About Us

Nestled over 5 acres of beachfront property, Shoal Bay Resort & Spa encompasses over 200 luxurious self-contained apartments, villas and suites ideal for holidays, getaways, weekend breaks, conferences and events.

Shoal Bay Resort & Spa lies on the white sands of Shoal Bay, by the entrance to Port Stephens, overlooking the magnificent volcanic headlands and spectacular bay and surrounding area. Boasting crystal clear waterways, white sandy beaches and extensive National Parks with unspoiled bushland, Shoal Bay is certainly one of New South Wales’ best kept secrets…

Shoal Bay Resort & Spa is the rebirth of the historic Country Club Hotel, a legendary Australian icon on the East Coast and a popular holiday getaway of visitors to Port Stephens. Recent restoration and refurbishments have resulted in the award winning 4½ star Shoal Bay Resort & Spa encompassing four restaurants, five bars, $5.5 million day spa and three swimming pools, all set on a stunning beachfront location

Just over two hours drive from Sydney, or 30 minutes from Newcastle Airport, with direct flights operating from Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Coolangatta and Brisbane. Shoal Bay is located next to Nelson Bay, Port Stephens.

For your convenience - The Resort has a concierge desk that will be able to help with all matters relating to your stay. They can book local activities, assist with bus transfers & book dinner for any of our outlets. Resort Reception is open 24 hours for all late night enquiries.

Undercover Security Parking - All bookings include undercover security parking for one car space. Please enquire with reservations if you have a boat / larger vehicle so we can make arrangements.

Our team are delighted to help ensure your Port Stephens holiday is a success

History

Shoal Bay Resort & Spa is the rebirth of the historic Shoal Bay Country Club Hotel - the first building to grace the bay when built in 1934, a legendary Australian icon on the East Coast and a popular holiday memory of visitors to Port Stephens. Recent restoration and refurbishments have resulted in the award winning 4½ star Shoal Bay Resort & Spa encompassing four restaurants, five bars, $5.5 million Aqua Spa and three swimming pools, all set on a stunning beachfront location.

The Country Club Hotel began as a fishing club for the Port Stephens area and in the late 1930's accommodation rooms were added as club members began using it for holidays.

It became one of the first resort style establishments and the introduction of the swimming pool in 1956 provided a rare amenity. The Randall family purchased the hotel from the founders just after WWII and owned the hotel for over 40 years. They later astutely purchased the surrounding properties to the hotel - their vision for the future was for the hotel to become a major tourist haven. Their vision is complete.

In December 2004 the final stage of rebuilding the Shoal Bay Country Club Hotel was complete with the opening of the Heritage Apartments. Utilising restored timber from the original building, the apartments capture the essence of what the Country Club Hotel was, and is today, Shoal Bay Resort & Spa. Today it is one of the best accommodation resorts in the Port Stephens and Nelson Bay area.

Captain Cook - Sailing through calm seas along the coast of Australia it was Captain Cook who sighted and named Point Stephens and the small inlet to its north Port Stephens on the 11th May 1770. The name was chosen in honor of Sir Phillip Stephens who was at the time secretary to the Admiralty. Although our beautiful sandy bays would provide shelter for many ships traveling this route during treacherous weather, it was not until 1795 that further survey of the area was taken. It was Charles Grimes, Deputy Surveyor, sent by Governor Paterson who carried out this first survey. His report however was far from favorable and so neither further official exploration nor survey of the area was taken until 1801.

This period between surveys was not however without event, for when Captain Broughton of the HMS Providence came to port to escape bad weather he discovered 4 escaped convicts. Accounts of this amazing story of survival vary but it is thought that 5 convicts (one perishing before rescue) escaped from Parramatta in a small flat bottom boat then later stole a sailing boat and set a heading northward. During their voyage they encountered bad weather that pushed them into our Port. They landed upon a beach and were discovered by a local Aboriginal tribe. Upon their rescue by Captain Broughton they told of the kindness of their hosts who had protected, cared for them and even provided them with wives. Unfortunately no personal accounts from these 4 convicts have been found. So it was 6 years later in 1801 when a thorough exploration and survey of the Hunter River was made by the "Lady Nelson" a ship that would again visit our shores in 1812 carrying Governor Macquarie who was in search of a suitable location for port north of Sydney. It is thought that on this visit Governor Macquarie named Shoal Bay because of its many sandy shoals.

It was during his last year of tenure in 1824 that Governor Macquarie granted Captain William Cromarty "more or less 300 acres" at Soldier's Point and Salamander Bay, during this same year the Australian Agricultural Company came into being and by Royal Charter was granted one million acres of land in New South Wales, some of which was located in the Port Stephens area. Thus began the steady European settlement and development of Port Stephens.

European Settlement - Port Stephens may now be known as a world class tourism destination but this has not always been the region's destiny, from the earliest European surveys, the area has come under consideration for grandiose plans. Governor Macquarie considered it for the location of a major deep sea Port. After the federation of Australia in 1901 many sites were considered for the new capital city of Australia including Port Stephens. Then in 1911 during the Decentralistion Commission, charts and surveys of the area were used to again consider the Port's suitability as a deepwater port. This time a comprehensive plan was developed proposing land based developments required for the establishment of a port to serve the export needs of northern NSW including a public works plan showing a railway link from Thornton to Salamander Bay. It was even envisaged that Port Stephens could be used to provide relief to the congested Newcastle port. Australia's commitments in World War I saw funding and focus turn to strengthening of the Australian Navy and as part of this plan the Federal Government acquired 1250hectares of land at Salamander Bay for a naval base.

Sir Walter Burley Griffin, the Chicago architect, who had risen to notoriety after his design won the international competition for the design of Australian Federal Capital in 1911, came to design a number of NSW towns, including another grandiose metropolitan plan, prepared in partnership with Henry Halloran. This integrated plan that included road, rail and subdivision was thought so elaborate it was said to be a town to rival New York. Although these plans were approved by council they, like many of Walter Burley Griffin's plans, would never come to fruition.

In the years leading up the World War II when the port again became a focus for military action, the area continued to come under consideration as a major port and other industrial development. The trend continued even after the Australian Government sold the land back to the Port Stephens Shire Council with proposals for an oil refinery, coal loading facility and steel works all considered in the following year.

In time however residents began to voice their concerns over industrialization of the area. Objection to proposals of industrial development were vehement and focus on maintaining the pristine environment of the area began.

World War II - It is difficult to believe that the tranquil town of Shoal Bay owes much of its initial public service development to its integral role during WWII. It was the entry of the Japanese to the war that highlighted the invasion threat to our major port and Steelworks of Newcastle and so within just two weeks of Japan's entry a bitumen road replaced the dirt track that once extended between Shoal Bay and Nelson Bay. The building which had been officially opened in 1935 as the club house for the Newcastle and Port Stephens Game Fish Club at Shoal Bay was taken over as the headquarters for the operation known as JOOTS (Joint Overseas Operation Training Services).

The area surrounding the Shoal Bay Club became the training ground for more than 20,000 military personnel in amphibious maneuvers. Tomaree became a Fort with a 6 inch land gun, an 8 inch naval gun, torpedo tubes and a radar stationed on top of Mount Tomaree. This military take over required the civilians of the area to carry papers to allow them to go in and out of town.

During the hostilities the club house was used to plan three amphibious invasions in the Pacific, with marines transported directly from the shores of Shoal Bay to troop carriers such as the Mariposa and the Monterey that were anchored in the bay. Historians believe that maps of the Pacific ran around the dining room of the Club House and that the overall plan for the Pacific War was developed here and taken to General Macarthur at his headquarters in Melbourne.

When the hostilities of WWII finally ended, the Australian Army returned the Shoal Bay Club in a state of disrepair to members Alex Kufner and R G Browne. With compensation received the club was refurbished and opened as a guesthouse. In 1947 the guesthouse business and premises were purchased by the Randall family.

First Black Marlin caught by rod & reel in the world - In the early 20th century game fishing was a relatively new sport but it didn't take long for anglers to realize that Australia's beautiful coastal waters were the perfect place for this type of fishing. Even before a number of Newcastle residents formed what is now know as the Newcastle and Port Stephens Game Fish Club in 1929 the region had begun making history.

In search of satisfactory fishing grounds, game fishing's pioneers traveled the NSW coastline. It was during this time that Dr Mark Lidwell went north of Sydney trying first Seal Rocks and then afterwards Port Stephens. During his Port Stephens expedition in 1913 Dr Lidwell landed a number of Spanish mackerel and what they suspected to be a swordfish.

To confirm the identity of this last fish they sent the 120pound specimen aboard the Karuah paddle boat to the Australian Museum. Accompanying the specimen was a donor schedule (displayed) which shows that the catch was thought to be a sword fish. The specimen was later identified by the Museum to be a Makaira Indica or Black Marlin.

After a number of years, the skeleton of the Black Marlin was put on display at the Australian Museum, its origin mislaid. It was not until 1988 that through the dedicated research of Peter Silcock the historian for the Newcastle and Port Stephen Game Fishing Club that the significance of the skeleton was realized. Not only was it proved that this skeleton was the one sent on the Karuah to the Museum back in 1913 but it is now known that this was the first Black Marlin to be caught anywhere in the world on rod and reel. This same fishing ground now hosts one of the biggest organized Game Fish Tournaments, where contestants still go in search of Dr Lidwill's elusive Black Marlin.

Game Fishing History - Game Fishing's integral role in shaping Shoal Bay's history like so many of its other significant events has been largely as result of its proximity to the Ports entrance and its abundance of marine life. The Port Stephens fishing grounds were discovered soon after the exhilarating sport of game fishing spread from its origins in the USA. The sport generally thought to date back to the 1890's would credit the fishing grounds of Port Stephens with the worlds first Black Marlin to be caught on rod and reel back in 1913.Pioneers of the sport continued to fish these waters with a varying degree of success and The Newcastle and Port Stephens Game Fishing Club as it is now known was formed with its headquarters at Bundabah (located across the bay) in 1929. The boats of the era were sluggish making the seven mile journey to Broughton Island long and arduous. Frustration with this long journey stimulated the members to look for a venue closer to the Ports entrance.

In 1935 a lease was obtained by the club and a modest club house built on the land where the Country Club Hotel now stands. The club house became the first permanent structure in Shoal Bay at the time and many stories of the official opening of the club house in 1935 by Colonial Secretary Mr F. A Chaffey tell of members and guests becoming lost on the dirt track that linked Shoal Bay with Nelson Bay. It was not until the US Military Forces requisitioned the Club in 1942 that the dirt track was upgraded to bitumen. The Newcastle and Port Stephens Game Fishing Club did not become known by its current name until 1939 when the amalgamation of the Newcastle Shark and Swordfish club and a languishing club which had formed in Nelson Bay. Challenges were soon issued to the Sydney based Rod Fishers Society of NSW by active members Athel D'Ombrain and Newman Silverthorne for a rematch to the initial 1938 Game Fishing Competition. While the results of this second competition were a vast improvement, the declaration of World War II and the acquisition of the Game Fishing Club House by the US Military placed any rematch on hold.

The toll of war on society at all levels led to the demise of most game fishing clubs along the eastern seaboard. The Newcastle and Port Stephens Game Fishing Club was one of only a few survivors. Revival of the sport after the war was hampered by fuel rationings and resources including boats, many of which were requisitioned during the war. The US military had however left some positive impacts on the sport in Port Stephens with the US Engineers and the Australian Forces constructing many new wharves at Nelson Bay and Little Beach. Soon after the conclusion of the war the Club House was returned to club members Alex Kufner and R Browne, together they used the compensation money from the military to refurbish the building into a guest house. In 1947 the guest house business was sold to the Randall family. A challenge issued by the Newcastle and Port Stephens Game Fishing Club was issued in the late 1947 and was answered by Sydney anglers. In February 1948 the Port Stephens team led by Athel D'Ombrain and Newman Silverthorne competed against the Sydney anglers in a competition where communications with shore relied on carrier pigeons. The event became an annual competition and was the first organized Game Fish drive to received practical acknowledgement and support from the State Government.

The Newcastle and Port Stephens Game Fish club now has a membership 3,000 strong and is located just up the road from its original location. The club was in the privileged position of having two of its founding members Athel D'Ombrain and Newman Silverthorns attend the opening almost 60 years after its establishment.

Gelignite Jack Murray 1907 - 1983 - It just isn't possible to recount the life story of a man like Gelignite Jack, only to privilege you with anecdotes from some of his closest friends. You quickly realize that even though his life is full of some of sport's greatest achievements, it isn't these that made Jack Murray great but the way he lived life. To hear the joy and sadness mixed in their voices as they speak of a man they describe as "the glue that keeps them together", you realize the impact he had on their lives and that the loss of Jack is still and always will remain heartbreaking. They describe him as a man of greatness, a larrikin with a zest for life and a heart of gold.

Jack wasted no time in his life. From a young charismatic man who was a cyclist, champion amateur wrestler, pioneer water-skier, race car drive and all round sportsman to a successful business owner. His celebrity status rose with his larrikin antics during what is still considered to be one of the toughest rally races, the Redex trials. He captured the hearts and minds of an Australian public that had been battered by the Depression and World War II and he reminded them of the lighter side of life. In the 1953 Redex race he rolled his Chrysler Plymouth, a news team quickly on the spot asked him to comment regarding the state of his car and his accident. What was recorded was one continuous censored bleep, enjoyed by thousands. 1953 may not have been his year but Jack made certain that 1954 belonged to him and so in a shower of gelignite explosions, good humour and gritted determination he set out to win. Jack Murray and his co-driver Bill Murray made the 18 day endurance race look like a picnic, while Jack earnt himself his nickname by tossing sticks of Gelignite out the window of his Ford V8 to liven up his entrance to towns.

In 1980 Jack's right leg was amputated above the knee and he spent 12 grueling and heart wrenching weeks learning to walk again. But in Jack fashion he handled it with dignity, determination and of course a sense of humour. Evan Green journalist and co-driver, writes of this challenging time a hilarious tale of bandying between friends. His friends didn't bring flowers and sympathy cards when they came to visit - instead they traded insults and made "low priced offers for his right shoes". On visitor, Ron D'Albora, came to visit him. "You cunning old bastard" he says "Now I can't call you bandy legs anymore". Another friend offered him a prosthetic leg from America, the best in the world, Jack responds "No, maybe not. That'd be left hand drive and the bloody thing would want to walk on the wrong side of the road." Jack didn't wallow or reminisce in the past he spoke of his future plans, like entering the 1982 Peking to Paris, "I might choose an automatic, though". Drive, race and water-ski Jack Murray continued to do it all.

We are lucky enough to say that for many years Jack Murray and his crew considered Shoal Bay a home away from home, spending nearly two months here each year. Shoal Bay offered them the perfect place to relax and gave Jack the perfect location to experiment with his more sedate activities like water-skiing a sport he helped pioneer in Australia and hang-gliding. "Gelignite Jack Murray, one leg or two, is still a step ahead of most of us" Evan Green. May he rest in peace 'Gelignite' Jack Murray 1907 to 1983

History of the Outrigger - For tens of thousands of years Polynesian people have used the sleek, streamlined and graceful outrigger canoe as their primary means of transport between their island homes. In the 20th century outrigger canoeing has evolved into a highly contested modern sport that pits athletes against the elements, themselves and their own physical and psychological limits.

Outrigger canoe racing is a relatively young sport in Australia. Seventy years after Hawaii's first Outrigger Canoe Club was formed, the first club in Australia was formed in 1978 on the Gold Coast. The first club in Sydney was formed in 1989 and during this year the first Australian Championships were held. The sport has enjoyed rapid growth in recent years with the development of clubs in other states of Australia, expanding the sport's power base and spiritual home from northern Queensland and the Whitsunday region to make it a more "national" sport.

The Port Stephens Outrigger Canoe Club formed in October 1996 with three crews and funding from Shoal Bay Country Club. Competitions are held up and down the East Coast of Australia with the majority of local races held in Sydney. The broken paddle is from the Byron Bay regatta in 1998 (photograph shown Top Row, second from the left). The Port Stephens club has produced several Australian champions including Chris Gray, Christine Nicol, and Martin Gregory. The club has sent teams to compete in many world class competitions including Hamilton Island in the Whitsunday's, Molokai Hoe in Hawaii, Vaka Eiva in the Cook Islands and Mana Island Race in New Zealand. The club has 3 six man canoes, 4 one man canoes and 2 two man canoes. It caters for men and women from Juniors (Under 12's) right through to the Golden Masters (Over 55's). We are lucky to have one of the best waterways for paddling both inshore and out around the islands. One of the premiere events on the NSW calendar is the Shoal Bay Resort and Spa Outrigger Challenge which is held every March. New members are always welcome.

Bush Poet - Murray Hartin - Ode to The Country Club Hotel - When it comes to fishing stories the bull flies think and fast, The "experts" crank it up and each yarn's bigger than the last, Photos weighing forty pound, outboards swallowed whole, The big cod out near Bourke that ate the mare and foal. These blokes just won't be outdone, they fight to the final bell But they'll always meet their match at The Country Club Hotel.

Sure you walk in full of confidence thinking you've got what it takes But don't bother turning up if you're not from the Myall Lakes. The Country Club Hotel will chew you up and spit you out, The best think to do is listen and, when it's your turn, buy a shout. See, within its walls at Shoal Bay you can almost smell the truth And they're not just spinning yarns, they've got photographs for proof.

Tigers near a thousand pound, Makos much the same, Marlin black and blue - too big to fit the frame. A piscatorial heaven, a piece of paradise, Gelignite Jacks and Davy both enjoyed a slice But just a word of warning, if you venture out at night The sharks all run for cover when the jewfish start to bite.