25 OCTOBER 2026
How Do You Lose a Massive Whale? A Day of Hide and Seek in Port Stephens
Even a massive whale can be surprisingly good at disappearing! Today’s whale watching adventures with Moonshadow-TQC Cruises brought elusive morning encounters, an afternoon with a humpback mum and calf, and some playful dolphins enjoying the surf.
A morning of whale hide and seek
Our morning Whale Watch Cruise spotted two separate pods, but getting a good look proved a little tricky.
The first pod, consisting of two whales, slipped beneath the surface on a long sounding dive, keeping our crew and passengers scanning for their next appearance.
On our way back towards the dock, we spotted a humpback mum and calf closer to Mount Tomaree. This pair also proved elusive, offering brief glimpses before disappearing beneath the water.
With today’s whales a little difficult to track, all passengers on our 10am Whale Watch Cruise were issued a Standby Voucher to return for another whale watching cruise. We look forward to welcoming them aboard for another opportunity to experience these magnificent animals.
Thanks to our eagle-eyed skipper, Josh aboard Envision, 90 minute Whale Watch Express, we spotted a mother whale and her calf, with the youngster treating passengers to a spectacular breach. Seeing a calf launch itself out of the water is an unforgettable sight and a wonderful highlight to share from today’s cruise.
The wildlife encounters continued as we cruised past Cabbage Tree Island. One observant passenger spotted an Australian fur seal enjoying the morning sunshine on a rock before it slipped into the crystal-clear water. It was a lovely reminder to watch the islands and rocky shoreline as well as the open ocean.
Overhead, the resident pair of white-bellied sea-eagles had their own priorities. While we were admiring the scenery, they were focused on finding their morning meal, giving passengers another reason to look up.
An afternoon with mum and calf
The afternoon cruise began with a much more conspicuous clue: a splash of white water from a peduncle throw, as a humpback swung its powerful tail section out of the water.
As we approached, we discovered a humpback mum and her calf. We spent a good amount of time watching the pair as they surfaced to breathe and continued their migration. At one point, mum may also have been nursing her calf—a possible glimpse of the care that supports these young whales on their journey.
Closer to shore, we also spotted bottlenose dolphins playing in the surf at Yacaaba, adding another memorable wildlife encounter to the afternoon.
Every cruise tells a different story
Today was a wonderful reminder that whale watching unfolds on nature’s terms. Some encounters keep everyone searching the horizon; others give us time to watch the quieter rhythms of a mother and calf travelling together.
Join Moonshadow-TQC Cruises on the water and discover what the next whale watching adventure has in store.
Photo credit: Lee Matthews Photography