Port Stephens

Port Stephens, an open youthful tide dominated drowned valley estuary, is a large natural harbour of approximately located in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia.Port Stephens lies within the Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park and is situated about 160km north-east of Sydney. The harbour lies wholly within the local government area of Port Stephens; although its northern shoreline forms the boundary between the Port Stephens and Mid-Coast local government areas.According to the 2006 Census, more than people lived within 3km of its 113km long shoreline and more than lived within 10km.GeographyPort Stephens is formed through the confluence of the Myall and Karuah rivers, Tilligerry Creek, and the Tasman Sea of the South Pacific Ocean. The lower port has a predominantly marine ecology and the upper port an estuarine ecology. The area to the east of Port Stephens comprises the Tomago/Tomaree/Stockton sand beds.