Whales in season
Whale and Dolphin Watch Cruise on Imagine
Families and first-time visitors who want whales in season and dolphins year-round from a calm sailing boat.
from A$89 /adult
Whale and dolphin watching in Port Stephens
Humpbacks from May to November, dolphins all year.
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Where to stay
See all staysNelson Bay
Nelson Bay
Corlette
At a glance
Humpback whales pass Port Stephens from about May to November: adults heading north from May to July, and mothers with calves heading south from September to November. Whale cruises leave from d'Albora Marina in Nelson Bay; the three-hour trip on the sailing catamaran Imagine also looks for dolphins and seabirds around the outer islands of the marine park.
- Go May–July for active adult humpbacks, or September–November for mothers and calves.
- Cruises board at d'Albora Marina, Nelson Bay: staying in Nelson Bay means you can walk there.
- Peak-season weekends book out, so reserve ahead.
- From land, the Tomaree Head Summit walk (161 m) has whale-watching platforms.
When to go
The humpback season runs roughly May to November. In May, June and July the whales are heading north and often breaching. From September to November they head back south, many with newborn calves. Either window works; it depends whether you’d rather see energetic adults or mothers and babies.
Dolphins all year
Around 90 to 120 Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins live permanently in Port Stephens, according to the NSW Government’s dolphin visitor guide. That’s why dolphin cruises from Nelson Bay run in every season, not just whale season. Numbers vary between seasons and years. Boats must keep 50 metres from adult dolphins, and 150 metres when there are calves in the pod.
What the cruise is like
The Whale and Dolphin Watch Cruise on Imagine is three hours on a 16-metre sailing catamaran. It leaves from Dock C at d’Albora Marina, passes the outer islands of the Port Stephens–Great Lakes Marine Park, and includes commentary, tea and coffee, and wet-weather jackets. Arrive about 15 minutes early.
Watching from land
The Tomaree Head Summit walk is 2.2 km return with steep sections, rising to 161 metres above the Port Stephens entrance. Bring binoculars: the lookouts face the open ocean the whales travel along. Pick up a free Whale Explorer Map at d’Albora Marina for other land-based spots.
Where to stay for a whale trip
A Nelson Bay base keeps the marina within walking distance; see Nelson Bay accommodation. Hotel Nelson and Mantra Nelson Bay are both close to the foreshore.
Common questions
When is whale season in Port Stephens?
Roughly May to November. Destination Port Stephens describes the northern migration from May to July and the southern migration, with calves, from September to November.
Will I see dolphins outside whale season?
Very likely: around 90 to 120 bottlenose dolphins live in Port Stephens all year. Port Stephens cruise operators run dolphin cruises year-round, and Imagine Cruises says it operates all year, seven days a week.
Is the cruise suitable for wheelchair users?
Imagine's whale and dolphin cruise is listed as not wheelchair accessible, though prams are fine.