20 OCTOBER 2025
What an incredible morning on the water! Our passengers aboard today’s Whale Watch Cruise were treated to a spectacular encounter with 8–9 Humpback Whales midway between Port Stephens and Broughton Island. The whales were cruising south on their migration, gracefully gliding through the water with the occasional tail slap adding to the excitement.
As the morning went on, we noticed their behaviour change — their downtime shortened from 8 minutes to just 4, giving everyone more chances to enjoy these magnificent animals as they surfaced and exhaled misty plumes across the ocean.
In a fascinating twist, a Australian Fur Seal decided to join the show! He followed us all the way from Cabbage Tree Island out to the whales — perhaps resuming his own migration south alongside the pod. These seals are only found at Cabbage Tree Island during the whale season before they too head back southward, so this was a real seasonal treat.
Rounding off the adventure, a large pod of playful dolphins joined us, surfing along the bow and leaping through the waves. To top it all off, we even spotted flying fish darting across the surface — the ocean was alive in every direction today!
It’s days like these that remind us how lucky we are to call Port Stephens home — where whales, dolphins, and seals all share the same incredible stage.
photo credit: Lee Matthews Photography