Trip Plan Advice Stockton Area

Submitted: Friday, Aug 27, 2010 at 13:36

ThreadID: 80990 Views:5231 Replies:5 FollowUps:10

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Stockton Beach

Stockton Beach is the 4WD and dune buggy playground capital of Australia. Just 2 hours north of Sydney via the freeway, this huge expanse of sand dune area is open for camping and frolicking.

Stockton Beach

Section: Treks

Stockton beach is the 4WD and dune buggy playground. Just 2 hours north of Sydney via the freeway, this huge expanse of sand dune area is a great place to get some sand driving experience.

Robin Miller

Hi Guys

Looking for some trip planning help on an area I am not familiar with, Stockton beach.

From research so far it looks like points below may be a plan for a midweek trip from Victoria.

Appreciate any advice.

1/ Make trip week after school holidays (october)

2/ Long days drive 1000km+ from Melbourne .
Possible route ->
Melbourne->Albury->Yass->onto M7 then M2 , M1 to avoid Sydney CBD

3/ Unlikely to be a camping trip - expect based at CV park.

4/ Probably stay closer to Newcastle area , presume less crowded than Port Stephens end ?

5/ Is there a place where 4wders are more likely to go ?
Presume no fires at CV park.

(Stockton CV park - looks like you can walk to beach but no car access)

6/ Looks like 4wd access from Lavis lane only ?

7/ Get 3 day pass at local service station (straightforward).

8/ Can you camp overnight on Stockton - camp fire ?

9/ Presume you can drive up/down the 30km beach

10/ Easy/difficult areas.

11/ Areas not allowed - reserved for buggies etc

12/ Any other tips ? (got notes from ExplorOz)

13/ As we like to research things, might look to borrow set of maxtracks for a week from someone in Melb area, to compare with our stuff - I'm sure we can find a place to get bogged.

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Reply By: Member - Tour Boy ( Bundy QLD) - Friday, Aug 27, 2010 at 14:53

Friday, Aug 27, 2010 at 14:53

Hi Robin,
the sand at Stockton is quite soft but the right pressures will see you right.

There was access at Lavis Lane and also west of the caravan park. I haven't been there now for a couple of years but the Port Stephens 4wd tours depart form Anna Bay so I would say that the access is still open.

There are anti tank traps behind the first line of dunes that come out of the sand now and then so watchout for them.

There is a track behind the beach that you can use to travel from Lavis to Anna Bay if you can't use the beach.

You can use the whole beach.

The Lavis end is a state rec area where buggies can be used but AFAIK there are generally no off limit areas except for a 1/2km section of the large dunes at the Anna Bay end (old un exploded ordanance)

You can also access Samuri beach (nth one mile beach) behind Middle Rock Caravan Park (access between the nude resort and the CP) via 4wd thru the bush people ofter camp there at the nth end.That is also a nudie beach if you feel up for it.

Enjoy

Cheers
Dave

Cheers,
Dave
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AnswerID: 428622

Follow Up By: Robin Miller - Friday, Aug 27, 2010 at 16:30

Friday, Aug 27, 2010 at 16:30

Hi Dave

Just wondering which park you were referring to here.
"There was access at Lavis Lane and also west of the caravan park. "

The only map I have at this stage is city navigator - and it doesn't show the good stuff.
It does have a middle rock cv park though which is 3km north east of "One Mile" (town I guess) .

I will have to work out where the nude resort is and see if we can get accidentally lost there whilst driving !

FollowupID: 699344

Reply By: Signman - Friday, Aug 27, 2010 at 15:45

Friday, Aug 27, 2010 at 15:45

I think the Lavis Lane entry/exit is closed (at the moment) for regeneration.
Entry/exit via Anna Bay end.

Good overnight camping, behind a dune down near the 'Sygma' wreck..fires OK.

Pass from servo. at Saltash.

AnswerID: 428627

Follow Up By: Robin Miller - Friday, Aug 27, 2010 at 16:17

Friday, Aug 27, 2010 at 16:17

Ok Signman thanks , I better follow that up.

I hope this thread can help us sort out entry/exit points.

I was just looking at exploroz track plot and if it turns out that Anna bay is only entry point then I wouldn't want to go to CVpark at the other end each day. at

FollowupID: 699342

Follow Up By: Signman - Friday, Aug 27, 2010 at 17:08

Friday, Aug 27, 2010 at 17:08

Robin,
Dunno if you're into aeroplanes- Williamtown airbase is just down the road and a visit to 'Fighter World' is worthwhile.
Also, there is a Jet Air Show (RAAF) there in September !! The new FA18s will be a feature

FollowupID: 699349

Follow Up By: On Patrol & TONI - Friday, Aug 27, 2010 at 19:43

Friday, Aug 27, 2010 at 19:43

Robin

Bays Holiday Pk Anna Bay
is a nice friendly place to stay.

Birubi Beach CV pk is nearer the beach entry point, but has got a bit too big for its boots lately.

Stockton Beach caretakers This site give you all the areas you can access + much more info.

Robin there is nowhere on the beach your vehicle cannot get to with 16 -18 psi and sand driving experience. To be sure though it would be wise to team up with another car on the beach, cos Pobodys Nerfect.

As Signman said the air show is comimg up (Sept 17th 18th) at Williamstown AFB and it will be the very last horrah for the F111s doing their now famous "Dump & Burn"

I will be at Bays CV pk that weekend and I think Mark G will also be coming down from his Nth Coast home for that event.

Good luck with your reserach.

Robin email me (via my profile) and I can reply with some Oz Explore waypoints for you, cheers Colin.

FollowupID: 699377

Follow Up By: Robin Miller - Saturday, Aug 28, 2010 at 08:38

Saturday, Aug 28, 2010 at 08:38

Thanks Colin - I'll miss the show, the F111 's were great , never seen an FA18 , might try are see if I can in mid Oct, perhaps at fighter world as Signman suggests.

Presume thats a place probably near Williamstown/maybe on airbase - good tip.

Just looking at the links you gave, and that small CV park looks nice to.

FollowupID: 699437

Reply By: Member - Jack - Friday, Aug 27, 2010 at 16:37

Friday, Aug 27, 2010 at 16:37

Lavis Lane temporary closure info

From that website ...
"National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Hunter Region Manager Robert Quirk said the work, funded by the sale of the beach vehicle permits, is expected to take 8 weeks from 26 July to 19 September 2010".

Jack

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AnswerID: 428633

Follow Up By: Robin Miller - Friday, Aug 27, 2010 at 18:20

Friday, Aug 27, 2010 at 18:20

Thanks Jack - could be lucky as planning for October.

FollowupID: 699363

Reply By: Dinga16 - Friday, Aug 27, 2010 at 17:10

Friday, Aug 27, 2010 at 17:10

Have a look at these links Very usefull Information

http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/parks/wclBeachDriving.pdf
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/parks/wclBeachDrivingMap.pdf

Cheers

AnswerID: 428639

Follow Up By: Robin Miller - Friday, Aug 27, 2010 at 18:31

Friday, Aug 27, 2010 at 18:31

Thanks Dinga

That second map has me confused - I wonder if someone can help.

I cannot see where normal 4wds can go - if they are recreational vehicles then they can only go for a few km south of lavis lane in the red cross hatched area.

One the other hand beach access is shown at the Anna bay end via a red dotted line which is short and stops in Worimi conservation lands.
This map does not show where 4wds can go and they are not included on the legend.
I would have thought they could go from Anna bay end to Lavis lane , but nothing on that document says this.

Its a worry when you can't figure things out from a government document intended for the area.

FollowupID: 699364

Follow Up By: garrycol - Friday, Aug 27, 2010 at 18:39

Friday, Aug 27, 2010 at 18:39

4wds basically have free range from Anna Bay down to just north of Stockton. RV registered vehicles (ATVs etc) are restricted to the one area.

FollowupID: 699366

Reply By: mikehzz - Saturday, Aug 28, 2010 at 09:50

Saturday, Aug 28, 2010 at 09:50

You can drive almost anywhere as long as it's not covered in vegetation or closed off with witches hats for the rv's. The beach is best done at low tide or it can be heavy going. Personally I like the run through the big dunes. The view from the top is great. There can be some cowboys there, I've seen a few accidents but in general it's a great day out. Apparently they are improving access via Lavis Lane which used to get blocked every now and then by someone bogged and no way round them. Anna Bay entrance is easy and wide.
I've been up there a lot and still found a tag along tour interesting and fun. Something to consider. Mike

AnswerID: 428717

Follow Up By: Robin Miller - Sunday, Aug 29, 2010 at 07:56

Sunday, Aug 29, 2010 at 07:56

Thanks Mike - never done a tag-along , but as going by ourselves it might be a way of learning the area faster.

FollowupID: 699543

Follow Up By: mikehzz - Sunday, Aug 29, 2010 at 10:45

Sunday, Aug 29, 2010 at 10:45

I gave a tag along as a gift to my son for birthday. I went with him and had a great day. I learnt a lot about the area and did some good 4 wheeling with expert help on tap. It was with Vic Widman and was over 6 hours on the dunes. Sometimes it beats aimlessly driving on trackless sand on your own. Mike

FollowupID: 699556