Port Stephens: 4WD Beach & Sandboarding on Stockton Dunes

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.76 (124 reviews) 89% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationExcellent quality

1/9

Duration1h

GroupUp to 19

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Sand between your toes, then a board under your feet

You walk Birubi Beach with a guide who teaches you to find pipis, then drive into the Stockton dunes for unlimited sandboarding runs. Water and boards are included, and the air-conditioned vehicle picks you up between slides. Plan for half a day and bring sunscreen—the reflection off the sand is intense.

Step-by-step itinerary

4WD tour and sandboarding adventure

Join 4WD tour guide
Drive down Birubi beach
Search for pipis
Learn sand dune ecosystem history
Finish in high dunes
Enjoy unlimited sandboarding

The Experience

So yeah, you're rolling down Birubi Beach in a 4WD with a guide who actually knows the place—not just the talking points. The first part is low-key: you walk the shoreline, feel the sand, and the guide stops to show you how to spot and dig for pipis, these little shellfish that locals have been pulling from Port Stephens for ages. It's the kind of thing that sounds simple until someone shows you the trick, and then you're actually finding them. The beach itself is the backdrop for photos, but it's also where you learn how the dune ecosystem works—why the sand moves the way it does, what's been happening here over time.

Then the 4WD heads inland and up into the Stockton Beach Sand Dunes, which is legitimately the largest moving coastal sand mass in the Southern Hemisphere. No exaggeration needed there. You get unlimited sandboarding—meaning you're not on a timer, not rationed to three runs. You take a board, climb, slide, climb again, however many times you want. The dunes are steep enough that it matters, but the guide's been doing this long enough that they know which slopes work for different people. The air-conditioned vehicle waits between runs, so you're not walking back up in the heat.

The whole thing is half a day, which means you're not committing your entire schedule to sand and sun. Bottled water is included, so you're not buying it at a markup. The sandboards come with the tour—you show up, get in the vehicle, and the logistics are handled. Infants can come along in a pram or stroller on the beach part, though the dune runs are obviously rougher. If you've got spinal issues or you're pregnant, this one's not the fit—the 4WD and the sandboarding involve impact and movement that don't work for everyone.

What’s included

Your half-day includes pickup in an air-conditioned 4WD vehicle, a guided walk along Birubi Beach where your guide shows you how to find pipis and explains the dune ecosystem, unlimited sandboarding runs on the Stockton Beach Sand Dunes, sandboards for each participant, and bottled water throughout. All fees and taxes are included.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Port Stephens 4WD Tours

Is this one for you?Right for travelers who want a mix of beach walking and active play without a full-day commitment. The sandboarding is unlimited and suited to all fitness levels, though the 4WD ride and repeated climbing involve physical movement that rules it out for those with spinal injuries or cardiovascular concerns.