23 AUGUST 2026
This morning aboard MV Osprey, we headed offshore in slightly rolly swell conditions. The whales we initially encountered were in a relaxed mood, steadily migrating north with little surface activity. They travelled quietly along their migration route, providing some lovely, peaceful sightings.
Then, just when we thought the cruise might remain relaxed, everything changed during the last hour of our trip! We located a lone humpback whale that appeared to have decided it was time to put on a show.
This energetic humpback treated our passengers to an incredible display of breaching, head lunging and powerful tail slapping. The whale was also curious enough to come nice and close to the boat, giving everyone onboard an unforgettable opportunity to see this magnificent animal up close.
The action didn’t stop there. We located several more pods of humpback whales just south of Fingal Island, and they were also displaying plenty of activity. With multiple whales breaching, lunging and moving energetically across the water, there was certainly plenty to keep our passengers watching in every direction.
It was the perfect reminder that patience is key when whale watching. What started as a quiet morning of slow-moving whales transformed into an action-packed finale, proving that you never know when a humpback might decide to steal the show!
During the afternoon cruise, our crew reported sightings of a couple of pods of humpback whales heading southbound.
All the whales were quite active and spent plenty of time at the surface, providing our passengers with some wonderful viewing opportunities. A couple of the whales appeared particularly interested in the vessel and, at one point, came nice and close to the boat.
With active whales, extended time at the surface and some memorable close encounters, it was another fantastic afternoon of whale watching off the Port Stephens coastline.
Photo credit: Lee Matthews Photography