18 SEPTEMBER 2026
Clear blue skies, a gentle breeze and just a slight roll of the seas made for perfect conditions to head offshore and spot a whale or two today. There was plenty happening out there this morning!
Our first encounter was a mother and calf not far off the Heads. The pair were spending plenty of time circling in the area, and we suspect the calf may have been feeding. They came quite close to the boat, giving everyone onboard some fantastic views. After a while, the calf became a little more energetic and treated us to a few head lunges!
After spending some time with these two, we continued a little further offshore and soon found another mother and calf, this pair steadily migrating south. In the distance, we could also see two adult humpbacks making their way south.
The wildlife encounters didn’t stop there! A large pod of bottlenose dolphins appeared close to the boat, actively chasing a bait ball – an amazing sight to watch!
At Cabbage Tree Island, we spotted around 7 – 8 seals, swimming and relaxing in the water, with some floating around with their fins sticking up.
And just when we thought the morning couldn’t get much better a turtle popped its head up right near the boat!
Whales, dolphins, seals AND a turtle — what a fantastic morning of wildlife encounters off Port Stephens!
Photo Credit: Lee Matthews Photography