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Port Stephens: Dolphin Discovery Cruise

Badge of Excellence
Newcastle, Australia
Trending
Booked 5+ times in 12 hours.
  • 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.)
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.5
·
· Gareth_W ·
Mar 2026
Large multi-deck vessel with plenty of space to sit and stand. Vessel also has a lower deck where you can buy food and drinks (including hot food and licenced bar). Saw plenty of dolphins! Helpful and informative captain and crew. Really lovely afternoon activity!
· Rebecca_O ·
Oct 2025
Amazing ! We saw lots of dolphins. Family friendly and lots of fun. Friendly staff and beautiful scenery

Overview

Look for wild bottlenose dolphins in the waters of Port Stephens on a dolphin-watching cruise from Nelson Bay. You can also get great photo ops of the Tomaree and Yacaaba Headlands, and ride in the boomnet (a sturdy net attached to the boat). Learn about the region's abundant marine wildlife as you cruise the waters in comfort on an all-weather boat (indoor and outdoor seating available).
  • This compact tour leaves time for additional activities in the day
  • Increase your chances of spotting wild dolphins with a guide who knows where to find them
  • Choose to ride in shaded or open areas on the boat
  • Learn about the dolphins and marine ecology of Port Stephens

What's Included

  • Boom-net Rides
  • All taxes, fees and handling charges
  • The listed price does not include parking fee applicable along with waterfront
  • Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
  • Food and drinks
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Transportation to/from attractions
  • Towels & swimming costume for use in the boom-net
  • Lunch

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

  • Moonshadow-TQC Cruises Boarding
    Dock C, D’Albora Marina, Nelson Bay NSW 2315, Australia

    Boarding commences 15 minutes prior to scheduled departure time. To avoid the risk of missing the cruise during peak times; please allow extra time to find parking etc, we do suggest that you aim at arriving to the marina 30 - 45 minutes prior to boarding time of your cruise.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

1

Moonshadow-TQC Cruises Boarding

1 hour 30 minutesAdmission Ticket Included

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Near public transportation
  • Most travelers can participate
  • Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
  • Due to the nature of this tour and the safety of all guests, the tour operator reserves the right to refuse service to passengers who are intoxicated or show signs of intoxication. If, as a result, your tour is canceled, you will not be entitled to a refund.
  • Please note we do not run on Christmas Day
  • Children must be accompanied by an adult
  • Baby prams are not permitted on board our vessels. Collapsible strollers are permitted but cannot be taken to areas other than the main cabin of the vessel, upon boarding our friendly crew will advise passengers on where the stroller may be stored.
  • Please Bring: Comfortable casual clothing and footwear, Sunglasses, hat, Sun Cream, Camera. We recommend dressing warmer for winter months
  • If you or any member of your party experience or feel they may experience motion sickness, we highly recommend consulting your pharmacist regarding seasickness medication.
  • **TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF TRAVEL:** The passenger acknowledges that during the cruise the vessel will be and will remain under the absolute control of the company, and that the direction and control of the vessel and its crew is at all times the sole responsibility of the Master of the vessel. Moonshadow TQC reserves the right to refuse entry of a passenger on the vessel. It is also at the Master's sole discretion to require a passenger to disembark the vessel. Moonshadow TQC reserve the right to cancel or abandon the cruise either prior to or during the cruise, if the Company or Master of the vessel considers that the cancellation is necessary for reasons of weather or in the interest of the safety and well-being of the vessel, its passengers and crew. The Company will not be held liable for any loss or expense incurred by the passengers caused by such substitution or cancellation. Moonshadow TQC does not accept any liability in contract or in tort for any injury, damage, loss, delay, additional expenses or inconvenience caused directly or indirectly by force majeure or other events which are beyond our control, or are not preventable by reasonable diligence on our part including but not limited to; war, civil disturbance, fire, flood, unusually severe weather, acts of God, acts of Government or of any authorities, or failure of machinery (including vessel engines) or equipment or industrial action. Please note smoking is not permitted on any of our cruises. **RISK WARNING:** Care is taken to ensure your safety whilst on board this vessel. However, be warned that there are inherent risks by being aboard any vessel including, but not limited to, movement of the vessel, unpredictable sea conditions, unfamiliar design features such as stairs, coamings and water on decks, slides, boom nets, ancillary equipment used and/or from the vessels etc. Entry onto this vessel is at your own risk. Neither the owner, Master, nor any members of the crew will be liable for any injury to passengers, or damage to passengers property, however occurring. Fares and itinerary are always subject to variation without notice. Moonshadow TQC Pty Ltd reserves the right to cancel or vary the cruise specified and reserves the right to refuse to carry any passenger without stating any specific reason. A Moonshadow - TQC Cruises family ticket is valid for 2 Adults and 2 Children (0-14yrs). All children including infants aged from 0-14 years of age (not inclusive in a family ticket) are charged the child rate. Concession rate includes full time students and Australian seniors/old age pensioners upon presentation of student or seniors card. Once on board a Moonshadow TQC Pty Ltd vessel all persons are under the authority of the vessel's Captain and Company Management, and are expected to conduct themselves in a socially acceptable manner. The law is clear about the Responsible Service of Alcohol and licenced venues are entitled to refuse service to people who are intoxicated, quarrelsome or disorderly. Moonshadow TQC Pty Ltd reserves the right to return to dock and disembark any disorderly passengers without refund. Passengers must not bring any alcoholic beverages or illegal substances onto the vessel. ID may be required to purchase alcoholic beverages. These terms are an integral part of the contract between passengers and Moonshadow TQC Pty Ltd. When your booking/ticket is confirmed, it will be deemed at all times that you have read, understood and accepted the conditions hereof, and agreed to the terms herein contained.
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 250 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Mandy_C
Its a Lovely experience to see dolphin with the kids. Although we only see a few but its memorable in the trip. Highly recommend activity

Reviews

4.5
based on 415 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Large multi-deck vessel...

Gareth_W, Mar 2026
Large multi-deck vessel with plenty of space to sit and stand. Vessel also has a lower deck where you can buy food and drinks (including hot food and licenced bar). Saw plenty of dolphins! Helpful and informative captain and crew. Really lovely afternoon activity!

Disappointing, Poorly Managed, and Completely Lacking Empathy

Arth_S, Mar 2026
★☆☆☆☆ — Extremely Disappointing Experience We were really looking forward to this cruise, especially since my dad had traveled from overseas just for this activity. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a huge letdown. We barely saw any dolphins at all. While I understand wildlife sightings aren’t guaranteed, the bigger issue was the complete mismanagement of the bounce net activity — one of the main highlights advertised. The net was only open for about 5–10 minutes, which felt pointless and frustrating. There was absolutely no announcement about how long it would be open or when it would close, so no one could plan accordingly. My dad, who is a senior in his 60s, was especially excited to try the net. When we realized time was running out, we explained our situation to the staff and politely asked if he could just go in briefly — even for 10 seconds — since people were still getting out of the net at that time. The staff showed zero empathy and refused outright, without any attempt to help. My dad couldn’t even try the net. The lack of communication, transparency, and compassion was shocking. What was supposed to be a precious memory with my dad turned into a stressful and upsetting experience. We left feeling unwelcome, disappointed, and honestly insulted. I would not recommend this cruise, especially if you’re traveling far or celebrating something special.

Must try!

Ali_G, Jan 2026
Awesome day out. Very informative and so much fun for the whole family. Overall great staff and great experience. Will be doing again

Unforgettable memories forever

Kelly_G, Jan 2026
Stunning scenery,knowledgeable crew dolphins are beautiful in there natural habitats ,it was a bucket list day for me and it was everything I wanted it to be.

Ok but would choose a smaller boat next time

Sharon_T, Dec 2025
Huge boat set up with dining tables, not very good for a short dolphin cruise. We didn’t actually manage to see a few dolphins but not many.

My wife and I had a great...

Abdul_A, Nov 2025
My wife and I had a great time. The captain made an announcement to welcome us on board as we celebrate a special event. Thank you.

Amazing!

Rebecca_O, Oct 2025
Amazing ! We saw lots of dolphins. Family friendly and lots of fun. Friendly staff and beautiful scenery

Dolphin sightings

Stacey_M, Sep 2025
Friendly staff, great captain, interesting commentary, we were lucky enough to see a small sighting of playful dolphins

Nice cruise.

Stacey_E, Sep 2025
Nice cruise very relaxed and yes we did see dolphins. Full bar and food available. Friendly crew and comfortable.

I saw so many dolphins...

Dawon_J, May 2025
I saw so many dolphins there, and had a great time! The boat was large enough, so I didn't feel dizziness at all

Response from Host, Jul 2025

Thank you for the 5 star review of our 1.5hr Dolphin Discovery Cruise. We really appreciate your feedback of our largest vessel, Moonshadow V and we look forward to seeing you onboard again soon :)

Its a Lovely experience...

Mandy_C, Apr 2025
Its a Lovely experience to see dolphin with the kids. Although we only see a few but its memorable in the trip. Highly recommend activity

Such a relaxing...

Simone_J, Mar 2025
Such a relaxing experience. We were lucky enough to see a nursery pod of mum and baby dolphins! My family had so much fun on the boom net. The staff were all so friendly and helpful. Highly recommend such a wonderful day out!

Beautiful bay on cruise.

Rick_N, Mar 2025
Dolphins didn’t cooperate. Saw very few. The bay is beautiful and I met some nice people from Great Britain, Australia, and South Korea.

Very good and beatiful

Rolando_C, Jan 2025
Really nice, i had a really good experience , best experience watching dolphins, food and drinks, love it too

Response from Host, Jan 2025

Hi Thank you for your 5 star review of our 1.5hr Dolphin Discovery Cruise. Glad you enjoyed your cruise with us, and look forward to seeing you again soon. Thanks

Fun in the sun!

Len_H, Jan 2025
It was a great time for the family and me, with the Drag Net being a major highlight of the day. Well done!

Response from Host, Jan 2025

Thank you for the 5 star review of our 1.5hr Dolphin Discovery Cruise. We shall pass on your feedback to our staff and we look forward to seeing you again soon Thanks

Great experience with the...

rajeev_t, Dec 2024
Great experience with the cruise and dolphin spotting, kids enjoyed it and we had fun too , the panoramic views on return and the kids playing in the net is worth spending your money on this trip

A must see in Nelson Bay!

Alexandra_Z, Dec 2024
A very informative tour, beautiful scenery and great length, 1.5 hours perfect for everyone, young and old!

Great experience!

Sarah_T, Dec 2024
Great trip and commentary, we were lucky enough to see loads of dolphins and the boom net ride looked a lot if fun! Not to be missed 😘

Good time on the water

David_P, Nov 2024
The cruise was nice, friendly crew. Was a bit of an overcast day with some light rain which wasn't ideal but on a sunny hot day this cruise would be even better especially if you want to use the slide and boom net. We saw a few dolphins and at one point had one swim past the bow which was cool. It's a nice way to spend 1.5 hours on the bay

Fabulous!

Claire_F, Oct 2024
This was tour was absolutely brilliant. We were fortunate to be able to go on a perfect sunny spring morning. We spotted loads of dolphin pods and a humpback whale with her baby calf! The slippery slide net into the boom net on the way back to shore was supper fun! My kids 13 and 11 absolutely loved it! Not as strong younger kids would definitely need assistance with their parent as the current in the net is very strong when the boat is moving. Highly recommend!

Enjoyable trip

syed_h, Oct 2024
The crew was nice experienced Captain. Saw a lot of Dolphins and a bonus Whales too ,trip was worth the money

amazing cruise

PakHong_C, Aug 2024
This was an amazing cruise, and the experienced captain brought us to dolphin water habitats to introduce a lot of harvest knowledge.

Great value

Jessie_C, Jun 2024
Great value. We saw heaps of dolphins and all the crew were very friendly and informative. Would definitely recommend.

Great tour to learn about Mykonos

Yogini_R, Jun 2023
Theodora was a lovely guide, she knew a lot of folklore and history of Mykonos. For a little party island it does have some interesting history. We also stopped at many scenic spots to take photos. If you are looking to do something a bit different in Mykonos I would recommend you try this tour.

Dolphin Watch Cruise

chris_elizabeth22, Jan 2020
The Captain and Crew were great . The Captain was very knowledgeable about Dolphins in the wild. Highly recommended

We have dolphins...

Karen_S, Nov 2025
We have seen dolphins, but thought they would get closer to the ship and jump properly. Maybe a smaller boat is better for this experience.
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From $33.53

per person

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

Book ahead!
On average, this is booked 9 days in advance.

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