Increase your chances of spotting whales (and dolphins!) in Port Stephens with this handy guide.

Port Stephens is an aquatic wonderland, home to the Great Lakes Marine Park whose waters are thriving with marine life including hundreds of bottlenose dolphins who are often seen playfully frolicking in the local waters, sea turtles and more than 200 species of fish.

Each year, it also becomes a temporary thoroughfare – known as the Humpback Highway – as whales make the great migration north, providing visitors with many excellent opportunities to spot these majestic mammals. Here is the ultimate guide to Port Stephens whale watching.

When can you see whales in Port Stephens?

Every year, tens of thousands of humpback whales leave Antarctica and begin an epic journey of up to 10,000 kilometres along the east coast to the warmer waters of northern Australia. They mate and calve there, before returning along the same route towards the Southern Ocean. Port Stephens whale watching is usually best between June to August and September to October.

Where can I see whales in Port Stephens?

Spotting whales in Port Stephens is easy and can be done either from land or sea. You can join a whale watching cruise from d’Albora Marina, right in the heart of Nelson Bay (see below for more information), or you can head to one of the many Port Stephens lookouts for panoramic ocean views.

Tomaree Head Summit

Some of the best whale watching spots in Port Stephens include Tomaree Head Summit, located in Tomaree National Park.

Take the short but Tomaree Head Summit Walk, which can take between one-and-a-half to two hours return. Follow the track through bushland dotted with gums, grass trees and banksia (you may even see koalas if you’re lucky). At the top, panoramic views across Port Stephens and the ocean are well worth the effort, and it’s an excellent vantage point to spot a pod of whales.

Barry Park

Humpbacks can also be seen from Barry Park, which has a specially built whale watching platform, at Fingal Bay Beach. Fingal Bay is also home to an 1862-built lighthouse, which is only accessible by boat.

Boat Harbour headland

Drive to Boat Harbour headland on Noamunga Street, just 15 minutes’ drive from Nelson Bay, and take the easy walk to Boat Harbour Whale Watching Lookout, following the signs from the car park.

Birubi Beach

Birubi Beach in Anna Bay is another great whale watching spot; grab a coffee from Crest Birubi Beach at the surf club and keep your eyes peeled for humpbacks off the beach.

Iris Moore picnic area

Pack some lunch and head to Iris Moore picnic area in Fishermans Bay. This grassed area has sweeping views of Birubi Beach and Worimi Conservation Lands and is a comfy spot to settle in for whale watching.

What time of day is whale watching best?

You can spot whales any time of the day, but calmer conditions – often early in the morning before winds and waves increase – is usually best so they are easier to see.

Sunrise and sunset are also good times because this is said to be when they are most active, breaching and slapping their pectoral fins for show; the soft light also provides a beautiful backdrop for photography.

Of course, spotting whales is never guaranteed, and conditions are always dependent on the weather.

Best cruises for whale watching

Departing from d’Alboro Marina, these Nelson Bay whale watching cruises make spotting whales easy.

Moonshadow – TCQ Cruises

Moonshadow – TCQ Cruises has been running cruises for more than 40 years and has seven different vessels for whale watching, dolphin watching, historical cruises, dinner cruises and more.

Departing daily from Nelson Bay, the whale watching cruises run for two-and-a-half to three hours between May and November. There is a fully licensed bar onboard for snacks and drinks.

Imagine Cruises

Another long-running cruise operator is ecotourism Imagine Cruises, which offers whale watching, dolphin watching, snorkelling, eco walks, dinner cruises and more. It runs daily 90-minute express whale watching cruise on board a 40-foot power cat run by AquaMarine Adventures, as well as a daily three-hour-plus whale and dolphin watching cruise on a 53-foot catamaran.

Blue Water Sailing

If you’d prefer a private whale watching charter, where you don’t have to hustle for a good view of a whale breaching, check out Blue Water Sailing. It has luxury yachts available for a three-hour cruise for up to six people.

What to bring and other tips

Because whale watching occurs over the winter months, you’ll need to wear warm clothes.

Consider packing a wind jacket, as it can get windy out on the ocean, and a waterproof jacket is a good idea in case of wet weather or ocean spray.

Pack a hat and sunscreen, as even during winter the sun can burn, especially when reflecting off the water.

Take binoculars with you, especially if you’re trying to spot whales from the land.

If you’re heading out on a boat, and you’re prone to sea sickness, prepare yourself by taking sea sickness tablets and taking a sick bag (though many cruise operators will have these on board in case of the unfortunate event that you do get sick!).

If you’re heading up to Tomaree Head Summit, be sure to wear some good walking shoes.

Download the Wild About Whales app, which has been developed by the Office of Environment and Heritage NSW, so you can track sightings and learn about whale species at the same time.