Port Stephens 4WD Beach & Sand Dune Adventure: Birubi Beach Sandboarding
Difficulty
easy
Duration
1 hour
Fitness Level
Basic mobility required—able to walk on loose sand and climb short dune slopes; suitable for most fitness levels.
Overview
Drive Birubi Beach in a red 4WD, hunt for pipis on a broad tidal shelf, then climb towering dunes for unlimited sandboarding on the largest moving coastal sand mass in the Southern Hemisphere. This one-hour loop is compact, scenic, and ideal for first-time boarders.
Port Stephens 4WD Beach & Sand Dune Adventure: Birubi Beach Sandboarding
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The engine rumbles and the coastline opens: a long shoulder of pale sand that runs toward the horizon, the Pacific chiseling a steady white line at its edge. You step out of the red 4WD onto Birubi Beach and the world changes texture — the sand is cold and firm by the water, then soft and thirsty farther up, inviting bare feet and tentative footprints. Guides point out the tiny, pearly pipis half-buried in the wet sand, and their stories begin to land like shells in your palm — about the people who read the dunes and the forces that keep them moving.
Adventure Photos
Adventure Tips
Watch the tide schedule
Book around low tide for firmer beach runs and easier driving; high tide can limit the available sand and alter the route.
Protect from sun and sand
Bring SPF 30+, a wide-brim hat and sunglasses—reflected sun off sand can intensify exposure.
Wear secure, close-toed shoes
Shoes that strap on or light hiking sandals keep sand out and give traction when climbing soft dunes.
Listen to your guide on boards
Follow instructions for standing and seated runs; boards and dunes move unpredictably and guides know safer lines.
Local Insights
Wildlife
- Australian pied oystercatcher
- Eastern grey kangaroo (in the dune scrub beyond the beach)
History
The dunes sit within Worimi country; the Worimi people have long histories of living with the shifting sands and harvesting coastal resources like pipis.
Conservation
The dunes are a dynamic landscape; visitors are urged to stick to guided routes and avoid trampling fragile dune vegetation to prevent erosion.
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Adventure Hotspots in Nelson Bay
Frequently Asked Questions
Recommended Gear
Closed-toe sand-friendly shoes
Keeps sand out and protects toes during dune climbs and beach walks.
summer specific
Reusable water bottle
Hydrates you between runs—bottled water is provided but bring a refill bottle for convenience.
High-SPF sunscreen and lip balm
Protects skin from intense coastal sun reflected off sand.
summer specific
Lightweight windbreaker
Stops gusts on the dune crests and keeps you comfortable when sea breezes pick up.
fall specific