Whale Sightings

What a spectacular day it has been on the water, with today’s whale watching cruises delivering an unforgettable display from Port Stephens’ migrating Humpback Whales. With glassy offshore conditions and only a gentle ocean roll, passengers aboard Osprey enjoyed near-perfect whale watching weather as Captain Harry guided the vessel out through the heads at Shoal…

What better way to spend the King’s Birthday public holiday Monday than out on the water with Moonshadow-TQC Cruises enjoying some incredible whale watching action off the Port Stephens coastline. Our morning Whale Watch Cruise aboard Hinchinbrook Explorer quickly found success, with the crew locating a juvenile Humpback Whale just north of Fingal Island. The…

Today’s morning cruise aboard Hinchinbrook Explorer delivered one of the most action-packed whale watching experiences of the season so far. With sunny skies, clear visibility and gentle offshore breezes, we encountered humpback whales everywhere we looked. Between Fingal Lighthouse and Little Island, an estimated 10-15 whales were travelling north in four separate pods…

As we cruised out through the harbour entrance this morning, the excitement began building almost immediately when our crew spotted whale blows on the horizon. With calm conditions and eager eyes scanning the ocean, anticipation was high as we made our way towards Fingal Island. Before long, we were rewarded with an unforgettable encounter as…

Despite a very windy day offshore, sea conditions remained comfortable, allowing us to head out in search of our migrating humpback whales. It didn’t take long before we spotted multiple blows in the distance, a promising sign that whales were nearby. Making our way towards the activity, we were rewarded with an energetic juvenile humpback…

Today’s whale watching adventures aboard MV Osprey delivered some memorable encounters for our guests, with plenty of whale action throughout both cruises. Our morning passengers were treated to an energetic display from a small group of juvenile humpback whales. These young whales certainly put on a show, delighting everyone on board with an estimated 20–30…

The cooler winter air has arrived in Port Stephens, and for us that can only mean one thing – the humpback whale migration is well underway! While many of us are reaching for our jackets and scarves, the whales are making their incredible annual journey north along Australia’s east coast. The good news? The whales…

Today marked the official celebration of the start of the 2026 Whale Watch season, and what a fantastic way to begin another exciting year on the water with Moonshadow-TQC Cruises. Monday morning greeted us with clear blue skies, calm seas, and perfect whale-watching conditions as passengers boarded MV Hinchinbrook Explorer and MV Osprey for our…

What a spectacular Sunday it was on the waters of Port Stephens, with clear blue skies, calm aqua seas, and plenty of whale activity to keep our passengers smiling all day long. The morning cruise aboard Envision was treated to several Humpback Whales making their annual migration north along Australia’s famous Humpback Highway. One whale…

Today was a day for the true ocean lovers. After several days of cloudy skies and unsettled conditions, the sunshine finally returned and the seas calmed, creating the perfect opportunity to head back out onto the famous Port Stephens Whale Highway. The excitement onboard was contagious, with both passengers and crew thrilled to be back…

  The 2026 whale season has officially begun for Moonshadow-TQC Cruises – and what an incredible start it was! Passengers aboard the very first Whale Reconnaissance Cruise were treated to an unforgettable day on the water as excitement and anticipation filled the air from the moment the day began. Port Stephens awoke beneath a blanket…

A Close Encounter on the Humpback HighwayPort Stephens Whale Watching Update — Moonshadow-TQC Cruises There are some days on the water that linger with you long after the engines are switched off – and today was one of them. Our morning cruise on the famous Humpback Whale Highway began in classic spring style,…