12 August 2026
🐋 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 north. At one point, the boat fell completely quiet as the whale surfaced for a breath we could hear the powerful exhale, and as the mist rose from its blowhole, a rainbow appeared in the spray! 🌈🐋
Further offshore, we spotted a few more pods making their way along the coast, with one group showing off with some tail slaps in the distance. A peaceful morning on the water and a beautiful reminder that sometimes the quieter whale watches can deliver the most magical moments
What an afternoon on the water! Our crew discovered two pods of humpback whales on the inside of Fingal Island one travelling north and another heading south. The southbound pod was the one to watch, lingering around the boat and treating passengers to surface rolls, tail slaps, pectoral fin waves and a couple of surprise breaches. The highlight came when two humpbacks spy-hopped just 30 metres in front of the boat, creating an unforgettable moment for everyone onboard.
The wildlife encounters didn’t stop there, with an energetic seal playing around the rocks at Fingal Island and a couple of our resident bottlenose dolphins fishing near Tomaree Head. With whales now travelling in both directions, it’s an exciting time of the migration season in Port Stephens. Another beautiful afternoon on the water with Moonshadow-TQC Cruises — we can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings! 🐋💙