Chose this hotel because of its location. It is a 5 minute stroll to the RSL Club, where I was attending a conference. 10 minutes walk will get you to Nelson Bay shops and restaurants, while 25 minutes the other direction will bring you to Shoal Bay.
Took the local Port Stephens bus there from Newcastle Airport for $6.10 - ask the driver to drop you off at the hotel if possible (there is a stop in front of the hotel but it may not stop there on weekends). At the end of our stay, the reception staff very kindly organised for a shuttle to collect us from the hotel to the airport (The Shuttle Man - $45 for 2 people).
We stayed in a 1-bedroom penthouse, which was fine. Kitchen, dining table, washing machine, toilet and sitting room with big flat screen TV downstairs. Upstairs had the comfortable bed, small TV, another sitting area plus bathroom with spa and toilet. Airconditioning downstairs only, ceiling fan upstairs. Fittings were a little dated but everything was clean. Wi-fi... more