27 JULY 2026
Monday morning in Port Stephens has never looked better, with brilliant blue skies, warm winter sunshine and wonderful conditions for whale watching aboard MV Osprey.
Our morning cruise began along the picturesque Shoal Bay shoreline before heading past the towering Mt Tomaree and out towards Point Stephens. We were soon treated to a rare offshore sighting of a pod of Port Stephens’ resident inshore bottlenose dolphins – an unexpected and exciting way to begin the day.
Continuing along the Port Stephens Whale Highway, we located a pod of five adult humpback whales involved in a high-energy heat run. Heat runs occur when several males compete to gain the attention of a female, often resulting in fast swimming, close interaction and plenty of activity at the surface. After travelling together for some time, the whales eventually separated and went their own ways.
At Cabbage Tree Island, six Australian fur seals were relaxing on the rocks. A couple appeared to be having a spirited disagreement as they vied for the best position – proving that even seals have their favourite sunbaking spots!
The afternoon brought calm seas and ideal offshore conditions. After cruising past Fingal Lighthouse and heading south, we spent time with several pods of humpback whales, with approximately ten whales sighted throughout the cruise.
Some of the whales appeared to be taking advantage of the gentle swell, while others were observed “logging” at the surface. Logging is a resting behaviour where a whale remains almost motionless at the surface, with only part of its back and blowhole visible. From a distance, the resting whale can resemble a large log floating in the water – hence the name.
The wildlife encounters continued when we spotted a group of hungry seals actively hunting a tightly packed bait ball of fish. A pod of common dolphins also joined the afternoon’s impressive wildlife list.
From resident bottlenose dolphins and energetic humpback heat runs to resting whales, hunting seals and common dolphins, it was an unforgettable winter’s day on the water.
Join Moonshadow‑TQC Cruises and experience the incredible wildlife and scenery of the Port Stephens Whale Highway for yourself.
Photo credit: Lee Matthews Photography