Whale Sightings

It was another spectacular day of whale watching in Port Stephens, with passengers aboard the Hinchinbrook Explorer treated to energetic humpback whales, multiple pods offshore and appearances from our local bottlenose dolphins.

Our first sighting of the day occurred just south of Fingal Island, where we encountered a pod of three large adult humpback whales. The whales delivered an incredible surface display, including powerful pectoral-fin slaps and dramatic head lunges.

The smallest of the three was particularly energetic, breaching approximately 20 times! It was an unforgettable sight for everyone onboard, with the whale repeatedly launching itself from the water before crashing back into the ocean.

Additional pods could also be seen farther offshore, while our local bottlenose dolphins were spotted near the base of Mount Yacaaba – adding another special wildlife encounter to the morning cruise.

By the time our 1:30pm Whale Watch Cruise departed, sea conditions had settled and eased as we cruised through the headlands at Shoal Bay. Multiple pods of northbound humpback whales were already visible.

Our first afternoon encounter was with two humpback whales travelling together. A lone humpback followed behind them and came remarkably close to the vessel at one stage before disappearing beneath the surface.

We continued following the whales as they travelled north along the coastline. On our return journey past Boondelbah Island, we spotted another humpback whale, giving passengers one more exciting encounter before heading back towards Port Stephens.

To complete the afternoon, our local bottlenose dolphins made another appearance near the base of Mount Yacaaba as we returned to the harbour.

With energetic surface activity, multiple humpback whale pods and bottlenose dolphins encountered throughout the day, it was a wonderful reminder that every Moonshadow-TQC Cruises whale-watching experience is different – and you never know what the ocean may have waiting for you.

The humpback whale migration is continuing along the Port Stephens coastline. Join Moonshadow-TQC Cruises and experience the excitement of seeing these magnificent animals in their natural environment.

Photo credit: Lee Matthews Photography