Sit-Down Boards Only

Port Stephens 4WD Tours drives you out onto the Stockton Bight sand hills, hands you a board, and the sliding runs as long as your legs hold up. Plan on one to two hours at the dunes. Rated 4.4 from 139 reviews.

Overview

Every board on this tour stays horizontal. Port Stephens 4WD Tours strictly forbids standing up on its sandboards, so the whole session is seated sliding. You start at Anna Bay Lower Carpark on James Paterson Street, where the off-road vehicles take over and drive you up and over the coastal dunes of Stockton Beach.

Once you reach the sliding area, guides give a safety briefing and instructions before anyone heads down a slope. The dunes here form part of the largest moving coastal sand dune system in the southern hemisphere, and the tour gives you unlimited sandboarding time within the session, so you can keep climbing back up and riding down for as long as your legs allow. Board hire, instruction, supervision and the return 4WD transfer are all part of the package, along with a bottle of water and the National Parks levy.

The whole experience runs between one and two hours and finishes back at the same carpark. The listing states it is suitable for all ages and that most travellers can participate. It runs in all weather, so dress for the day you get. Hotel pickup and drop-off is not included, so you make your own way to Anna Bay.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at Anna BayMake your own way to Anna Bay Lower Carpark on James Paterson Street, Anna Bay NSW 2316. Hotel pickup and drop-off is not included.
2. 4WD ride to the dunesBoard the operator's off-road 4WD vehicles for the drive up the coastal sand dunes of Stockton Beach.
3. Safety briefingGuides give a safety briefing and instructions before anyone starts sandboarding.
4. Unlimited seated sandboardingSlide down the dunes with unlimited sandboarding time during the session. Standing on the boards is strictly not allowed.
5. Return transfer and finishThe 4WD takes you back to the meeting point at Anna Bay Lower Carpark, where the activity ends. Total duration is 1 to 2 hours.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points from the listing and recent reviews will help you prepare for the session.

• Dress for the weather. The tour operates in all weather conditions, so the listing asks you to dress appropriately for the day.
• Seated sliding only. The operator strictly does not allow standing up on the boards. All sliding is done sitting down, which is one reason the activity works for all ages.
• Pace it yourself. Sandboarding time is unlimited within the session, so you control how many runs you do. Reviews mention choices for all levels of experience and thrills, and one group said they managed lots of slides.
• Getting there. Hotel pickup and drop-off is not included. You need to arrange your own transport to the Anna Bay Lower Carpark on James Paterson Street.
• Staff on the dunes. The tour runs with a maximum of 20 travellers. Reviewers described the guides on the dunes as great, helpful and accommodating.
• Water provided. A complimentary bottle of water is included, along with board hire, instruction, supervision, the 4WD return transfer and the National Parks levy.

Common issues. The listing flags a few limits worth knowing before you book. The activity is not wheelchair accessible and is not recommended for pregnant travellers. Standing on the sandboards is strictly prohibited, so anyone hoping for stand-up boarding should look elsewhere. Weather can affect the experience: the operator runs in all conditions and asks you to dress appropriately, and if the tour is cancelled due to poor weather you are offered a different date or a full refund.

Picking Your Dune Tour