Some holidays are measured in swims. At Ramada Resort by Wyndham Shoal Bay in New South Wales, you can wander straight from the resort to the sand, retreat to a lagoon-style pool when you fancy a change of scene, then decide what’s for dinner at Shoal Bay Country Club. Add apartment-style space and the trails of Tomaree Head nearby, and your coastal itinerary practically writes itself.
1. From the coast to the pool, there’s always time for a swim
Find out why Shoal Bay’s beaches have put it on the map. You’re just moments from Shoal Bay Beach’s calmer waters that are perfect for swimming, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding, while up the coast Tomaree Head frames the view from the eastern end.
Back at the resort, its centrepiece is a lagoon-style outdoor pool complete with children’s wading area. Take a seat on a cabana under an umbrella to beat the heat of the day, then dive into the refreshing waters when you need to cool off. There’s also a heated indoor lap pool and three heated spas, so a change in weather doesn’t mean you have to dry off.
2. Apartment-style stays give you more room to do your own thing
From studios to three-bedroom suites, there’s truly a stay for every group. Inside, tidal-inspired artworks, teak-wood furnishings and a coastal colour palette of deep blues, greens and greys bring the sea to you.
Certain suites have separate living and dining areas, a kitchen or kitchenette and a balcony that overlooks the bay or verdant gardens. For families, the Three Bedroom Deluxe Bayview suite is a match made in heaven with a full kitchen, living and dining rooms, and enough bedrooms for the whole tribe to spread out.
3. Shoal Bay Country Club brings several dinner plans within reach
With Ramada Resort by Wyndham Shoal Bay having direct access to Shoal Bay Country Club’s adjoining dining precinct, every night can take a different direction depending on the mood. Mermaids Cafe serves coffee, pastries and breakfast by the bay, while upstairs, The Patio pairs King Ora Salmon with fried chicken, poke bowls and a side of Shoal Bay Beach vistas.
For a longer meal, Atmos serves Greek mezedes alongside calamari and kingfish dishes designed for sharing, plus ice-cold cocktails whenever you desire. East Pavilion adds a menu of everyone’s favourite Asian dishes, from sticky pork belly to silken tofu with shiitake mushrooms. Wander over and decide what suits the evening: a casual bite, a long lunch that runs late, or dinner that brings everyone together.
4. Sirene Spa and the indoor pool are worth setting time aside for
Back at the resort, Sirene Spa offers facials, massage and beauty treatments, leaving room to set aside an hour or two for yourself between beach time and dinner. Its menu includes options such as a Rose Quartz Spa Facial and hot-stone massage.
Who says you need to leave the resort to spend a day in the water? Alongside the spa is the indoor pool and heated spas take every treatment to another level: swim some laps, then soak the day away.
5. Find a new angle on the bay, on foot or by bike
Tomaree Head Summit Walk starts nearby in the Tomaree National Park. The 2.2-kilometre return track is steep and graded as challenging, but the lookout rewards the climb with views across Port Stephens, offshore islands and the coastline. Allow around 90 minutes to two hours and bring water and sturdy shoes.
For a gentler outing, Fort Tomaree’s paved path passes Second World War gun emplacements on the lower slopes. Or hire a bicycle in nearby Nelson Bay and explore the foreshore at a more leisurely pace.
