ANNA BAY JEEP FIELD GUIDE
Tin City: Lost Shacks, Pippies and Sandboard Runs on Stockton Beach
A focused 2-hour 4WD from Anna Bay into the Stockton Sand Dunes that visits Tin City, includes sandboarding and pippie-hunting, and this guide lays out what to expect and how to prepare.
Tin City: Lost Shacks, Pippies and Sandboard Runs on Stockton Beach.
Set on the great sweep of Stockton Beach near Anna Bay, the Tin City 4WD Tour pushes into the Stockton Sand Dunes to a cluster of weathered shacks known as Tin City. The short, two-hour outing mixes coastal history — the shacks’ past use as shelter for shipwrecked sailors and even a bombing range — with hands-on beachtime: searching for pippies, racing to bury into the sand and sliding down dune faces on custom sandboards.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Stockton Sand Dunes and Coastline
The route runs along Stockton Beach’s vast dunes and shoreline, giving repeated vantage points over open sand and surf and opportunities to stop on the beach for pippie searches and shoreline play.
Tin City’s Lost Shacks
Tin City is a cluster of corrugated shacks with a layered past: used as refuge by shipwrecked sailors and later tied to military use as a bombing range — the tour includes an interpretive stop to explain this history.
Sandboarding and Beach Activities
After the Tin City stop, instructors outfit guests with custom sandboards and brief them on safety and technique before runs down dune faces that can reach up to 50 metres in height; there are also guided chances to hunt for pippies along the shoreline.
What the day feels like
What the two-hour tour feels like
You board an air-conditioned, customised 4WD at Anna Bay and ride out along the coast into the Stockton Sand Dunes for a compact, activity-forward loop: a shoreline stop to search for pippies and get your feet wet, an interpretive visit to Tin City to hear its shipwreck and bombing-range history, then the hands-on thrill of sandboarding with instructor guidance on dune runs as high as 50 metres.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this short 4WD outing suits — and who should consider alternatives.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
If you have young children who will join, you must bring personal booster seats; the operator does not have bolts to fasten car seats.
Personal booster seats are required for children when joining the tour; the operator cannot bolt in car seats onboard.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the Tin City 4WD Tour?
The tour is a two-hour outing.
Where do we meet for departure?
The tour departs from Anna Bay; boarding is on an air-conditioned customised 4WD bus.
Are there age limits for children?
Children under 3 years are not permitted; children aged 4–5 are not recommended for the tour due to distance and duration, though they may join if parents bring personal booster seats.
Is sandboarding included and is it safe?
Yes. Sandboarding is part of the tour on custom-made boards with instructors providing safety and technique guidance; dunes used can be up to 50 metres high.
Does the tour always run on my requested date?
Departure times depend on the tide, and the tour requires a minimum of four passengers to operate, so availability can vary by date.
Do I need to bring a booster seat for my child?
Yes. Personal booster seats must be brought for children; the operator does not have bolts to fasten car seats.