Whale Sightings

A Tale of Two Whale Watches – Today on the Humpback Highway 🐋🌊 What a difference a few hours can make when you’re whale watching in Port Stephens! Today was the perfect reminder that no two whale watching cruises are ever the same. From a quiet juvenile encounter in the morning to an action-packed afternoon…

🐋 A Quiet but Magical Morning Offshore It was a quieter morning offshore today, with one lone humpback whale heading north in our sights. A little late to the party, with some whales already beginning their journey south, this whale was in no hurry and gave us some fantastic surface time as it casually continued…

A fantastic morning on the water with Moonshadow-TQC Cruises! Despite windy conditions and a small offshore roll, we spotted two pods of humpback whales migrating north. With around 7-minute dive times, our passengers enjoyed some great views as the whales surfaced and continued their journey. We also cruised around beautiful Cabbage Tree Island, where two…

Whale Watch Report – A Spectacular Day on the Water Despite a chilly start, today’s beautiful sunshine provided the perfect backdrop for another memorable day of whale watching with Moonshadow-TQC Cruises. As we departed Port Stephens Harbor, our crew and passengers kept a keen eye on the ocean, searching for the first signs of wildlife….

What a fantastic day of wildlife encounters in Port Stephens! This morning aboard MV Osprey, our first humpback encounter came just off Fingal Lighthouse, where a juvenile whale was steadily making its way north. Spending around four minutes underwater between dives, this youngster gave us some beautiful tail shots and delighted passengers by surfacing nice…

Beautiful sunny skies and sparkling blue water made for another fantastic morning on the water as we headed out in search of the humpback whales migrating past Port Stephens. Cruising beyond Tomaree Head and the spectacular Mrs Murphy’s, we were greeted by a playful Australian fur seal before spotting three separate pods of whales offshore….

Today’s whale watching adventures showcased two very different sides of the annual humpback migration, with a peaceful morning followed by an afternoon that kept everyone eagerly watching for the next surprise. Our morning cruise found three pods of humpback whales travelling steadily north near the islands. While the whales were in a relaxed travelling mood…

It has been an absolutely beautiful day on the water for our Whale Watch Cruises onboard MV Osprey, with sunshine, calm conditions and plenty of marine wildlife to enjoy. During this morning’s cruise, our crew reported sightings of approximately half a dozen Humpback Whales. The morning began with a very special encounter – a northbound…

Today’s calm offshore conditions provided a beautiful backdrop as we headed out in search of Port Stephens’ migrating humpback whales. While whale sightings were quieter than on some days, we were treated to a memorable encounter with a single humpback whale. As we approached, the whale delighted everyone on board with one spectacular breach before…

It was another spectacular day of whale watching in Port Stephens, with passengers treated to close encounters, playful juveniles and an incredible display of more than 30 breaches! As MV Osprey cruised past Shoal Bay and out through the headlands, the crew spotted two Humpback Whales breaching in the distance. We headed towards the action,…

Today’s cruise ticked every box for unforgettable wildlife encounters! ✅ Humpback whales ✅ Offshore common dolphins ✅ Soaring seabirds Passengers aboard MV Osprey enjoyed an exceptionally close encounter when a humpback whale crossed directly in front of the vessel’s bow—an incredible moment that had everyone reaching for their cameras. The highlight of the day was…

This morning offered a quieter but no less memorable whale-watching experience, with plenty of incredible wildlife encounters along the way. Just off Broughton Island, we spotted our first pod of whales. They were incredibly relaxed, spending long periods beneath the surface between breaths, making for a peaceful start to the day. As we continued around…