Port stephens wild about whales nsw national parks. From midmay to august, humpback whales journey north to their calving ground. This fishing guide is designed to provide key information to help. Whale watching in port stephens whale watching in port stephens humpback and southern right whales migrate along port stephens beautiful coastline between may and november, with pregnant whales heading to warmer waters to give birth to their young, before returning with their new born calves back to. Destination port stephens, the official peak tourism industry organisation in port stephens. Whales have been spotted this week off the central coast and port stephens meaning coffs coast whale watchers should start to see humpbacks breaching and blowing. Hunter valley tourism impacted by recent bushfires while. Anecdotally, there seems to be a hell of a lot of them this season, he. Tourist information nelson bay port stephens north coast. Nelson bay whale watching runs for 6 months of the year. Humpback whales migrate north along the east coast of australia between may and august each year to give birth and mate in the waters of the coral sea. Whalewatchers can download npws free wild about whales mobile app to find.
For general information on port stephens, visit au sourcecredit. Moonshadowtqc is located in beautiful port stephens, nsw australia, a 2. The humpback southern migration is in full swing down the nsw coast and its definitely time to escape the big city. Heres a quick wrap up of some other activities on offer in port stephens national parks. They offer dolphin and whale watching tours, marine discoverysnorkel tours, bay and beach swim tours, a fingal island and lighthouse tour as well as a sunset dinner cruise.
The best time for whale watching in this region, however, is between july and september. There are various whale watching cruises running from within port stephens, that venture out side the port stephens harbour and into the outer port stephens seas. Take a short walk to tomaree headland, or to the new whale watching path at noamunga headland, boat harbour and youll be rewarded with spectacular views and a great whale viewing spot. Whale watching in port stephens is conducted in what is whale watching australian largest marine park in new south wales 98,200 hectares. Sailor films close encounter with whales off newcastle. Fisheries compliance unit are generally very dark brown to mottled green in.
Nelson bay getaway tourist information nelson bay port stephens north coast new south wales australia. Port stephens enjoys an excellent whale season and the hinchinbrook explorer is the largest whale watching vessel in the bay with two viewing decks. Departing from mid may to early november from nelson bay, port stephens. Stephens passage and a secret stash of humpback whales. Port stephens day tours welcome on board to amazing port stephens day tours labelled blue water paradise, port stephens is renowned also for its beauty and marine surroundings with over 19 miles of clean, white and sandy beaches. Hover uav was lucky enough to capture amazing drone footage of a dead humpback whale and great white sharks off the coast of nsw. Dagtrip naar port stephens inclusief dolfijnen spotten, zandsurfen en australische. Port stephens renowned country music festival returns this year to various clubs and venues. Port stephens human whale 2015 destination port stephens.
We anticipate another bumper season in 2016 so to make sure youre uptodate with all of the best vantage points for spotting whales in 2016 by downloading the free wild. Specialising in dolphin watching, whale watching and twilight dinner cruises we also feature weddings, private charters, corporate team building and schools educational programs. Port stephens dolphin watching day tours from sydney. The human whale has been taking place in port stephens for many years, moving to fingal bay to accommodate larger attendance numbers in 2017. The port stephens region offers a range of quality landbased viewing points from which to see whales during a rather long whale watching season between may and november each year, with various locations along its foreshores as well as the summit walk of tomareee national park all offering potential glimpses of humpbacks and southern rights. Tourist information nelson bay port stephens north coast new south wales australia.
You will never forget seeing the awesome bulk of a humpback whale, upto 18 metres long and weighing 40 tonnes. Did you know that we have the largest marine park in new south wales with approximately 98,200 ha, named the port stephens great lakes marine park. If you love nature and adventure, then this is the trip for you. Port stephens whale watching season begins news of the area. Be amazed as you get close to the biggest creatures on earth. Human whale 15th july 2018 destination port stephens. An estimated 35,000 whales, mainly humpbacks, are expected to pass along the ports coast during the migration between may and november. Dolphin, whale watch tours and private charter cruises. From may to november the waters off port stephens play host to the magnificent migrating humpback whales.
People form a humpback whale at shoal bay, port stephens to. Check out the official visitors website for more ideas. In the summer months, stephens passage, and frederick sound are home to well over a hundred humpback whales that return year after year to feed on the abundant krill and herring. While port stephens is enjoying a strong summer tourist season, the visual signs of drought and smoke from recent bushfires have affected bottom lines in other parts of the hunter. Whale watching and sand boarding package port stephens. Whale watch season is upon us coffs coast advocate. Join the official launch of the 2018 port stephens whale season with 12 price morning whale watching cruises aboard moonshadowtqc and imagine cruises. On sunday, july 3, 2016, more than locals and visitors gathered on port stephens sunblessed shoal bay beach to form the outline of a giant. Fingal beach fingal beach surf life saving club marine drive, fingal bay nsw time.
Crab fishing is a popular recreational fishery and important commercial fishery in nsw. Your best chance of spotting whales in nelson bay is during the humpback whales migration season. Photos from the 2018 whale watching season in port stephens port. The national parks in the port stephens region including tomaree national park, myall lakes national park and worimi national park, provide some great things to see and do during the whale watching season. Leaving dalbora marina, nelson bay september and october are by far my favourite whale watching months of the year.
The whale tails were originally built and installed for naturefest 2016, but were such a hit that they remain a key part of the marinas open space to this day. The 3 hour cruises give people the opportunity to see whales of 3 different types the minke whale, pilot whales and humpback whales. To celebrate the whale watch season in port stephens, holiday visitors and locals alike are. Its been another awesome year for whale watching off the nsw coast in 2015, and to celebrate weve captured season highlights and fun facts and in the infographic below. Port stephens also makes for a great day trip or weekend break, and given that its low season you can get some great deals on accommodation and tours. Whale watching seattle and whale watching washington are commonly associated with whale watching in the san juan islands. Humpback whale surfacing near the david b in stephens passage.
Port stephens is one of the best places in the country to see the annual humpback whale migration and every year thousands of tourists flock to the coastal town to see the. Port stephens enjoys an excellent whale season and moonshadow tqc cruises offer two great whale watching cruise options lasting 2. Youll have a whale of a time in port stephens, a beautiful destination for whale watching only 2h 30min drive north of sydney. Sydney day tour naar port stephens dolfijnen, sandboarden, uitkijkposten. One dollar from every dolphin watch or marine discovery ticket sold will be donated to the marine parks association, furthering research on the resident bottlenose dolphins. Enjoy a trip to australias north coast, traveling to port stephens and the stockton bight sand dunes, on a fullday guided tour from sydney. The 2017 port stephens human whale was a world record with more than one thousand participants. Port stephens was first noted by europeans in may 1770 when captain james cook referred to port stephens in his log as an opening forming a bay. Spot humpbacks breaching and southern rights spyhopping between may and november from vantage points along the spectacular coast and on whalewatching cruises. Nsw whale watching season wild about whales nsw national. The whale watching season in sydney is between may and november each year but some times are better than others to increase your chances of seeing whales. Located just 2 12 hours north of sydney, try a whale watching tour in port stephens nsw australia. As port stephens is a peninsula, we are lucky enough to be right in the middle of the humpback highway. September and october are by far my favourite whale watching months of.
Join all the fun as the mammoth mammal takes shape on the sand of fingal beach. San juan island is the center of whale watching in the pacific northwest and therefore friday harbor on san juan island is the best location for departing on a whale watch tour in washington state. This family owned and operated business offer dolphin and whale watch cruises, fishing charters or private charters for functions. Check out our list of mustdo water activities in port stephens. Set sail on your destinations toprated boat tours and cruises. So off to beautiful port stephens a few hours drive north of sydney with some friends to join moonshadow cruises to go whale watching. Port stephens world record human whale at fingal bay port. Over 12,000 humpback whales swim past port stephens on their annual migration north along the australian east coast to the warmer waters of the south pacific ocean, between may and november each year. Download the wild about whales itinerary and plan your next port stephens. Whale season port stephens travel alert prior to visiting. Wild about whales is a celebration of whales along the nsw coastline. The port stephens whale watching season officially starts today and cruise operators are already reporting sightings of the migrating mammals.
Weve been walking sydneys coastline for years, so here are our tips on how to take advantage of nature to get the best out of your whale watching time. Check out the wildlife at the australian reptile park, take a dolphinwatching cruise from nelson bay, experience 4wheeling and sandboarding at the sand dunes, and soak up gorgeous scenery all along the route. Just two hours north of sydney, port stephens and the newcastle region is a. Excitement spread throughout the port today as reports of our the first confirmed whale sighting as part of the 2017 whale watching season. Tamboi queen cruises are the longest operating cruise company in port stephens. You wont forget the sight of a 15 metre, 40 tonne humpback whale. Join us as we set out to spot some awesome 40 tonne humpback whales on their annual migration. Get the latest sightings, learn whale facts and plan your next coastal adventure. It is home to around 150 bottlenose dolphins and therefore called the dolphin capital of australia. Whether its an entertaining and informative boat tour or a relaxing sunset dinner cruise, these are the best port stephens cruises around. Moonshadowtqc whale and dolphin watching cruises nelson. Mr moffatt, the general manager of winning holidays shoal bay, said the current whale migration season was being spoken of in tourism circles as one of the healthiest in memory. San juan excursions san juan islands whale watching.
For a truly once in a lifetime opportunity you can swim with wild dolphins in the open ocean and from may to november, see the magnificent humpback whales up close and personal during the annual migration season between june and november on a whale watching cruise or from a headland in tomaree national park. The whale watching season in port stephens runs from midmay to august when humpbacks migrate north to their calving ground in the south. Excellent humpback whale sighting rate, bonus dolphin watch, morning or afternoon tea, commentary, ocean going cruise including spectacular tomaree and yacaaba headlands and the outer islands. Dont miss the chance for some whale watching in season, its. Cruise among the whales on the whale watching trip, play on stunning beaches, sand slide down huge dunes and 4wd on the beach.
There are lots of coastal walks, fishing and boating opportunities, and even sandboarding. Have a whale of a time on sunday 15th july and participate to create the biggest human humpback as we celebrate the annual whale watching season. Whalewatching cruises aboard imagine cruises depart port stephens at 10. Keep uptodate with the latest news and marketing opportunities available to you as a tourism member. The whale watching season is from the end of may to mid november when over 20,000 humpback whales swim past port stephens on their annual migration north along the australian east coast to the warmer waters of the south pacific ocean. Port stephens gears up for whale watching season posted may 31, 2014 07. Top whale watching spots on the port stephens nsw environment.
Whale watching on the gold coast if youd rather keep your feet on the ground but still yearn for the special experience of seeing a whale, australias east coast is. Accommodation providers in port stephens recorded hightovery high occupancy rates over christmas and new year, with bookings described as good, if not better. Home whale watching tips and guidelines approach zones top spots byron and tweed coffs harbour port macquarie port stephens sydney and. Or spot whales 11 of 11 whale watching is also a popular activity as humpbacks and southern right whales pass through the waters. Atlantis port stephens is a social enterprise located in salamander bay, with a goal to promote conservation through education of. A bumper season on the whale highway is expected to entice domestic tourists back to the port stephens region after it copped a battering in the fierce april storms. Private guided premium tour to port stephens, dolphin. Aerial drone video whale and sharks newcastle port. With over 140 bottlenose dolphins calling port stephens home, its no wonder. Also included is a cruise of port stephens outer islands, morning or afternoon tea and full commentary.
Best time for whale watching in australia about australia. Each year more than 3000 humpbacks pass close to the coast of port stephens migrating to warm tropical waters from late may to july and from september to november the whales can be seen returning to the antarctic with their calves. Aerial drone video whale and sharks newcastle port stephens coast. The various bays and coastal areas include anna bay, fingal bay, lemon tree passage, mallabula, nelson bay, salamander bay, salt ash, shoal bay, soldiers point, stockton beach and tanilba bay.