Fighter World Aviation Heritage Centre is an aviation museum with its own viewing area overlooking the RAAF Williamtown fighter jet Base at Newcastle Airport.

Whilst we aren’t normally huge plane spotters or jet enthusiasts, we really enjoyed our visit.

Fighter-town is mainly run by a staff of volunteers, and features a huge collection of military aircraft. It’s fascinating to view these massive planes close-up and learn more about them.

The museum is made up of two large hangars filled with real aircraft, including jet fighters like a Mirage and F111. You can also see airplane replicas like a Spitfire, engines and other aeroplane displays.

There are mini theatres, and you can even climb into some real cockpits to play with the controls!

After we had wandered around the planes we climbed upstairs to the viewing deck where we were absolutely thrilled to watch the RAAF jets manoeuvring above our heads! Access to the viewing platform is exclusive to Fighterworld. (Or Fightertown USA from Top Gun, as I like to think of it!)

The fact that the RAAF are celebrating their 100th Anniversary this year just made our visit that much more special.

Fighterworld also have what has to be one of the best airoplane gift shops around, with lots of model planes, toys and souvenirs.

On site you’ll also find the unique Fighter Beans cafe, with meals and snacks of all description. And of course you can sit outside and take in those all-powerful booming jets!

Important Tip! The RAAF Williamstown jets only fly on weekdays, so plan your trip on a weekday if you want to see them fly!

Watch our complete Fighterworld video

Watch our slow walk through of the complete Fighter World Aviation Museum complex on our YouTube video here to get an idea of what Fighterworld is like to visit.

Plan your Fighterworld visit

Fighterworld address

Fighterworld is located at 49 Medowie Road, Williamtown NSW – about a twenty minutes drive from Newcastle, NSW.

Fighterworld opening hours

Fighterworld is open every day from 10am-4pm (excepting Christmas Day) – we recommend visiting on a weekday so that you have a good chance of seeing the RAAF jets from the Fighterworld observation deck.

How much are tickets to Fighterworld?

*
Adults $18
Child (5-17) $10
Under 5 free
Family (2 Adults & all kids under age 18) $40
Senior/Pensioner $14
Serving Members and APS Employees 50% Discount
Disabled persons requiring carers free

*Prices are correct as of 1 July 2021

Caravan, camping and cabin accommodation near Fighterworld

Whilst visiting Fighterworld we stayed at NRMA Stockton Beach Holiday Park in our caravan, but they also have cabins and other accommodation options available. This is a lovely family beach holiday location, and Fighterworld is only 15 minutes drive away.

You can read all about our stay at NRMA Stockton Beach Holiday Park review here

Find out more about Fighterworld at the Fighterworld official website here.

All information is correct as at July 2021 – please check the above website link for relevant, up to date information and current Fighter World entrance ticket prices.

Share one of our images to Pinterest…

The post Fighter World Williamtown Aviation Museum – RAAF Base Newcastle – plane spotting! appeared first on Let's go Mum.

A beachside holiday park close to Sydney

Two hours drive from Sydney and half an hour’s drive from the Newcastle CBD in NSW, NRMA Stockton Beach Holiday Park is a pristine beachfront holiday park located in the peaceful seaside suburb of Stockton. The only Newcastle suburb situated on the north side of the Hunter River, Stockton is just a ten-minute ferry ride away from the Newcastle city centre.

We spent ten fun-filled days staying at this beautiful seaside holiday park and found it wasn’t nearly enough time to soak up all the fun, excitement and adventure on offer at such a great location!

Stockton Beach Holiday Park Accommodation Options

NRMA Stockton Beach Holiday Park has several different types of accommodation options. There are various villas and cabins, plus an abundance of caravan and camping sites to choose from – and dog-friendly sites!

Both powered and unpowered sites are available, including luxurious ensuite sites, concrete slab, mesh and grass site options.

Watch the video – take a look around our ensuite site

Stockton Beach

One of the biggest advantages of staying at NRMA Stockton Beach is its direct access to the gorgeous Stockton Beach itself, a stunning white sandy beach which stretches for miles up to the famous Stockton Sand Dunes.

Stockton Beach is a surf and swimming beach, and has patrolled swimming flag areas in the Summer months. It’s also perfect for leisurely seafront walks, shell hunting and exploring.

We found that we spent a lot of our stay at NRMA Stockton Beach either at the beach, or taking walks along the fantastic Stockton Breakwall.

The Stockton Beach Breakwall

Accessing the beautiful Stockton Beach Breakwall is as simple as walking out of the holiday park and onto it! The Stockton Break wall serves as one side of the shipping entrance to Newcastle Harbour Port, and is located opposite the famous Nobbys Lighthouse and Breakwall. This makes it the perfect viewpoint to ship-watch the massive cargo ships and their attendant tug boats cruising back and forth into the Hunter River.

The Stockton Shipwreck Walk

The Breakwall was constructed incorporating historic shipwrecks into its stonework, and plays host to the exciting Shipwreck Walk – a fascinating trail taking in the locations, names and histories of the many shipwrecks used. You can even view an actual protruding shipwreck!

Many recreational fishermen and women can be found situated along its walls too, as can a few cute cat residents who appear to live there quite happily!

No time to read? Watch our NRMA Stockton Beach Holiday Park Youtube video

NRMA Stockton Beach playgrounds & places to play

NRMA Stockton Beach features a large on-site recreation room featuring a pool table, arcade games and a TV lounge area.

There are two on-site playgrounds for the little ones with climbing frames, swings and slide.

Paved, 10kmph speed-limited roads mean kids can ride their bikes and scooters to their heart’s content.

Griffith Park adventure playground & café

For even more fun there’s a huge adventure playground and skate park.

The riverfront Griffith Park is a few minutes walk from the NRMA Stockton Beach Holiday Park and features a nautically themed playground with giant ropes, big slides, a zip line, and the Whispers On The Wharf café.

NRMA Stockton Beach Caravan Park amenities & facilities

Friendly staff, landscaped gardens and high quality maintenance are a big focus of this beautiful holiday park.

Toilets and showers are kept spotlessly clean, as are the separate parent rooms and guest laundries. All have key-coded entry for security.

A huge indoor camp kitchen

A large stainless steel indoor camp kitchen is fitted out with everything needed for all your camp meal preparation needs. Appliances in the camp kitchen include large refrigerators and freezers, stoves and microwaves.

Ample cafe-style seating inside and out is available in and around the camp kitchen and games room building.

A holiday park kiosk

Park Reception also doubles as a convenient kiosk where guests can pick up the essentials, including fishing bait.

Convenient rubbish facilities & dump points

The park also offers multiple rubbish stations, and toilet cassette and porta potti dump points.

A dog friendly caravan park

Dogs are welcome at NRMA Stockton Beach Holiday Park outside of peak holiday periods, so there’s no need to leave your pet at home! The caravan park offers pet-friendly caravanning and camping sites.

Dogs can be walked within the holiday park on a leash, along the Breakwall and are also welcome at Lexie’s On The Beach cafe next door.

A lovely dog-friendly beach can be found at the Breakwall end of the holiday park, and the surrounding area offers even more dog beaches.

There are some pet exclusion times during peak booking periods at Stockton Beach Caravan Park such as school holidays, so you’ll need to book your stay directly with the holiday park by phone.

Things to see in the Stockton Beach area

Stockton Beach makes an excellent Sydney family holiday destination. Although Stockton Beach offers all the charms of a seaside village, it’s just a short hop away from the bustling city of Newcastle. So as well having a wonderful family beachside holiday, there are also lots of fun activities and outings to explore in the local area!

A quick drive or leisurely walk down the road will bring you to the Stockton Ferry Wharf. Here you can hop on one of the frequent commuter ferries for a picturesque ten minute ride over to the feature-packed city of Newcastle.

Home to a huge range of tourist attractions including the historic Fort Scratchley, Newcastle features Nobby’s Lighthouse, surf beaches and swimming baths, the Newcastle Museum, city shops, shopping malls, restaurants and cafes.

Other nearby tourist attractions include various 4WD sand dune companies, Fighterworld Aviation MuseumFighterworld Aviation Museum where you can watch the latest airforce jets flying on weekdays (15 minutes drive) and Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters where you can feed and snorkel with stingrays and sharks (30 minutes drive).

Stockton services

The suburb of Stockton has a local clubs, pubs and a stret shopping centre with small shops, takeaways and an IGL supermarket. There are sports grounds and a public swimming pool.

Lexie’s On The Beach café

Lexie’s On The Beach café adjoins the holiday park and is open 7 days a week, making it the perfect spot to grab a morning coffee or delicious lunch with a lovely beachfront view. The café offers both indoor and outdoor dining and a great menu. There’s a kid’s menu, colouring books and the family dog is welcome too – all with that famous Stockton Beach view!

How to book your NRMA holiday parks holiday

NRMA Stockton Beach Holiday Park has all you need for the perfect family vacation to enjoy together – it’s family holidays made easy!

Find out more or book your accommodation for NRMA Stockton Beach Holiday Park at the official website here.

For more mid-north NSW coast NRMA holiday park reviews, check our NRMA Holiday Parks list

How to get to NRMA Stockton Beach Caravan Park

All information is correct as at June 2021 – please check the above website link for relevant, up to date information and accommodation prices.

The Let’s go Mum family are partnering with NRMA Holiday Parks and other activity providers in this blog, however all opinions remain firmly our own.

Like this blog? Pinterest pin it!

Have you ever visited Stockton Beach? Share your favourite activities in the comments section below!

The post NRMA Stockton Beach Holiday & Caravan Park review appeared first on Let's go Mum.