Besides the usual activities of sandboarding, camel riding, and dolphin watching, visitors to Port Stephens can also enjoy tobogganing at Toboggan Hill Park (search for it on the map). This easy and fun activity is highly recommended.
It’s about 16km from Sydney to Port Stephens, so driving is the most common option. You’ll need to stay for at least one night. Toboggan Hill Park is located next to Corlette town, a 10-minute drive away, so it’s very close and convenient.
Our experience
This week, we checked out an incredibly fun forest slide near Port Stephens – the most highly recommended forest slide. One word: exhilarating!
First, you sit in a small board that’s pulled up by a pulley. Then, whoosh! You glide down. The board has a lever to control the speed, so even if you’re a bit timid, you can control your speed. For thrill-seekers, go full speed and enjoy the feeling of flying!
Apart from the slide, there are several other indoor and outdoor activities, like water ball fights, mini-golf, a mini-train with a maze, rollerblading, rock climbing, jumping castles, drawing, and more!
Hours: 9:30 am – 4:00 pm
Address: 16 Aquatic Close, Nelson Bay, NSW 2315 (approximately 2.5 hours and over 200 kilometres from Sydney).
Toboggan Hill park tickets
Tickets: Adults $15 per activity (8 and above), Children (4-7 years) $10 per activity. We recommend the family pass: $138 for 4 family members, 16 activities in total/$160 for 5 members, 20 activities/$185 for 6 members, 25 activities (no need to book in advance).
Overall, it’s considered to be good value for the money.
Due to the park’s policy, you can play on the slide without limits once you get on it, which means you might have to wait a long time. If you really want to ride, try to get there at 9:30 am when they open to avoid long waiting times. Otherwise, you might spend the whole day waiting.
The Forest Slide
This is a small park designed for families with various attractions, most of which can be enjoyed by both children and adults. Tobogganing is one of the most exciting activities here.
After buying your ticket, you’ll wait in line for your turn. An attendant will guide you through the process, which is quite simple. You control the brakes and speed yourself, but the main force driving the sled is inertia. Everyone shares the same track, so be careful not to rear-end anyone.
The whole process takes about 20 minutes, and the track covers a large area. And yes, you can go back for more rides! Overall, it’s a thrilling experience, and definitely worth a visit.
The track has many curves and an appropriate degree of slope to balance danger and excitement. Boys can let loose and speed down the hill without braking, while girls may feel the need to stop frequently. Also, you’ll see many local Australian families here, creating a warm community atmosphere.
Inside the park, there’s also mini-golf, roller skating, a wooden maze, a little train ride, and more. The forest slide costs $8 for one round, but if you buy multiple rounds, it becomes cheaper. Once you’re on the slide, you can keep riding it round and round, and the ticket can also be used for other activities.
Additional Tips
If you’re going with friends, make sure the timid ones go at the end of the line, or they’ll slow down the group and ruin the excitement. Avoid visiting during peak periods and weekends, as the queue can be very long!
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