Fulltime Vanlife in Port Stephens, Australia

Starting off in Anna Bay, waking up before the sunrise to wander around the rocks. from there, moving further up the coast, dropping in to fisherman's Bay and Boat Harbour. Followed a walking track out the back of Boat Harbour to a slot canyon and then on to Morna Point. Spotted a few whales off the coast.
Lunch was in a carpark overlooking Little Beach before getting ready to make the hike out to Fingal Island. Access to the island is at low tide only via a spit, but did I make it or fail?
Later was a stop at Zenith Beach to watch the waves for a while before settling in for the night in a sports ground.
Next day was a visit to Fly Point and a walk around the Nelson Bay Native Gardens. The afternoon was time for a bike ride around Shoal Bay, Mt Tomaree, along the Shoal Bay East Trail to Fingal Bay.
The evenings activities included grocery shopping and a visit to Gan Gan Lookout just after sunset.
Keep an ear open for some of my vanlifer tips, recommendations and general experiences throughout the video.
About me:
My name's Jason. Never one to miss an opportunity to have more fun in my life, after 25 years of working as a Mechanical Engineer, I took a redundancy, moved out of my house and started living full time in my self converted Ford Transit campervan. I pass my days mountain biking, bush walking and generally exploring the beautiful natural attractions that Australia has to offer.
Solo Fulltime Vanlife vlog
Chapters:
0:00 Sunrise in Anna Bay
2:05 Fishermans Bay
2:25 Boat Harbour
3:13 Morna Point Walking Track
6:11 Whale watching
7:30 Lunch at Little Beach
8:00 Fingal Island Walk
12:09 Zenith Beach
12:45 Dinner
13:38 Wake up
14:47 Van Condensation
17:10 Water search
18:17 Port Stephens Flora Garden
19:50 Little Beach
20:23 Shoal Bay bike ride
23:57 Lazy afternoon
25:40 Gan Gan Lookout

[@LoveLiveCruise]

I’m enjoying your adventures. I would love to see a complete van tour.

[@MakingStuffGoingPlaces]

Thanks. I'm reluctant to do a van tour as it's just not finished yet....but who knows when that will happen 😂

[@zwarst]

Gan Gan look out looks like a photographers sun set dream.

[@MakingStuffGoingPlaces]

Only problem is deciding which way to point you're camera. Looks amazing in every direction 😁

[@marktull1849]

Welcome to PortStephens

[@MakingStuffGoingPlaces]

Thanks! Beautiful place 😊

[@Lisa-qe8hw]

Hey Mr Blue, thanks for sharing your adventures with everyone. I have been using a product called Rain x for years now to prevent fog on my windscreen, goggles and helmet visor. It works really well 😊.

[@MakingStuffGoingPlaces]

Thanks Lisa 😊 I tried Rain X once ...I think I got a free bottle when they first started selling it over 30 years ago 😂 I should probably give it another go.

[@amandalee7783]

Great suggestion Lisa. Rain X works really well for me too. Inside and outside screen.

[@DropBear69]

Rain-X make a specific product for anti-fog, so that would be the go-to, not the regular Rain-X for exterior glass. A proven DIY method is to use a basic white toothpaste. Wipe a thin layer on the screen, allow to dry, then buff off.

[@TempyBuilds]

So many wonderful views, the beach was just WOW ! I would love to visit that place , we saw so much in this video, forest views , beach views and wildlife , those little birds where so sweet , thank you so much, another great video

[@MakingStuffGoingPlaces]

Thank you! I spent a lot of time just sitting by the water there...a very relaxing place. Definitely worth a visit if you ever have the chance.

[@simmosays]

Thank you for sharing, really good stuff.

[@MakingStuffGoingPlaces]

Thank you very much 😊

[@stevematalone2512]

Unfortunately the fingal banks are washed out ATM and there was a decent size shark patrolling area last week. Safe travels. There's water tap for vans down near the cruise booking centre carpark near bbqs opposite toilet block side.

[@MakingStuffGoingPlaces]

Thanks! I actually found heaps more taps around once I rode my bike around town a few times, which is helpful. Shame about the spit to the island. I considered taking the kayak over there, but a little risky in such open waters.

[@Julia-lo5uq]

Hi Jason. I just wanted to thank you for your insights on our inverter issues. I get the impression that you're often anxious about finding a place to sleep overnight legally, so I looked into the regulations about sleeping in vehicles. I found this information regarding sleeping in vehicles overnight. As a general rule, sleeping in your car is legal in NSW as long as you are legally parked and there are no local council by-laws that prohibit it. NSW Local Government Act 1993 Section 632 (Obstructions and encroachments on public places): This section of the Act allows councils to regulate and manage the use of public places, including streets. Councils can make orders to prevent obstructions or encroachments, which could include restrictions on sleeping in vehicles if deemed necessary for public safety or amenity. I also checked Port Stephens Council for by-laws and found that Port Stephens Council does not have specific regulations against sleeping in cars mentioned in their published guidelines or FAQs. Hope this helps a little ☺

[@MakingStuffGoingPlaces]

Very useful info, Julia, thanks. I did do a search on Port Stephens council and also came up with nothing saying you can't. A lot of my anxiety about finding places disappears after being in a town for a few days. Once you get time to look around, you start to see opportunities 😁

[@Psalm23bytheSea]

Nice video, enjoy watching with my morning coffee ☕️ and where its warm 😂

[@MakingStuffGoingPlaces]

Yeah, it's a little cool! I was very lucky up there though, over 20 degrees almost every day, even if it was only for a few hours in the afternoon.

[@misstracyatkins9874]

Hello I'm from / live in Newcastle I really enjoy watching your videos, loved your footage of Newy, it's weird a place I grew up in and so many places ive never been especially the light house at Nobby's safe travels 😊

[@MakingStuffGoingPlaces]

Glad you enjoyed it, Tracy. I think you always find more in a town when you go there specifically to look around. Pretty sure there would be some great spots there to find. 😊

[@chrisharrigan2613]

Hey Jason, looks like you are having a blast. If you ever make it up to the Sunshine Coast, pop in and say hi

[@MakingStuffGoingPlaces]

Thanks Chris. Wish I was up there in the warmth! Hopefully soon.

[@SeanC1959]

Great video Jason. I commented earlier but mustn't have hit the comment icon. Anyway this video brings back a heap of memories of good times had in that area. Back in September of 1996 a group of us took of from Fingal Bay Beach and crossed the spit (which you were unable to walk across) and paddled to Broughton Island. We camped there for a week and had a great time. There is a cruise boat that does day cruises to the island. Could be worth checking out. Cheers, Sean.

[@MakingStuffGoingPlaces]

Wow! Paddling to Broughton Island is a fair effort, though I dare say you have kayaks that were a little more efficient than mine 😂 I'll have a look for the cruise and see if I can work it in. Sounds awesome!

[@SeanC1959]

@@MakingStuffGoingPlaces Moonshadow cruises Jason. Yes the kayaks we used were Tasman 19 (19 feet) sea kayaks. very big and stable with bulkheads, bilge pumps etc. Always the adventure and scary - had a shark attack the rudder on one kayak (During a 2007 trip - may last tour)

[@MakingStuffGoingPlaces]

😳 shark attacking the kayak! Ok, definitely not taking the inflatable!! 😂 Just looked at Moonshadow. Their prices are too ridiculous which is good. I might even see if I can get on one of their whale watching cruises. Thanks for the info, Sean😊

[@SeanC1959]

@@MakingStuffGoingPlaces No worries Jason. The Moonshadow prices aren't too bad for what you get. As for taking the inflatable kayak to Broughton Island, it's a really long haul from Fingal Bay to the island. 4-6 hours in the big kayaks non stop paddling. Cheers, Sean.

[@Beeannks]

Yay you’re in my town. If I see your blue van around I’ll give you have wave 😄 I don’t think you’ll have any issues sleeping overnight here. I see a lot of other campers do it. There’s a spot across from Harbourside haven in shoal bay at the beach you would be fine staying overnight. A lot of staff park there overnight too

[@MakingStuffGoingPlaces]

Thanks for the tips! I've already left town now,but keep an eye out in the future. I'll definitely be back at some point.

[@fatmanoverlanding]

Bugger you couldn't get across the spit. The spit at Fingal Bay on some years, even at low tide it's still under water, and on others, always exposed (even at high tide). I'm not sure if it is still allowed now, but in our teens in the 90s, we used to camp on Fingal Island during the warmer months - typically around the lighthouse where there are flat grassy areas. The Fly Point dive site is also a marine reserve, and there are always plenty of fish in there. Looking back at it now, I definitely took the natural beauty that surrounded me for granted while growing up in the area. I never truly appreciated the various choices of beaches we had. Seeing it here, made me appreciate how lucky I was. Thank goodness my folks still live there. So I still have a strong connection to the area. Though despite growing up there, I don't think the locals will still consider me a local (even if my folks still live there), since I moved out to Sydney after uni.

[@MakingStuffGoingPlaces]

I'll have to try Fingal island again later in the year. With the amount of beach erosion I've seen just in the last few months even, I wonder if might become a permanent island. What a great place to grow up though. I don't think you took it for granted, sounds like you made the most of it but just didn't realise how nice it is compared to other places.

[@fatmanoverlanding]

@@MakingStuffGoingPlaces You'll be surprised how the spit behaves. It all goes down to the water currents. In some years, the currents shifts a lot of sand onto it.and it builds up. Then in some, the current takes it away. I've never monitored it the frequency of this. But it would be good to find a historical chart somewhere when the spit is exposed vs underwater.

[@MakingStuffGoingPlaces]

@fatmanoverlanding I guess I'll have to wait and see....or get a shark bite proof kayak so I can paddle over there.

[@amandalee7783]

Thanks for sharing this trip Jason. Did you get to summit Mt Tomaree? Great spot for sunrise/sunset

[@MakingStuffGoingPlaces]

Haha....spoiler alert....another video to come 😉

[@joannewilson6847]

Great video and photography. Shame you were unable to walk across the spit at Fingal Bay. I was lucky enough growing up to spend time at Fingal. My dad would have the family of six kids swim train in the rock pool found at the top of the headland and following the trail down to the rock pool passing through Barry’s reserve. The old shack and outside dunnie was the pride and joy of Noel Crozier for decades until sold and there now stands a modern home with the slanting roof design that was on the original shack. Oh the memories of Fingal. Beautiful beach and lovely people. Not to sure about metered car parking,should maintain open spaces for car parking and van life. I have begun experiencing vanlife in my van, in WA. I know I will come across treasures like you have with pPort Stephens and Fingal Bay. Safe travels.

[@MakingStuffGoingPlaces]

Love that, Joanne. Thanks for sharing! 😊 I'd like to get to WA one day.

[@sallyb1433]

Great video. A few spots I haven’t been before. Shame you couldn’t get across to the island. Did you end up making it eventually? I’ve wondered whether or not you can get away with sleeping in the van at Port Stephens. Will have to give it a go.

[@MakingStuffGoingPlaces]

Thanks Sally. No, didn't make it across the spit. Just too deep. You should definitely head up there. Plenty of places to sleep overnight and it's one of those places that just makes you want to sit back and relax 😁

[@jomorgan48]

Could you let me know how you find all these interesting places? Do you search via the internet, information centres or maps. I'm wanting to do similar but need more knowledge. Thank you in advance.

[@MakingStuffGoingPlaces]

I use Google maps mostly, plus my Facebook feed has a lot of tourism information coming in to it. With Google Maps, I turn on satellite view to see if there is anything that looks interesting, plus look at pictures that people have posed in the maps. Anything with a photo icon is worth looking at.

[@jomorgan48]

@@MakingStuffGoingPlaces Thank you for the hints.

[@vietdaniel]

hey mate how many solar panels u have on top ya van, and how many kilometres on ya odometer

[@MakingStuffGoingPlaces]

I've got 5 X 120W panels. I bought the van new, so still very low mileage. 15k km. If you go back in my videos list, I have build videos for the van if you're interested, including the solar system.

[@vietdaniel]

@@MakingStuffGoingPlaces great mate, yes im new to your channel i been watching them for past 2 days , very interesting.. i want to do my own van build one day and be on the road like u.

[@MakingStuffGoingPlaces]

@vietdaniel sounds like an excellent goal to have! It's certainly a great way to live 😁

[@vietdaniel]

@@MakingStuffGoingPlaces yeh mate . whats your average monthly spend on fuel/food/living operation to be on the road ?

[@MakingStuffGoingPlaces]

It's complicated to break it all down. I'll try to do a video on the cost one day, but I'm living on about $300 per week, including rego and insurance.

[@coral8313]

Sadly the paid parking has only just been a few months yeah you’d be shark bait on the spit ,if I see you out about my area I’ll give you a wave

[@MakingStuffGoingPlaces]

I'll definitely be back there at some point. Make sure you say hello if you see me 😊

[@coral8313]

@@MakingStuffGoingPlaces will do Ive just got back home was away outback Gulgong you’ve probably moved on now wouldn’t come in peak season unless you camp in lemon tree passage it’s another pretty spot little quieter I lived over that way a few years ago

[@MakingStuffGoingPlaces]

@coral8313 yeah, I will avoid the area during school holidays! 😁 I want to have a look at Lemon Tree Passage. Haven't been there yet.

[@coral8313]

@@MakingStuffGoingPlaces there’s the board walk & another shorter walk in tanilba bay great for the kayak

[@MakingStuffGoingPlaces]

@coral8313 Nice, thanks. I've mark that on my map now 😊

[@DropBear69]

Hi Jason. I recently found your channel and have watched quite a few of your travelling vids. You do an awesome job mate - great stuff! You're living the type of life I'd love to live if I had half a chance (and the $'s to do so). Cheers.

[@MakingStuffGoingPlaces]

Thanks mate! Yeah, it took a lot of committed saving to get to this point and I wasn't sure if it would be possible, but working out great for now 😁