If you have a little marine lover in your family, take them to the Port Stephens Marine Creatures: Great and Small exhibit, created by Atlantis Port Stephens, and on display at the Port Stephens Visitor Centre for the month of June.
Located at 60 Victoria Parade, Nelson Bay, the Visitor Centre is open from 9am–4pm Monday to Friday, and 10am–2pm on Saturdays (closed Sundays). Entry to the exhibit is free!
My kids (aged 9 and 11) loved reading the informative posters to learn fun facts about Port Stephens’ marine life, including nudibranchs, whales, sharks, dolphins, little penguins, and seahorses.
Amazing 2D and 3D models showcase the region’s diversity of sea life, including a head and tail model of a juvenile humpback whale, colourful oversized models of nudibranchs, a seahorse and its young, a little penguin display, and more.
Before you leave, be sure to pick up a quiz and colouring sheet from the Visitor Centre counter. Kids can return the completed quiz to claim a small prize.
Plus, you can scan the QR code on the poster at the entrance to learn all about local whales and even see them floating around the centre in Virtual Reality!
We were also lucky enough to catch the first of two educational talks by Matt from Atlantis Port Stephens. The session ran for about an hour and was incredibly fun and engaging for both the kids and adults.
If you missed it, there is a second free talk coming up on Saturday 27 June 2026 from 11am to 12pm. While the talks are free, bookings are absolutely essential to secure a seat.
Give the Port Stephens Visitor Information Centre a call on 4988 0900 to reserve your spot!
Don’t miss the chance to explore the incredible marine life right on our doorstep before this fantastic exhibit leaves at the end of the month. It is the perfect winter-warmer activity for local families, combining education with hands-on fun!
Want more things to do around Nelson Bay? Here’s some inspiration: