Lunch bring a packed lunch or grab one at one of the nelson bay cafes. Check out the official visitors website for more ideas. Be amazed as you get close to the biggest creatures on earth. After breeding they migrate with their calves back to the southern ocean and the cold waters of the antarctic. 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. Nelson bay whale watching runs for 6 months of the year.
Whale watching in port stephens is conducted in what is whale watching australian largest marine park in new south wales 98,200 hectares. Port stephens whale watching season begins news of the area. Port stephens on the mid north coast of nsw is the perfect place in australia to observe dolphins in the wild and is home to around 150 bottlenose dolphins with 99% success rate with dolphin sighting on all our dolphin cruises during all year round. 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. Subscribe to naturescapes for the latest news from nsw national. Port stephens dolphin watching day tours from sydney. 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. Marine rescue port stephens, nelson bay, new south wales. Commercial whaling began in australia in the 1820s and by 1845 75% of the southern right population had been wiped out. Cruise among the whales on the whale watching trip, play on stunning beaches, sand slide down huge dunes and 4wd on the beach. May 31, 2014 port stephens gears up for whale watching season posted may 31, 2014 07. People form a humpback whale at shoal bay, port stephens to celebrate the start of the whale watching season.
Port stephens is the home of some of the states most beautiful sea cultures. Top whale watching spots on port stephens mirage news. Download our free app to find the top whale watching spots in nsw and submit your sighting. Whales sighted at port stephens naturefest news of the area. Approximately 22,000 humpbacks pass port stephens on their 12,000km migration every year. Specialising in dolphin watching, whale watching and twilight dinner cruises we also feature weddings, private charters, corporate team building and schools educational programs.
Hover uav was lucky enough to capture amazing drone footage of a dead humpback whale and great white sharks off the coast of nsw. Advertise with news of the area and you get your ad in 1 in print, 2 on the news website like this ad, and 3 on our social media news site. Jul 20, 2017 the 2017 port stephens human whale was a world record with more than one thousand participants. May 31, 2017 the launch of the whale watching season is just one part of port stephens naturefest which celebrates all things in nature in our coastal paradise. Port stephens whale watching season in full swing abc. Your best chance of spotting whales in nelson bay is during the humpback whales migration season.
Marine rescue port stephens is an accredited fully equipped search and rescue coordination centre sarcc. 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. Moonshadowtqc whale and dolphin watching cruises nelson. Imagine best dolphin watch cruise in port stephens. September and october are by far my favourite whale watching months of. Aerial drone video whale and sharks newcastle port stephens coast. Whalewatchers can download npws free wild about whales.
Port stephens dolphin watching day tours from sydney port. Cancelling tours is not easy, but we all need to do our part to slow the spread of this virus. With over 140 bottlenose dolphins calling port stephens home, its no wonder. 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. A great first step is to download the wild about whales app for apple and android and go mobile with our whale watching guide. There are lots of coastal walks, fishing and boating opportunities, and even sandboarding. Private guided premium tour to port stephens, dolphin. Port stephens is an exciting and diverse region hosting a wide range of events throughout the year. The human whale has been taking place in port stephens for many years, moving to fingal bay to accommodate larger attendance numbers in 2017.
Electoral district of port stephens, new south wales, australia. The humpback southern migration is in full swing down the nsw coast and its definitely time to escape the big city. 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. 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. Top whale watching spots on port stephens with over 30,000 whales predicted to be currently migrating along the nsw coastline, nsw national parks and wildlife service npws is encouraging everyone to visit coastal national parks for some of the best vantage points to spot these majestic ocean giants. The launch of the whale watching season is just one part of port stephens naturefest which celebrates all things in nature in our coastal paradise. 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. Just two hours north of sydney, port stephens and the newcastle region is a.
This family owned and operated business offer dolphin and whale watch cruises, fishing charters or private charters for functions. View from the popular look out point on gan gan hill. Tourist information nelson bay port stephens north coast nsw. Aerial drone video whale and sharks newcastle port. For general information on port stephens, visit au sourcecredit. The ports beaches and foreshores also offer good whalewatching, especially from boat harbour accessed from iluka reserve, anna bay and. Jul 29, 2015 whale watching is an experience not to be missed. The port stephens whale watching season officially starts today and cruise operators are already reporting sightings of the migrating mammals. The 3 hour cruises give people the opportunity to see whales of 3 different types the.
Download the wild about whales itinerary and plan your next port stephens. Port stephens gears up for whale watching season posted may 31, 2014 07. Wild about whales is a celebration of whales along the nsw coastline. Join the official launch of the 2018 port stephens whale season with 12 price morning whale watching cruises aboard moonshadowtqc and imagine cruises. Top whale watching spots on the port stephens nsw environment. Our dedication to the protection of dolphins and whales enables us to tailor a unique style of cruise. Port stephens gears up for whale watching season abc. Humpback whales migrate north along the east coast of australia between may and august each year to give birth. Whale watching sailing cruise nelson bay, port stephens. You will never forget seeing the awesome bulk of a humpback whale, upto 18 metres long and weighing 40 tonnes. Tamboi queen cruises are the longest operating cruise company in port stephens. All vehicles come with a fully qualified driver, with exceptional knowledge of the stockton beach sand dunes. Marine rescue port stephens nelson bay, new south wales. Port stephens is nsw premium destination for dolphin watching enthusiast, with the beautiful port stephens harbour boosting an impressive 99% success rate for spotting dolphins.
Whalewatching cruises aboard imagine cruises depart port stephens at 10. It is home to around 150 bottlenose dolphins and therefore called the dolphin capital of australia. Departing from mid may to early november from nelson bay, port stephens. Port stephens new south wales, a natural harbour in australia. Aerial drone video whale and sharks newcastle port stephens nsw. Will taylor location port stephens whale watching on imagine cruises tune kayoh shh nest hq premiere. Looking forward to having you on our tour so we can show you an amazing time on this day trip to port stephens from sydney. Tips and guidelines wild about whales nsw national parks.
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. 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. From midmay to august, humpback whales journey north to their calving ground. Port stephens enjoys an excellent whale season and moonshadow tqc cruises offer two great whale watching cruise options lasting 2. Atlantis port stephens is a social enterprise located in salamander bay, with a goal to promote conservation through education of our wonderful and unique marine life. Dolphin watch is the most noteworthy highlight of port stephens.
Here are a few companies who specialise in dolphin and whale watching cruises. Port stephens whale watching season in full swing abc news. The southern right whale does not migrate in the same pattern as the humpback whales, but during the winter months the southern rights will move along the coastline seeking places to mate and shelter with their newborn calves they will enter and remain in bays and harbors for days at a time and then move slowly north or south. Private guided premium tour to port stephens, dolphinwhales. Before boarding on the dolphin watch port stephens cruise, you have an hours time to have lunch with the spectacular view of nelson bay.
Whale watching cruises aboard imagine cruises depart port stephens at 10. Join us as we set out to spot some awesome 40 tonne humpback whales on their annual migration. Whales,dolphins,seals watching cruise port stephens australia. Youll have a whale of a time in port stephens, a beautiful destination for whale watching only 2h 30min drive north of sydney. With over 30000 whales predicted to be currently migrating along the nsw. 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 nov each year. Major centres are raymond terrace with the town hall and nelson bay a town popular for holiday makers. Seeing whales in port stephens is a must for locals and visitors alike and it is always exciting to see these wonderful creatures grace us with their presence. Marine rescue port stephens is an accredited fully equipped search and rescue co. Port stephens is a top spot to see humpbacks and southern right whales passing during their annual migration. Enjoy a trip to australias north coast, traveling to port stephens and the stockton bight sand dunes, on a fullday guided tour from sydney. So off to beautiful port stephens a few hours drive north of sydney with some friends to join moonshadow cruises to go whale watching.
The 3 hour cruises give people the opportunity to see whales of 3 different types the minke whale, pilot whales and humpback whales. Port stephens world record human whale at fingal bay port. Travel from sydney to port stephens with a small group for a personalised tour visit nelson bay, the popular seaside town and relax by the marina where you will break for lunch own expense cruise out of the headlands in search for humpback whales and join the cruise as you look out for other sealife including dolphins and seals from the viewing decks take a big 4wd vehicle over the huge. The waters of port stephens are renowned for dolphin and whale watching. Whale season port stephens travel alert prior to visiting. You wont forget the sight of a 15 metre, 40 tonne humpback whale. From may to november the waters off port stephens play host to the magnificent migrating humpback whales. The same is true up and down both coasts, the further north you go along the coast the more concentrated the season is, august to september mostly at the very northern point. Humpback whales can be seen port stephens on a this private tours for about five months of the year. Located just 2 12 hours north of sydney, try a whale watching tour in port stephens nsw australia. Port stephens wild about whales nsw national parks.
Moonshadowtqc is located in beautiful port stephens, nsw australia, a 2. The humpback whale is a protected species and is a very energetic large whale. The 2017 port stephens human whale was a world record with more than one thousand participants. We are passionate about port stephens and its wildlife and love to share it with our guests each day. Wild about whales app, so its shaping up to be a great whale watching season. Humpback whale surfacing near the david b in stephens passage. 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, 100mlong humpback whale. People form a humpback whale at shoal bay, port stephens to celebrate the start of the whalewatching season.
Also included is a cruise of port stephens outer islands, morning or afternoon tea and full commentary. The right whale to catch the right whales got their name from whales as they were the best or right whales to catch because they are slow swimmers, float when dead and provided large quantities of oil. Tackleworld portstephens 100 magnus st, nelson bay, new south wales 2315 rated 4. Photos from the 2018 whale watching season in port stephens port.
Our port stephens whale watching day tour departs every wednesday and saturday from sydney during whale season june oct. Youll find information on the best vantage points, different whale species you might see and tips for spotting them, as well as a map with the latest whale sightings. This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title port stephens. Jul 03, 2016 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, 100mlong humpback whale. Port stephens is an area surrounding the port stephens bay, just north of newcastle in new south wales. 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. Dolphin watch cruise is the best part of port stephens day tour in this part of port stephens tours, you will hop on board for spotting dolphins. 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. Whale watching sailing cruise nelson bay, port stephens 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 nov each year. Event calendar port stephens council we have detected that you are running an unsupported version of microsoft internet explorer. Whales,dolphins,seals watching cruise port stephens. Get the latest sightings, learn whale facts and plan your next coastal adventure. Get some porpoise in your life and join our world record attempt to create the biggest human humpback as we celebrate the annual whale watching season.
Spot humpbacks breaching and southern rights spyhopping between may and november from vantage points along the spectacular coast and on whalewatching cruises. 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. Humpback whales migrate north along the east coast of australia between may and august each year to give birth and mate in. 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. Port stephens gears up for whale watching season abc news. An estimated 35,000 whales, mainly humpbacks, are expected to pass along the ports coast during the migration between may and november. Port jet owner, jodi heeney, hoped to spot worldrenowned white whale migaloo this season. Dolphin watching port stephens cruise port stephens. Stephens passage and a secret stash of humpback whales. 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 antarctica. May through to november will see plenty of opportunities for whale watching in port stephens. The council area of port stephens stretches from seaham, west of the pacific highway to fingal bay at the tip of the tomaree peninsula and has about 65,000 inhabitants.
Tourist information nelson bay port stephens north coast. Whale watching and sand boarding package port stephens. Midmay to early september sees the whales moving north to their breeding grounds and from mid september to the middle of october the south migration kicks in with lots of humpback mothers with their new born calves seen during october. May 16, 2015 the port stephens whale watching season officially starts today and cruise operators are already reporting sightings of the migrating mammals. 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.
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