24 JULY 2026
There is something truly special about whale watching on a crisp winter’s morning in Port Stephens. While the temperatures may be cool, today’s beautiful winter sunshine made for perfect conditions on the water. With our trusty beanies and scarves keeping everyone warm, passengers aboard Moonshadow-TQC Cruises enjoyed another memorable morning exploring the Port Stephens Humpback Highway.
Throughout the cruise, we encountered a number of migrating humpback whales steadily making their incredible journey north. While today’s whales weren’t in a playful mood, they treated our guests to plenty of quality surface time before occasionally disappearing beneath the waves for longer 5–6 minute sounding dives.
Although there wasn’t a great deal of surface activity such as breaching or tail slapping today, it was a wonderful opportunity to appreciate these magnificent animals as they continued their remarkable migration. Watching these gentle giants cruise effortlessly through the calm ocean is a powerful reminder of the endurance and determination behind one of nature’s greatest journeys.
Every day on the Humpback Highway is different, and that’s part of what makes whale watching so rewarding. Whether it’s spectacular aerial displays or simply observing these incredible mammals travelling through our coastline, every encounter is unique and unforgettable.
We look forward to welcoming more passengers aboard tomorrow as we continue following the annual humpback migration through the stunning waters of Port Stephens.
Photo credit: Lee Matthews Photography