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Private Guided Premium Tour to Port Stephens, Dolphin/Whales Watching and Dunes Sandboarding
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This is one of the longest one day tour that we offer which covers about 500 km of the road and stop at many breathtaking lookouts and tourist attractions. Nelson Bay is a coastal resort town located just inside the mouth of Port Stephens, a large natural harbour. The town itself has a relaxed atmosphere with a beautiful and picturesque marina and crystal blue waters of the harbour that attract tourists every year. The most popular attractions apart from the tour are listed below (for an additional cost)
| Whales and Dolphins Watching Cruises
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Whale watching is an experience not to be missed! Humpback Whales can be seen around Port Stephens for five months of the year. The best months for the spectacular whale-watching are: June - October. It is truly an experience of a lifetime where you can sail with dolphins and whales and experience them so close that you can actually hear them breathe or pick up their sounds underwater on the Hydrophone.
Port Stephens on the Mid North Coast of NSW is the perfect place in Australia to observe dolphins in the wild and is home to around 150 bottlenose dolphins with 99% success rate with dolphin sighting on all our dolphin cruises during all year round.
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12 Reasons why Port Stephens is the best location for Whale Watching Australia
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1. Whale watching in Port Stephens is conducted in what is whale watching Australian largest Marine Park in New South Wales (98,200 hectares). The Port Stephens Great Lakes Marine Park.
2. Nelson Bay Whale Watching runs for 6 months of the year. It includes the Northern migration from mid May to August when Humpback Whales migrate to their calving ground in the coral sea. The Southern migration from August to mid November when the mothers and newborn calves make their way back down to the feeding grounds in Antarctica.
3. Over 12000 Humpback whales are expected to migrate up the East coast in 2011, making the chance to see the spectacular giants very reliable They will start passing Port Stephens by mid May.
4. The whales migrate very close to Port Stephens making whales easier to spot and shortening the travelling time to get to the whales.
5. All Whale Watching Australia cruises from Nelson Bay include a dolphin watch cruise. 3 different types of dolphins use the marine park: Over one 100 coastal bottlenose dolphins (100kg) can be found in the bay and are sometimes visited by their cousins the offshore bottle dolphin (up to 650kgs.) On most occasions the friendly short beak oceanic common dolphins (up to 100kgs) can be seen in very large pods when sailing past the offshore islands.
6. 8 species of whales can be seen in the park: Humpback whales (30t), Minke whales (9t), Southern Right whales (80t), False killer whales (2.5t), Sei whales (40t), Pilot whales (3.5t), Brydes (pronounced brudus) whales (30t), Fin whales (90t) and Orcas, these 6 to 9t killer whales have been seen in our waters but sightings are rare…
7. Cabbage Tree Island is unique attracting a Seal colony and a rare species of Petrel. During the whale season we regularly stop along the rocks to observe the Seals. Other wild life like sea turtles and little blue penguins are often part of the cruise.
8. Bird watching is ideal during whale watching, it’s a time when Gannets congregate in large flocks to feed and the Short tail shearwaters come by the thousands to nest on Broughton Island. Its cousin the Fluttering Shearwater is often seen in big flocks hovering over the water. Magnificent albatross like the Yellow-Nose Albatross are commonly seen, on some occasions the Sooty Albatross and a variety of Petrels are sighted. Some are residents of the Park like Wedge Tail eagles and the White Breasted Sea eagles, soaring above the headlands keeping check on the fish below.
whale watching australia
9. The whales migrate in the largest group of islands along the NSW coast, all of them National Parks and the scenery is spectacular.
10. Whale watching is conducted along a scenic coast line composed of 2 large National Parks, the Tomaree National park to the South and the Mayall River National Park to the North. The Bay with its scenic volcanic headlands is itself twice the size of Sydney harbor and offers awesome views.
11. Whale watching in Port Stephens is so good that it can be done from the points and Headlands. One of the best view points is Telegraph point from Boat harbour just a short drive from Nelson Bay, but of course your best chance to have a great encounter and the closest view is from a whale watch boat.
12. Sailing is the ultimate way to whale watch, it’s so quiet you can hear them blow!
All itineraries can be changed, you could add or skip any of attraction listed below! We are happy to show tourists as much as possible within the tour time frame.
We have adapted itineraries for old seniors or families with small kids
ITINERARY 1 : WHALES WATCHING ON SAILING CATAMARAN (MAY - NOVEMBER)
• Pick-ups from convenient City locations or many City hotels 7:00 am.
• Heading out over the Sydney Harbour Bridge towards Port Stephens along Central Coast
• Cross the picturesque Hawkesbury River.
• Quick coffee stop at a cafe on the Motorway.
• Continuing driving towards Newcastle.
• Stop at the marvellous Gan Gan lookout.
• Whales cruises lasting 3 to 3.5 hrs on 60ft sailing catamaran in small group from D’Albora Marina 10:30am ; Additional expenses : Adults $68, Children $33 (2-16 years)
• Quick lunch in Nelson Bay.
• Wild Pelicans watching.
• Stockton Bight Sand Dunes 1 hour at 3 pm, where you will enjoy travelling in a purpose built 4WD and sand boarding down enormous dunes. Additional expenses : ADULTS $25 /
CHILDREN (4 - 14 YEARS) $20
• Driving back to Sydney 3 hours
ITINERARY 2 : WHALES WATCHING ON SPEED BOAT (MAY - NOVEMBER)
• Pick-ups from convenient City locations or many City hotels 7:30 am.
• Heading out over the Sydney Harbour Bridge towards Port Stephens along Central Coast
• Cross the picturesque Hawkesbury River.
• Visit the Australian Reptile Park and enter the ‘Lost World of Reptiles’ where you will see platypus, Tasmanian devils, wombats, kangaroos, koalas and crocodiles. Company Bonus: Private koala encounter with Koalas (walk inside koalas enclosure) and free food for kangaroo! Additional expenses : ADULTS $30 / CHILDREN (4 - 14 YEARS) $20
• Quick coffee stop at a cafe on the Motorway.
• Continuing driving towards Newcastle.
• Stockton Bight Sand Dunes 1 hour at 12 pm, where you will enjoy travelling in a purpose built 4WD and sand boarding down enormous dunes. Additional expenses : ADULTS $28 /
CHILDREN (4 - 14 YEARS) $20
• Stop at the marvellous Gan Gan lookout.
• Wild Pelicans watching.
• Whales cruises lasting 90 min on speed boat for 18 passengers (Save on travelling time not whale sighting time - due to quick travel speed) from D’Albora Marina 1:30 pm ; Additional expenses : Adults $68, Children $33 (2-16 years)
• Quick lunch in Nelson Bay.
• Driving back to Sydney 3 hours
ITINERARY 3 : DOLPHINS WATCHING ITINERARY ALL YEAR ROUND
• Pick-ups from convenient City locations or many City hotels 7:30 am.
• Heading out over the Sydney Harbour Bridge towards Port Stephens along Central Coast
• Cross the picturesque Hawkesbury River.
• Visit the Australian Reptile Park and enter the ‘Lost World of Reptiles’ where you will see platypus, Tasmanian devils, wombats, kangaroos, koalas and crocodiles. Company Bonus: Private koala encounter with Koalas (walk inside koalas enclosure) and free food for kangaroo! Additional expenses : ADULTS $30 / CHILDREN (4 - 14 YEARS) $20
• Quick coffee stop at a cafe on the Motorway.
• Continuing driving towards Newcastle.
• Stockton Bight Sand Dunes 1 hour at 12 pm, where you will enjoy travelling in a purpose built 4WD and sand boarding down enormous dunes. Additional expenses : ADULTS $28 /
CHILDREN (4 - 14 YEARS) $20
• Stop at the marvellous Gan Gan lookout.
• Wild Pelicans watching.
• Dolphins or Whales cruises lasting an hour and a half on 60ft sailing catamaran in small group. Additional expenses : ADULTS $30.50 / CHILDREN (2 - 17 YEARS) $16 OR on 26 meters catamaran caring up to 300 passengers. Additional expenses : ADULTS $28 / CHILDREN (4 - 14 YEARS) $14.50
• Quick lunch in Nelson Bay.
• Driving back to Sydney 3 hours
Duration: 10 hours. Every additional hour + $100 AUD for 1-7 tourists ; $200 AUD for 8 - 19 tourists (except traffic jam time)
Alternatively, explore the tour
Private Guided Day Tour to Jervis Bay NP, Dolphins, South Coast OR
Private Guided Tour to Hunter Valley and Nelson Bay 2 days
Price for Premium Tour: from $1100 AUD inc. tax for 2 pax + Attraction Tickets.
Please use form below for different numbers of people instant quotation
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Imagine is a state of the art 60ft sailing catamaran designed to handle offshore waters and the shallow area of the bay so whenever possible we will put the sails up and share with you our passion of sailing for up to 30 passengers!
NOVEMBER TO MAY
1 Hour 30 min Dolphins Cruise (at 12.30 pm ; 2pm )
ADULTS $30.50
CHILDREN (2 - 17 YEARS) $16
MAY TO MID NOVEMBER
3 Hours Whales and Dolphins Watching Cruise (at 10.30 am ; 2pm )
ADULTS $63
CHILDREN (2 - 17 YEARS) $30
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Envision is a 12 meter power cat designed to deliver guests directly onto beaches/land. Our vessels have been specially tailored to deliver the best possible experience. It’s a friendly space specially design to interact with Port Stephens wild life combining easy viewing with comfort and style for up to 18 passengers.
MAY TO MID NOVEMBER
Whale Watch Express:
90min (at 11am, 1:30pm & 3:30pm)
ADULTS $63 CHILDREN (2 - 17 YEARS) $30 |
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Moonshadow V Supercat is 26 meters catamaran carring up to 300 passengers, triple viewing decks, open sundeck, huge boom nets, waterslide, licensed bars.
ALL YEAR ROUNDND
1 Hour 30 min
Dolphin Watch Cruise (at 10.30 am , 1.30 pm; )
ADULTS $28
CHILDREN (4 - 14 YEARS) $14.50
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| QUAD BIKE TOURS
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| Biggest and best quad bikes on the largest moving coastal Sand Dunes in the Southern Hemisphere. Your adventure starts with a 4WD transfer to our base camp on the beach where you will receive your helmet, your Quad Bike, and safety briefing/rider tuition. One of our trained staff will provide you with tips for riding to ensure you get the most from your experience. Then you are free to race around the huge ‘sandpit’ and test your own limits! Great fun, good laughs, and full of an adrenaline rush with plenty of opportunities to take pics or videos of those riding with you! Bring a GoPro and capture your own ride! This is a 1.5hr experience. |
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ALL YEAR ROUND
1 Hour Quad Tour (10am - 4:00 pm)
ADULTS $150
CHILDREN (7 - 11 YEARS) $65
CHILD with PARENT on BIKE (4 - 6 YEARS) $30
1.5 Hour Quad Tour (10am - 4:00 pm)
ADULTS $200
CHILDREN (7 - 11 YEARS) $90
CHILD with PARENT on BIKE (4 - 6 YEARS) $30
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| CAMEL RIDES
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| The thrill of riding on the ships of the desert over the vast sand dunes of Port Stephens is truly a spectacular experience (weekends only). |
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Every Saturday and Sunday
20 Minutes Ride
ADULTS / CHILDREN $50
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| STOCKTON BEACH SAND DUNES 4WD TOUR |
| This 30km stretch of sandhills has been used as a setting for 'desert' in several major movies. Some of the dunes, which are always changing, can be 30-50 metres high. You can take 4WD dune tour and get a unique experience in dune surfing. Sandboards, instructions and supervision are all provided. |
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ALL YEAR ROUND
1 Hour (Continual service between 10:am and 3:30pm daily)
ADULTS $35
CHILDREN (4 - 14 YEARS) $25
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***Please note that prices are subject to change without notice.***
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Photo taking during Private Day Tour (click on a photo to enlarge)
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