Tomaree Headland Free Shuttle Bus Trial

We’re trialling a free shuttle bus service to help ease vehicle congestion around Nelson Bay, Shoal Bay, Tomaree Headland and Fingal Bay during the busy holiday period.

Visiting Port Stephens this holiday period? Hop on the free Tomaree Shuttle for easy, stress-free access to Nelson Bay, Shoal Bay, Tomaree Headland and Fingal Bay.

Simply hop on and hop off from any of the designated locations.

The shuttle will be operating from December 24 2025 to January 6 2026 (not including Christmas Day), running on a continuous loop approximately every 30 minutes from 9 am to 4 pm daily.

Shuttle Bus Stops:

  • Tomaree Sports Complex (Match Field 1)
  • Nelson Bay town centre
  • Little Beach/Fly Point
  • Shoal Bay town centre
  • Tomaree Headland
  • Fingal Bay beach and shops

Download the map here

Bus shuttle route

Have you caught the Tomaree Headland Shuttle Bus? We want to hear from you!

We are collecting feedback from the community who have used the bus. The survey takes approximately 2 minutes.

See here for the survey

The trial shuttle service is operating from December 24 2025, to January 6 2026, excluding Christmas Day. The service runs daily on a continuous loop approximately every 30 minutes from 9am to 4pm.

The service is for visitors and residents seeking a stress-free alternative to driving and parking in the busy Tomaree Headland and Shoal Bay areas during the peak holiday season. It is also designed to help walkers access the Tomaree Coastal Walk.

  • At 9am one bus will depart Tomaree Sports Complex (Match Field 1), and one bus will depart Fingal Bay shops.
  • The last pick up/drop off at Tomaree Sports Complex (Match Field 1) will be 3:30pm
  • The last pickup/drop off at Fingal Bay Shops will be at 4pm.

There is some parking available around the various stops, which is intended to ease congestion in the town centre.

The Tomaree Shuttle Bus service is free.

Yes, you can typically take prams and beach items on the bus, provided there is enough space. Prams must be folded and stored in the luggage rack if the bus driver advises there isn't enough room to safely park it in the designated accessible area.

The trial service is funded using revenue generated from the Shoal Bay smart parking initiative, with up to $31,000 allocated for the trial.

For those who do not use the shuttle, alternative options include local taxis, ride-sharing services, or the existing Route 130 public bus service, which also has stops at many locations along the coast. Parking is available at many locations, although it can be limited and busy during peak season.