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Important: Hours or services may differ. To get the most accurate information please refer to the supplier's official website. This destination you intend to travel to may have COVID-19 travel restrictions in place. Please check any national, local and health advisories for this destination before you book.
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  •  Activities
  •  Port Stephens, Sydney
  •  Port Stephens Whale Watch Cruise

Port Stephens Whale Watch Cruise

Moonshadow Cruises

  • Port Stephens, Sydney
  • English
  • 2.5 hours (approx.)
  • Free Cancellation prior to 7 days of travel date
  • 24 Working Hours Confirmation

Standard Inclusions

  • 1. Whale watch cruise (2.5-3 hours)
  • 2. Informative commentary
  • • Guests must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 until further notice. Upon boarding all guests must provide proof of Covid-19 vaccination certification. Guests unable to provide the vaccination documentation will be refused boarding and no refund will be offered as the consequence.
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1 Key Facts

Included

  • 1. Whale watch cruise (2.5-3 hours)
  • 2. Informative commentary
  • • Guests must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 until further notice. Upon boarding all guests must provide proof of Covid-19 vaccination certification. Guests unable to provide the vaccination documentation will be refused boarding and no refund will be offered as the consequence.

Not included

  • 1. Transport from/to hotels
  • 2. Food & beverages not listed as Inclusions
  • 3. Souvenirs
  • 4. Travel Insurance
Destination Port Stephens, Sydney
Depature point ● Departs: daily, May - November
    Whale Watching Season Only
● Departure Point: d'Albora Marina, Dock C (Address: 6 Teramby Road, Nelson Bay, NSW 2315)
● Departure Time: 10:00, 11:00 (During peak whale periods only), 13:30
   Departure times are reference only and subject to availability.
● Arrives back at approximately: 12:30, 13:30 (During peak whale periods only), 16:00
Address 3/35 Stockton St, Nelson Bay NSW 2315
How to get there ● By Car
d'Albora Marina is located approximately 222km north of Sydney Airport, takes about 3 hours; approximately 35km north of Newcastle Airport, takes about 40 minutes.
- There is a large paid ticket parking area at the rear of the marina.

● By Public Transport
- By Train from Sydney
Get off at Hamilton Station stop then walk to the bus station on Maitland Road, and then catch the bus to Nelson Bay Donald St before Stockton St Bus Stop, walk down Stockton Street to d'Albora Marina.

Please check the Transport NSW timetables (https://transportnsw.info/) for more details to plan your trip.
Operating hours
Daily (May - November) 10:00 - 12:30 (approx.) Boarding Time 09:30
Daily (May - November) 11:00 - 13:30 (approx.) Boarding Time 10:30
Daily (May - November) 13:30 - 16:00 (approx.) Boarding Time 13:00
Check-in requirements Please arrive at the boarding terminal 30 minutes prior to the departure time to exchange for ticket/boarding pass. Failure to arrive before this time will most likely be classified as no-show and result in forfeiting the booking and it cannot be refunded or transferred.

If you are not familiar with the area or travelling on a weekend or local public holidays / school holidays, please make sure you've checked your timetable or driving route beforehand, and allow extra travelling time for unexpected delays to ensure you do not miss your check in
What to bring/wear ● Motion-sickness medicine (if required)
● Dressing code (smart casual)
● Protective clothing, hat, sunscreen lotion, and sunglasses
● Comfortable shoes
● Light jacket/sweater for windy or cool days
● Camera (waterproof)
● Money/credit card for optional purchases
Other info 【Important Post-Covid Service Information】
- All passengers are required to sign a register upon boarding providing full name and contact phone number.
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● Please note whales are wild animals and the Service Provider can not guarantee sightings; if this is the case on the day you travel valid tickets on a cruise that do not sight whales will be issued free of charge return voucher. This voucher is issued on a stand by basis. The return voucher is only valid for the person named on the voucher and are non-transferable. Identification can be requested when returning with your voucher. Sometimes passengers can't take up the free return voucher for whatever reason, but the Cruise team does everything they can to locate whales. The Service Provider does not provide refunds.

● Smoking is not permitted
As per the NSW Smoke Free Environment Act 2000 and the Smoke Free Environment Regulation 2016, smoking is not permitted on any of our vessels at any time. From 1 July 2018, under the Smoke-free Environment Act 2000 and the Passenger Transport(General) Regulation 2017, people cannot use e-cigarettes in smoke-free areas

2 Overview

Enjoy an excellent whale season with whale watching cruise departing from May to November from Nelson Bay, Port Stephens. Will never forget seeing the awesome bulk of a Humpback whale, upto 18 metres long and weighing 40 tonnes!

Port Stephens Whale Watch Cruise

 

Port Stephens enjoys an excellent whale season departing from mid May to early November from Nelson Bay, Port Stephens.

You will never forget seeing the awesome bulk of a Humpback whale, upto 18 metres long and weighing 40 tonnes! Being the most surface active of all the whales, it is possible that you will see spectacular displays - spyhops, pectoral slaps, body rolls and ... the breathtaking breach. Enjoy complimentary tea and coffee, entertaining and informative commentary and the cruise includes bonus dolphin and outer island cruising - two Cruises for the price of one! With great viewing decks (both inside and outside) you can rest assure you're getting the best view of these friendly giants.

Get up close and personal with the Whales!

 

Whale Watching in Port Stephens

Port Stephens enjoys a fantastic whale watching season from May to November every year. This means there have between 20,000 to 30,000 whales pass by Port Stephens every year.

On this cruise you may come across one or more of the following types of whales:

  • Humpback
  • Melon Headed
  • Brydes
  • Southern Right
  • Pilot
  • False Killer
  • Orca Whale

But mostly it is the Humpback whale that you are lucky enough to meet in Port Stephens.

 

Humpback Facts
  • Length: Adults - 14m to 18m
                 Calves - 4m to 5m at birth
  • Weight: Adults - up to 50 tonnes
                  Calves - 2 tonnes at birth
  • Cruising speed: 7km/hr
  • Protected since 1965
  • Individual humpbacks can be identified by markings under their tail
  • The spread of its jaw is over 4 metres
  • Sings the longest, most complex songs in the animal kingdom
  • Humpbacks have the most diverse feeding techniques of all Baleen Whales - they scream when hunting fish to scare and confuse them
  • You can distinguish the humpback whale from other whale species by its small dorsal fin that you see sticking out of the water when the whale arches its back to dive and this is how the humpback got its name.

 

Cruise Highlight

Subject to change without notice

  • Two levels of outside viewing from the regions LARGEST whale watch vessels
  • Comfortable all weather inside area's
  • Live, informative, fun Captain's Commentary
  • Chance to see huge pods of oceanic dolphins, penguins, sea birds, seals, orcas and more

 

3 Policy

Cancellation Policy

● If you cancel at least 7 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is no cancellation fee.
● If you cancel between 0 and 6 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is a 100 percent cancellation fee.
● If no show, no refund.

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