Port Stephens: Whale Watching Cruise

Recommended by 95% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Newcastle, Australia

2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Between May and November, take to the water to see migrating humpback whales off the coast of Port Stephens. Find a comfortable spot on board your cruise vessel, grab a drink (own expense), listen to the live commentary, and look out for breaching, slapping, or rolling humpbacks. Also, keep an eye out for dolphins, which can often be seen in the same area.

Maximize your chances of seeing a humpback whale
Learn more about the local marine life from your guide's commentary
A must-do tour for wildlife enthusiasts
Choose from a morning or afternoon departure to suit your schedule

What's Included

GST (Goods and Services Tax)
Live commentary on board

Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
Transportation to/from attractions

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 ensure you allow yourself ample 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

Moonshadow-TQC Cruises Boarding

2 hours 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Near public transportation
Most travelers can participate
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Subject to favorable weather conditions. If canceled due to poor sea conditions, you will be given the option of an alternative date or full refund

Please note this is an ocean going cruise
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.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 150 travelers

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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

Monique_F

The whales were majestic! Our guides were so informative and helpful in seeing the whales! We highly recommend the Port StephWhale watching Cruise!

Reviews

4.7

based on 115 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Lovely staff and vessel....

Sereena_C, Sep 2025

Lovely staff and vessel. A bit long as we tried to find whales. A long time on the boat. Great to see seals, birds and some far sightings of three whales. Might be better to do dolphin cruise as it is shorter.

Stable comfortable whale watching vessel

Sharon_P, Sep 2025

This boat is a good size as you can move around easily under cover and it feels very stable. There are food and drinks on board and plenty of places to sit upstairs, downstairs, inside or out with opening windows for fresh air. We saw a total of 7 whales including mothers and calves. At 2.5 hours it could be a little shorter but is quite good value. The commentary was interesting, educational and humorous.

Very informative got to...

Deborah_M, Jul 2025

Very informative got to see a whale breaching and multiple whales blowing and a couple of tail flicks. Saw some dolphins and seals as well.

A great experience

Dianne_G, Sep 2024

The Osprey was a very comfortable boat, the crew were great and seeing multiple whales interacting with each other was amazing.

Response from Host, Sep 2024

Thanks for the 4 star review :) So glad to hear you had a great cruise, we certainly love the MV Osprey. Look forward to having you cruise with us again