Jimmy’s Beach is located at Hawks Nest on the northern side of Port Stephens (approx. 232 km / 2:30 drive from Sydney).

The sailing area is inside the bay and is protected by a long sand spit and provides superb flat-water-blasting in a NE breeze (side-off-shore) and great bump-and-jump in a SW’er (SE & S also work).

This spot works in all directions apart from N to NW and W can be gusty.

The water is very clean and the bottom sandy making for beautiful blue water.

Depending on swell direction there can be a decent sized rolling wave that works in the bay between Fly Point (Nelson’s Bay side) and Jimmy’s Beach making for some fun swell riding.

The best time to sail here is in the warmer months when the NE sea breeze is active as winter can be hit and miss.

Potential Hazards

Be aware of the out-going tide if you sail out into the middle of Port Stephens. If the wind drops you may find yourself being swept out to sea with the current.

Kitesurfers should only sail here in on-shore southerly breezes.

Also be conscious of sharks in the area.

Not a threat but plenty of dolphins and the odd whale in the bay as well.

Access, Rigging & Launching

The best spot to rig and launch for Jimmy’s Beach is from behind the Jimmy’s Beach Holiday Park.

There is a public car park behind the park with a kids playground, public toilets, showers and a nice grassy rigging area.

Launching is off a nice sandy beach.

Gear to Use

The ideal gear here is freeride/slalom gear with a bit of volume 100+ litres (particularly in the NE breeze) with sails up to 8 metres and below.

A smaller freewave/wave board would be more ideal in a strong southerly breeze.

Where To Stay

If you want to spend a bit of time at Jimmy’s Beach, you would do best to stay in Hawks Nest as it is a long way around from Nelson Bay and Port Stephens.

Alternatively you could stay on the other side of the bay and sail across each day but you risk the wind dying out and getting stuck or worst still sucked out through the heads.

If camping / holiday parks are your thing, Jimmy’s Beach Holiday Park is almost right on the beach at the main launching area. They have powered, unpowered sites and cabins as well and the camping sites are dog friendly.

This is a beautiful spot with great safe swimming in the bay and a patrolled surf beach at Bennett’s Beach just a couple of kilometres away.

In the bay dolphins come in close to the beach and you can usually spot dingo’s and kangaroos.

There is a small village centre about 10 mins walk from the holiday park with and IGA, bottle shop, bakery and cafe’s / restaurants.