Grew up in the Port Stephens/Nelson Bay area. Take the Sail boards. You will be hard pressed to find a good spot as a beginner. Tanilba Bay at low tide is ok but hard on the feet (shells etc). Jimmies Beach on the North side of bay can be great but, again not good for beginners as the prevailing winds are usually offshore this time of year. All other locations in the area are good as a beginner if the swell is very small but from the look of the low off the coast it aint going to be small for awhile.
ps big currents in the bay, be warned.