6 OCTOBER 2026
Beautiful Conditions and an Active Humpback Calf. It was another beautiful day on the water in Port Stephens, with fantastic conditions for our Whale Watching Cruises and plenty of marine life to enjoy along the way.
Our morning cruise was treated to a wonderful encounter with a humpback mother and calf, with our vessel able to spend a good amount of time travelling alongside the pair as they made their way along the coast.
The calf was certainly keeping everyone entertained! It was particularly active at the surface, performing a number of tail lobs and spending plenty of time rolling around in the water. Both Mum and calf remained visible at the surface for extended periods, giving our passengers some fantastic opportunities to watch their natural behaviour.
These longer encounters with mothers and calves are always special at this stage of the whale watching season. After making the long journey south from their northern breeding grounds, mothers and their young calves can often be seen travelling together along our coastline.
Dolphins and a Surprise Seal Sighting
The humpbacks weren’t the only wildlife spotted during the morning.
As we travelled past Yacaaba Headland, we encountered some of Port Stephens’ resident bottlenose dolphins, adding another great wildlife experience to the cruise.
We also spotted a seal at Cabbage Tree Island – a fantastic bonus sighting and a great way to round out a morning filled with marine wildlife.
With beautiful conditions, an active humpback calf, bottlenose dolphins and a seal all making an appearance, it was certainly a memorable morning on the water.
Every whale watching cruise is different, and that’s part of what makes heading offshore so exciting. These incredible animals are travelling through their natural environment, so we never know exactly what we’ll encounter or what behaviours we’ll be lucky enough to witness.
We look forward to seeing what the next cruise brings!
Photo credit: Lee Matthews Photography