillity @ Shoal
1 – 8 July
4.91 out of 5 average rating, 205 reviews
Guest favourite
Cabin in One Mile Beach
Treehouse
4 – 11 Jan
4.87 out of 5 average rating, 310 reviews
Guest favourite
Guest suite in Soldiers Point
The Boatshed - Waterfront Studio - Soldiers Point
10 – 17 May
4.92 out of 5 average rating, 142 reviews
Guest favourite
Cottage in Anna Bay
Pet friendly 1 Bedroom surf cottage
5 – 12 Aug
4.86 out of 5 average rating, 225 reviews
Guest favourite
Apartment in Nelson Bay
Poplars Apt - Stunning Views, Aircon, Wifi, Pool
14 – 21 Dec
4.87 out of 5 average rating, 404 reviews
Guest favourite
Home in Anna Bay
"Robyn's Nest Hideaway" - a quiet getaway
9 – 16 July
4.98 out of 5 average rating, 229 reviews
Guest favourite
Home in Shoal Bay
The Still, Shoal Bay
30 Nov – 7 Dec
4.93 out of 5 average rating, 127 reviews

Quick stats about holiday rentals in Nelson Bay

Total rentals

660 properties

Rentals with a pool

150 properties have a pool

Pet-friendly rentals

90 properties allow pets

Family-friendly rentals

580 properties are a good fit for families

Total number of reviews

19K reviews

Nightly prices starting at

$46 AUD before taxes and fees

Your guide to Nelson Bay

Welcome to Nelson Bay

The largest town in the Port Stephens area, an hour’s drive north of Newcastle, buzzy Nelson Bay is a great place to base yourself to explore the delights of this spectacular coastal region surrounding a large natural harbour. From dolphin watching and sunset cruises that depart from Nelson Bay’s d’Albora Marina to working your way around the town’s cafes and restaurants, there’s no lack of fun things to do here.

On the northern edge of town, Fly Point boasts great snorkelling and scuba diving directly offshore. A five-minute drive east of Nelson Bay, Shoal Bay has a protected beach beloved by families. Further east, Tomaree National Park has walking trails and views. Zenith Beach is the first of three stunning beaches carved out of the coastline south of Tomaree Head, with the giant, shifting sand dunes of Stockton Beach to the south offering more opportunities for outdoor adventure within easy reach of Nelson Bay.


The best time to stay in a holiday rental in Nelson Bay

Port Stephens has a comfortably mild climate year-round. The hottest months between December and February are ideal for exploring the region’s 26 beaches, while the cooler spring and autumn are ideal for outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing, sailing, and dune adventures. Late May through August is peak whale-watching season, with Tomaree Head among the best places to take in the annual migration. Yachties descend on Port Stephens in April for the Sail Port Stephens regatta hosted at Nelson Bay’s marina, while seafood lovers flock to Port Stephens each August for the month-long Love Sea Food festival, which offers plenty of fun ways to experience local seafood and connect with local producers and chefs.


Top things to do in Nelson Bay

Dolphins

More than 100 dolphins live in the pristine blue waters of the Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park, with dolphin-watching cruises departing year-round from the d’Albora Marina.

Tomaree Head

Part of Tomaree National Park, Tomaree Head (4.5 kilometres east of Nelson Bay) rises 162 metres above the sea, with its forested peak boasting some of the most superb views of the New South Wales coastline. Enjoy them on the 2.2-kilometre-return Tomaree Head Summit Walk. Also on the headland, the 2.5-kilometre-return Fort Tomaree Walk takes you to the World War II gun emplacements, used in the defence of Australia’s east coast during World War II. Keep your eyes peeled for koalas in the trees en route.

Stockton Beach

Stretching from the southern fringe of Port Stephens down to Newcastle in the south, Stockton Beach’s sand dunes are the largest moving coastal dunes in the Southern Hemisphere. Part of the Worimi Conservation Lands, this incredible natural landscape is culturally significant to the Worimi people, which you can learn more about on an Aboriginal-guided quad biking tour. Four-wheel driving, sandboarding, and fishing adventures are also popular at Stockton.

Destinations to explore