Port Stephens, an open youthful tide-dominated drowned-valley estuary, is a large natural harbour of approximately located in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia. Port Stephens lies within the Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park and is situated about north-east of Sydney. The harbour lies wholly within the local government area of Port Stephens; although its northern shoreline forms the boundary between the Port Stephens and Mid-Coast local government areas. According to the 2006 census, more than people lived within of its long shoreline and more than lived within . Geography Port Stephens is formed through the confluence of the Myall and Karuah rivers, Tilligerry Creek, and the Tasman Sea of the South Pacific Ocean. The lower port has a predominantly marine ecology and the upper port an estuarine ecology. The area to the east of Port Stephens comprises the Tomago/Tomaree/Stockton sand beds. A narrow entrance between two striking hills of volcanic origin marks the opening of Port Stephens to the sea. The southern headland, Tomaree or South Head, rises to above mean sea level (AMSL) while Yacaaba, the northern headland, is AMSL. The harbour is mostly shallow and sandy but contains sufficient deep water to accommodate large vessels. After its recovery from the wreck site in 1974 the bow of the , a Norwegian bulk carrier that was shipwrecked on Stockton Beach earlier that year, was moored in Port Stephens, at Salamander Bay, for almost two years. With an area of approximately , Port Stephens is larger than Sydney Harbour. Port Stephens extends approximately inland from the Tasman Sea and at its widest point, between Tanilba Bay and Tahlee, it is across. The narrowest point is between Soldiers Point and Pindimar where the distance is only . Between Nelson Bay and Tea Gardens, in the most well known section of the port, it is wide. The Karuah River drains into Port Stephens at its north-western corner. The Myall River (through the Myall Lakes) drains into the port on its northern shore, about from the mouth of the port. Twelve Mile Creek drains into the port's south-western corner. The southern shore of the port is divided into two distinct areas known as the Tomaree and Tilligerry peninsulas. These are separated by Tilligerry Creek, a watercourse covering approximately , which drains the land in the low-lying areas of Salt Ash, Bobs Farm, Tanilba Bay and Mallabula. While the Tilligerry Peninsula is