Whale Sightings

Spring Babies and Spectacular Breaches off Port Stephens

Spring has brought some very special visitors to Port Stephens—humpback whale mums and their calves! At Moonshadow-TQC Cruises, sightings of these pairs are becoming a daily highlight, with more little ones appearing on our whale watching adventures. Of course, “little” is relative when a calf can be the size of a small car!

Today delivered memorable encounters on both our morning and afternoon cruises, from a family travelling south to an energetic display of repeated breaches.

A morning with mum, calf and an escort

Passengers aboard Hinchinbrook Explorer this morning spent time watching a humpback mother, her calf and a female escort as they made their way south.

Seeing a mother and calf travelling together is a special experience, offering passengers a glimpse of these magnificent animals in their natural environment as their journey continues along the coast.

An afternoon of repeat breaches

The afternoon cruise brought another exciting encounter when we spotted a different mother and calf between Boondelbah and Cabbage Tree islands. Both whales put on a spectacular display, breaching repeatedly and giving passengers plenty of reasons to keep their eyes – and cameras – on the water!

The pair then joined additional adult humpbacks, forming a larger pod of around four to six whales. We travelled alongside the group as they continued south towards Fingal Island Lighthouse, rounding out a remarkable afternoon on the water.

What will tomorrow bring?

With mother-and-calf sightings increasing, there is plenty to look forward to on our upcoming cruises. Every day brings a different experience, shaped by the whales’ movements and behaviour—from quieter encounters to the breathtaking breaches witnessed today.

Join Moonshadow-TQC Cruises for a chance to experience the spring whale activity off Port Stephens. You never know which memorable moment might be waiting beyond the Heads!

Photo credit: Lee Matthews Photography