Stockton Beach, located on the Tasman Sea in New South Wales, Australia, stretches over 32 km (20 mi) and is surrounded by Newcastle's northernmost suburb, Stockton.
The beach has an approximate north-easterly direction and features sand dunes that rise over 30 meters (98 ft) high, making them the largest continuous mobile sand dunes in the Southern Hemisphere.
With a significant historical background, Stockton Beach has witnessed shipwrecks and aircraft crash sites over the years. During World War II, it was fortified against a possible attack and served as a bombing and gunnery range, as well as a dumping area for unused bombs.
As a popular tourist destination, Stockton Beach attracts visitors from all over the world. It offers camping and day trip opportunities, with up to 200 camp sites and 2,000 people camped along the dunes at times. The beach is also a favorite spot for 4WD enthusiasts, fishermen, and nature lovers.
Vehicles can access the beach through the Worimi Conservation Lands, with entry points at Lavis Lane in Williamtown or Gan Gan Road in Anna Bay. A valid permit is required. Four-wheel drive vehicles are allowed on the beach, but drivers must respect the natural habitat and avoid driving on plants and grasses. Vehicular access is not possible at the southern end of the beach.
Sand mining is a commercial activity practiced on Stockton Beach, but it has led to a loss of tertiary vegetation in the hind dunes, resulting in a decrease in native species sightings. This has caused opposition to sand mining.
Stockton Beach is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including great white sharks, humpback whales during migration season,