Port Stephens is a natural harbour situated about 160km to the north east of Sydney town, in the Hunter Region. This beautiful, sheltered harbour is home to pristine beaches, national parks and amazing marine life. Port Stephens is also known as the “Dolphin Capital of Australia”.
The main point of attraction at Port Stephens is the picturesque Nelsons Bay. Accommodation options here vary from budget hotels to self-contained, luxury selections such as Oaks Lure. With an array of fishing boats and tourist vessels, Nelsons Bay is a sight to behold.
Port Stephen cemented its place as the country’s premier whale and dolphin watching destination with many of the agencies boasting an impressive 99% sighting rate. The beautiful bottlenose dolphins and the larger common dolphins are two of the most common species that call the region home. There are about 90-120 bottlenose dolphins living in the region, hence, the large number of tourist vessels. Nelsons Bay’s coastal headlands and long beaches offer the perfect vantage point to see these beautiful creatures from the shore itself. For a closer look you may hop aboard one of the many available cruises operating in the area.
Whale watching is another popular attraction at Nelsons Bay during the months of May to November. Get on a catamaran to experience a 2.5-3 hour cruise that takes you into the world of the humpback whale. These gentle giants are over 15 metres long and weigh about 40 tonnes, and are an awe-inspiring sight. As they are the most surface-active of all whales, you will even get to see them perform tricks such as pectoral slaps, body rolls, breakthrough breach and spyhops. During October, with the South migration taking place, you will even see the whale mothers with their calves.
Some of the popular dolphin and whale watching expeditions are operated by agencies such as Tamboi Queen Cruises, Imagine Cruises and Moonshadow Cruises.
Shehera Fioni is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Catalina Forbes. Her content is based on many thrilling escapades offered to travellers across the world.
