Guide to Gay Friendly Hotels in Nelson Bay NSW Australia

Perhaps it’s the region’s Nelson–like weather and progressive vibe, or its diverse yet well-integrated population (you won’t find a concentrated “gayborhood” like Sydney’s Darlinghurst and Oxford Street here); Melbourne and Nelson Bay in  Australia are about as LGBT–friendly as they come. With many gay friendly hotels Nelson Bay to choose from it’s a great summer or winter destination

Australia is one of the most LGBT-friendly countries in the world. In a 2013 Pew Research poll, 79% of Australians agreed that homosexuality should be accepted by society, making it the fifth most supportive country in the survey behind Spain (88%), Germany (87%), Canada and the Czech Republic (both 80%).

Nelson Bay is a significant township of the Port Stephens local government area in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia. It is located on a bay of the same name on the southern shore of Port Stephens about 60 kilometres by road north-east of Newcastle, its nearest rail link.

 Top attractions to visit in Nelson Bay

• Gan Gan Lookout
• Nelson Head Heritage Lighthouse and Reserve
• Fly Point
• Toboggan Hill Park
• Barramundi Farm

 Best Tours in Nelson Bay

• Port Stephens Small-Group Private Tour
• Tour from Sydney Australia | Dolphins, Sandboarding, & Lookouts
• Private Port Stephens Day Trip from Sydney including Dolphin Cruise
• Port Stephens Day Tour with Dolphin Watching, Sandboarding & Australian Wildlife

1. Amarna Luxury Beach Resort 5* – Gay Friendly Hotels Nelson Bay

Located in Nelson Bay, 10 minutes’ walk from Nelson Bay marina, supermarket and a variety of shops and cafes, Amarna Luxury Beach Resort is a beachfront property and boasts a year-round outdoor pool and views of the sea. Shoal Bay is 3.6 km from the property. Free WiFi is provided .

All units include a flat-screen TV and DVD player. Some units feature a terrace and/or balcony with pool views. There is also a kitchen, fitted with a dishwasher. An oven is also featured, as well as a coffee machine and a kettle. There is a private bathroom with a bath and free toiletries in each unit. Towels are offered.

Set on a secluded beach, the 5 Star Guest Only Amarna Resort offers an oasis for guests searching for a sense of calm in a busy world. Located 2.5 hours north of Sydney and 20 minutes from Newcastle Airport this exclusive guest only luxury beach resort is suitable for couples seeking a memorable experience. Our one bedroom contemporary apartments, accommodating a maximum of two guests [1 king bed], all have panoramic water views and direct access to a secluded beach.

Our unique beachfront location boasts a 25m outdoor heated pool and spa, cool sea breezes, breathtaking sunsets plus the opportunity to spot dolphins all within a 10 minute waterfront walk to the township of Nelson Bay. Amarna Resort provides complimentary wi-fi, continental breakfast platter for first morning, kayaks, paddle boards and allocated off street parking. Serviced daily each designer residential style apartment includes Miele appliances in our modern kitchens and laundries, quality linen, bathrobes, beach towels, L’Occitane toiletries, ducted air conditioning and underfloor heating.

PROS:
– fantastic beach front location
– accommodation is truly high end, modern and stylish
– amazing pool and spa
– access to stand up paddle boards and kayaks (complimentary)
– 5 min coastal walk to Nelson Bay proper
– quiet and very well managed

Armana is a wonderful private resort with great facilities. Heated pool and spa with a view across the water was just terrific. The resort is small and the beautiful rooms are very private. The managers are attentive and welcoming and were invisible other than to perform the management of guests and the upkeep of the resort.

The private pool and spa was just amazing and something you would see on the movies, we felt very special staying there, relaxing in the pool whilst overlooking the beach. The actual rooms were so modern and luxurious and the appliances were top notch.

It is stunningly private, beautiful views, a heated pool, spa and the beach is just a short walk away. The beach is fabulous for children, the sand white, easy to walk on and the water is crystal clear. The resort has paddle boards and kayaks to use, plus buckets and spades for the children, beach chairs and umbrellas. The resort owners/managers have thought of everything here.

The view was spectacular, the kitchen appliances more than adequate, they supply beach towels as well. The apartment is stocked well and they provide a lovely continental breakfast pack, fresh milk and the only thing you really need is salt and pepper as there was not any of that in our unit.

The bathroom with the spa in the main bedroom is something to be seen, there are ensuite bathrooms attached to each bedroom , each room has a balcony and deck lounge chairs and the beds are extremely comfortable.

The quality of the appliances is extraordinary…quality pots, pans, utensils, glassware and sharp knives, there was a water and ice dispenser in the fridge, heated towel rails, beautiful toiletries and a daily servicing which were all appreciated.

The accommodation was simply fantastic. Each bedroom was very spacious with their own ensuites. The living areas and kitchen were huge. There was a full laundry. The living area had large glass doors which opened up to a massive balcony. The view over the pools and beach were simply amazing. The view itself changed everyday, both morning and late afternoon. It had us mesmerised. The pool dedicated to this apartment was long enough to do laps, and heated. The main pool area was beautiful with plenty of lounges.

The resort is right on beautiful Dutchies Beach, which is great for swimming. There is a path out the front which is a 10 minute walk to the main Marina. In the other direction you can walk along a numbers of beaches.

There are rules around staying at Amarna, but we felt they added to the luxury status of this resort.

2. Marty’s @ Little Beach 3* – Gay-Friendly Hotels Nelson Bay

Quietly nestled between two of Port Stephens’ most idyllic beaches, Marty’s @ Little Beach features a heated swimming pool and poolside BBQ area. All rooms feature Wi-Fi and free cable TV.

Just a 2-minute walk from Shoal Bay Beach or Little Beach, Marty’s @ Little Beach Apartments is a 3-minute drive from Port Stephens Marina, departure point for dolphin watching cruises.

Guests can choose between 1 or 2-bedroom self-contained apartments and motel-style rooms. Some have a balcony or courtyard with outdoor table and chairs. Most have either pool or garden views. Air-conditioning is available in all apartments on a 2-hour cycle.

Location! Location! Spectacular Location!Quietly nestled between two of Port Stephen’s most idyllic beaches but still close enough to the heart of all the Bay’s great restaurants and attractions, Marty’s is in the perfect location to do everything or….absolutely nothing at all!Totally refurbished inside and out in August 2012 – you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the style, elegance and quality – not to mention the affordability!

So when you arrive, leave the car (and your stress) in the car park – you won’t be needing them – and take a two minute walk west to stunning Little Beach. Soft white sand, perfect swimming for the kids, boat ramp and one of the best scuba diving spots on the east coast.A tad breezy today? No problem. Simply walk two minutes east and find a protected spot on the uncrowded Shoal Bay Beach – postcard perfect!Take a big deep breath in…. now exhale… and relax… you’re on holidays!

Great location with very good accommodation with all amenities for self catering, except for cooktop, but the available outdoor bbq would solve this.

Very pleasant management with easy registration and effective communication.

The accommodation type you can for your stay at Marty’s can be one of our ” motel-style ” rooms … small kitchenette with tea/coffee making facilities, microwave and bar fridge. We have two of these room ‘types’. The majority of our accommodation consists of either 1 or 2 bedroom apartments including a combined kitchen/lounge area. These apartments are larger than our ‘motel-style’ rooms and the kitchens include hotplates, large microwave, dishwasher and full size refrigerator.

The location is ideal and near good beaches and swimming. There is a great restaurant in walking distance. The apartment is well presented and comfortable, catering to all our needs. Love the pool.

A friendly gay Hotel with stylish accommodation in a great location on little beach, in easy reach of many other pristine bays, staff could not have been any more helpful and friendlier. White sandy beaches, beautiful sunsets and remarkably tame Pelicans what more could anyone want from a beach Hotel.

The room had everything we needed for a comfortable stay, staff were all very welcoming and friendly and we also made use of the heated pool a few times which was immaculately presented. Marty’s is situated between two beautiful sheltered beaches being Little Beach and Shoal Bay. There is so much to do in the area, lots of dining and entertainment options and if you like a bit of nature Tomaree National Park offers plenty of options. Newcastle and the Hunter Valley wine area are also within easy reach.

How much does a room costs at Marty’s @ Little Beach?

Prices start 110 $/night for Queen Studio – Adults Only.

This motel-style room features a wall-mounted TV with cable channels, tea/coffee making facilities, mini refrigerator, a small balcony with outdoor table and chairs, and a bathroom with shower. Free WiFi access is available.

Please note that the price is based on 2 guests. There is no capacity for additional guests. Children and babies cannot be accommodated in this room type. Please note that this apartment is located on first floor, there is no lift access.

Where to book online – Marty’s @ Little Beach – Gay-Friendly Hotel Eastern Australia– you can find the best hotels deals in Nelson Bay during Nelson Bay Seafood Festival which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Nelson Bay on Booking.com or  Trip.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.

3. Anchorage Port Stephens 4* – Gay Friendly Hotels Port Stephens

Anchorage Port Stephens offers a luxury accommodation experience, nestled by the white sands of the beautiful port. Located a 30-minute drive from Newcastle, Anchorage is ideally located to enjoy the region’s fine cuisine and local experiences.

The Hamptons-style guest houses face north over beautiful Port Stephens towards Corrie Island National Reserve. A balcony or verandah adjoin all accommodation, and most have uninterrupted water views. All rooms come well equipped with modern amenities, featuring an ensuite bathroom with a shower, complimentary WiFi and in-room safe.

Guests enjoy access to the hotel’s outdoor heated swimming pool, local fitness centre and complimentary parking .

Breezy seaside style at its finest, The Anchorage offers luxurious absolute waterfront accommodation – from spacious rooms to mezzanine-style loft suites and a decadent villa – along with world-class Spa Lucca, family and adult exclusive pools, and decadent dining options. Showcasing the region’s growing culinary reputation with two waterfront restaurants; delicious seafood at the “Best Seafood Restaurant – Regional NSW” – The Wild Herring and relaxed all-day dining at The Galley Kitchen, while sophisticated and inviting Martha’s Bar is the perfect spot for afternoon cocktails or late night drinks. Overlooking what is arguably one of the world’s most beautiful ports, Port Stephens this idyllic, Hamptons-style resort is a haven of five-star excellence is a leisurely two and a half hours drive from Sydney, or a mere 30 minute drive from Newcastle Airport.

The location and room were just perfect, I enjoyed sitting with a cup of tea on the balcony and watching the marina below – it was very peaceful indeed.

The room itself was large, the bathroom amenities super modern with a rain shower too. Bed was comfy and the robes were so soft. The quality easily better than some five star resorts I’ve stayed in abroad.

As to the grounds, they’re lovely for a walk around the marina (a local pointed out some dolphins to us swimming just by the beach which was very special to see for us). The included breakfast was solid for an a la carte selection in covid, we enjoyed it very much – although I do not recommend the corn fritters as you seem to get more butter than corn. The poached eggs were excellent and hollandaise was very good.
I do recommend having a car to visit this location as if you want to get out and explore the Anchorage is a little away from town, which makes it so peaceful and private. There was plenty of parking.

The location and views were always a winner!

Our room was spacious , comfortable , clean and well appointed. Parking, which can be a pain in some resorts was quite good, given it is school holidays, and the venue was nearly full,

The reception staff were welcoming and very helpful. Our room was cleaned early, after our exit for explorations.

We enjoyed two lovely a la carte breakfasts and a dinner at the Galley Kitchen , which was first class, and is reviewed separately.

A delightful sojourn to Corlette and Nelson Bay . Hard to fault and, we thought, good value for money.
Thank you the Anchorage.

Our room was spacious and well appointed with an uninterrupted view of the marina, the room was tastefully decorated and everything worked as it should, we attended the wedding held at the hotel and while our room was quite close we weren’t bothered by excessive noise also the bedding was very comfortable, our package also included a buffet breakfast which was well presented with a good variety of fresh food, we were seated at a group table overlooking the water, all in all it was a wonderful stay our only regret is we weren’t staying longer, very happy to recommend this hotel and we’ll definitely visit again.

The hotel rooms, and the whole complex are very clean, new, modern and well designed. Very much a nautical theme throughout and being right by the marina with the sea is wonderful. Location wise it is away from any centre of business, shops etc so if you go there it’s very much for a quiet relaxing break as you will need to go to Nelson’s Bay for any excitement! Only ten mins in the car so not a big deal. They have two fab pools and was very appreciative of the Adult’s Only pool as the were were many noisy kids and this would have made the stay a lot less enjoyable if I’d had to put up with the pool noise in such an upmarket hotel. Very wise and was lovely and had poolside service.

Food was fab, breakfast was brilliant, so much fresh produce and selection and really one of the best hotel breakfasts I have had in awhile. Good spot for a sunrise and a sunset too. All in all a fab break and would recommend to friends or couples wanting a very quiet chilled time away. Because it’s such a lovely and quite expensive resort, I would recommend staying here to stay at the resort as the beaches and bays around are obviously wonderful and there is a lot of “closer to beach” and cheaper choices for you if that’s your plan.

How much does a room costs at Anchorage Port Stephens?

Prices start 220 $/night for Garden Room. The Loft Suite is 360$/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.

This fully refurbished suite offers water views from the upstairs bedroom and the downstairs balcony. The fully furnished loft suite captures the light and breeze of seaside living. Relax in your spacious living area before retiring to your beautiful bedroom overlooking the Anchorage Marina. This elegant suite includes a king-size bed and come well equipped with modern amenities, featuring an en suite bathroom with a shower, complimentary WiFi and in-room safe. The downstairs living area includes a fold-out sofa to sleep an extra guest.

Where to book online – Anchorage Port Stephens – LGBT Friendly Hotels Nelson Bay NSW– you can find the best hotels deals in Nelson Bay during Nelson Bay Seafood Festival which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Nelson Bay on Booking.com or  Trip.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.