20 SEPTEMBER 2026
A Picture-Perfect Day of Whale Watching in Port Stephens. What an incredible day on the water with Moonshadow-TQC Cruises!
Port Stephens delivered picture-perfect whale-watching conditions today, with calm seas, very little wind and an impressive variety of marine wildlife encountered across both cruises.
It didn’t take long for our morning passengers to enjoy their first humpback whale encounter. Just outside the headlands near Zenith Beach, we located a mother and calf travelling together.
The energetic calf enthusiastically slapped its tail against the surface and regularly lifted its head above the water for a curious look at its surroundings. Mum then surprised everyone onboard with a spectacular, completely unexpected breach!
After leaving the pair, we cruised towards the offshore islands, where we discovered another mother and calf. Large humpback whales could also be seen breaching in the distance, adding even more excitement to an already memorable morning.
At Cabbage Tree Island, six seals were basking in the sunshine on the rocks. To round out the morning’s wildlife sightings, we encountered a large pod of Port Stephens bottlenose dolphins near the base of Yacaaba Headland.
Our 1:30 pm cruise brought another wonderful series of encounters. Close to the headlands, passengers spent time watching two separate humpback whale pods – each consisting of a mother and calf.
The seals were once again spotted relaxing on the rocks at Cabbage Tree Island. On the journey home, we were treated to one final wildlife encounter when a pod of dolphins appeared near the Jimmys Beach side of the harbour.
With multiple humpback mothers and calves, breaching whales, playful dolphins and sunbaking seals, it has been an unforgettable day of wildlife watching in Port Stephens.
Every cruise is different, and we can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!
Photo credit: Lee Matthews Photography