[1][2] Stockton Beach, on the Tasman Sea, starts on the northern side of the break wall that protects the entrance to Newcastle harbour in Stockton, Newcastle's northernmost suburb, and stretches for 32 km (20 mi) in an approximate north-easterly direction to Anna Bay in Port Stephens.

[6][7][8] Day-to-day management of the Worimi conservation lands is undertaken by the NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service.

[11] During the Great Depression of the 1930s a group of squatters constructed a series of tin shacks at the site which is approximately 11 km (6.8 mi) south west of Anna Bay.

[9] World War II resulted in fortifications against a possible amphibious assault by Imperial Japanese forces being installed along the beach.

Many of these fortifications, in the form of barbed wire entanglements and concrete pyramid shaped blocks, commonly known as tank traps, may be seen along the beach.

A series of campaigns by local environmental groups and activists saw parts of the area declared a National Park in 2001.

[9][22] Wreckage from many shipwrecks continues to wash ashore periodically but the most well known, recognisable and permanent of the wrecks are the Uralla and the MV Sygna.

The Uralla was a 537-tonne (529-long-ton), 46.4 m (152.2 ft) long steamer that ran aground during a gale on 14 June 1928 approximately 9 km (5.6 mi) down the beach from Anna Bay.

[2][23][24] The MV Sygna was a 53,000 t (52,163 long tons) Norwegian bulk carrier that ran aground during a major storm on 26 May 1974.

The ship is approximately 8.8 km (5.5 mi) from the southern end of the beach and usually easily visible from the Stockton breakwall.

Instead, all vehicles must enter the beach through the Worimi Conservation Lands in the Port Stephens local government area.

[3] Drivers must ensure that they respect the natural habitat of the beach and refrain from driving on the plants and grasses on dune structure.

The Big Beach Challenge helps raise money for local Stockton charity, Harry's House.