Port Winter Festival revs up visitors past the summer boom

Port Stephens is cementing itself as more than just a summer destination, or a last-ditch autumn run up the coast, as it presents its nine-day 2026 Winter Festival.

The event will offer visitors more than traditional whale watching to fill their itineraries, with food tours, a flashy car show, and plenty of family fun spread throughout the week starting July 10.

A whale-themed flourish will close celebrations when a human whale is formed on Fingal Bay beach on July 19. It celebrates this year's migration and the wonder it brings to the region.

Headlining the event will be the 2026 Port Stephens Car Show on Sunday, July 12, from 10am-3pm. It will transform Nelson Bay foreshore into a sea of hot rods, classics, and exotic wheels.

The event will bring together 400 classic cars, muscle cars, hot rods, custom builds, exotic vehicles, 100 motorcycles and other special displays.

Movie and comic buffs will be pleased to know that Zac Mihajlovic and his 1989 Batmobile will return.

Internationally renowned pilot and Red Bull Air Race World Champion Matt Hall will also appear, performing a spectacular aerial display.

Destination Port Stephens CEO Jo Thomas said winter was an incredibly important period for Port Stephens, as it helped support local businesses outside the traditional summer peak and showcased everything the destination had to offer.

"The latest consumer spend data for May 2026 provides some encouraging signs," she said.

"Visitor trips to Port Stephens increased by 15.3 per cent compared with the same time last year, while total visitor spend grew by 8.7 per cent.

"Importantly, overnight visitation continues to outperform day visitation, which aligns with our strategic focus on attracting higher-value visitors who stay longer and contribute more to the local economy."

Ms Thomas said the data also reflected what they had heard from tourism operators, that people were not spending as much.

"While more people are visiting, average spending per trip isn't increasing at the same pace, with accommodation and restaurant spend remaining softer than other sectors," she said

"Cost-of-living pressures continue to influence visitor behaviour, with many travellers being more conscious of how much they spend while away."

She said people travelling by road continued to underpin the destination, with drivers accounting for more than 80 per cent of visitor expenditure.

"Whale watching is undoubtedly one of the highlights of winter in Port Stephens, but there is so much more on offer," Ms Thomas said.

"Our Awaken Winter's Wild campaign has been encouraging visitors to discover everything from nature experiences and coastal walks to local food, wellness and family activities, including sand dune adventures, helping to drive visitation throughout the season.

"Events such as Port Stephens Winter Festival, including the car show this weekend and the human whale event on the 19th of July, also play a key role.

"They create additional reasons to visit, encourage overnight stays and provide valuable support for accommodation providers, restaurants, retailers and tourism operators during what has traditionally been a quieter time of year.

Newcastle Airport is also forecasting its strongest winter on record, with passenger numbers expected to increase by about 5 per cent compared with winter 2025, representing about 16,000 additional passengers travelling through the airport.

Passenger numbers across June, July and August were each expected to set monthly winter records for Newcastle Airport, making it the busiest winter period in the airport's history.

"The Hunter offers a diverse range of nature-based tourism experiences, and spotting a whale breaching offshore is one of those moments that makes you stop and appreciate the incredible environment we have right here on our doorstep," airport CEO Linc Horton said.

"It's easy to see why visitors travel from across Australia and overseas to experience the annual migration, which continues to be a major drawcard for the Hunter during the winter tourism season."

The Winter Festival is also set to feature plenty of family activities, including a fishing challenge and a Shoal Bay scavenger hunt.

Port Stephens mayor Leah Anderson said the initiative was a fantastic way to create vibrant public spaces and boost off-peak tourism.

"The Shoal Bay scavenger hunt gives families, visitors and locals a wonderful reason to slow down, explore, discover hidden gems and create memories together in one of Port Stephens' most iconic locations, while celebrating and learning about the local environment," Cr Anderson said.

"By encouraging exploration, we're bringing people into our town centres and supporting local businesses. This project highlights council's ongoing investment in initiatives that strengthen community connection and tourism.

"Winter in Port Stephens is already a spectacular time to visit, with whale watching season making a big splash again.

"The Port Stephens Winter Festival program of events gives people even more reasons to stay a little longer and enjoy everything we have to offer.

"That's why Council is proud to support events like this through our Community Funding Program. Great events bring our community together and attract visitors."