Why is Jervis Bay one of the best places to see dolphins in Australia?
Departing from Huskisson, NSW, Dolphin Watch Cruises heads out to see the Jervis Bay dolphins. Because around 100 bottlenoses live in the bay, visitors are almost certain to see dolphins.
Dolphin Watch Cruises in Huskisson, NSW, is one of several operators offering the chance to see dolphins in Jervis Bay.
The company runs one-and-a-half hour dolphin cruises, departing from the wharf area in Huskisson. Dolphin Watch Cruises has been operating in Jervis Bay for more than 30 years, and heads out daily to see the dolphins.
Book in advance for the best prices on Jervis Bay accommodation and tours.
How many Jervis Bay dolphins are there?
But if you book to travel with Dolphin Watch Cruises, will you definitely see dolphins?
Well, the bottlenose dolphins of Jervis Bay are wild. You can never be absolutely certain of seeing them. But the crucial thing is that they live in the bay rather than just pop into visit.
Jervis Bay has a resident dolphin population of 100 to 200. This means it doesn’t take an awful lot of investigation to find a pod at any one time. And, given that the boat crew know where these pods tend to hang out, it’s extremely unlikely that you won’t find any on any given day. This makes Jervis Bay one of the best places in Australia to see dolphins.
6 Jervis Bay experiences worth booking now
- See the dolphins and lounge above the water on a dolphin cruise with boom netting.
- Explore the beaches, spotting wildlife on the way, with a sea kayaking tour.
- Watch sunset on the beach, then explore the heavens with an astrophysicist on an evening stargazing experience.
- Admire the migrating humpbacks on a whale-watching cruise.
- Try cycling on the sand on a Culburra Beach fat-biking tour.
- Discover the lesser-visited hideaways on a hidden secrets cruise.
The added bonus is that these Jervis Bay dolphins are used to having the boats around. They are content to play in the wake of the catamaran, and seem supremely unbothered by the boat hanging around while they search for fish.
Dolphin Watch Cruises ticket prices
Tickets for the Dolphin Watch Cruises tour are pretty cheap – it’s $35 for adults and $25 for children. These Jervis Bay dolphin-watching tours generally depart at 10.30am and 1pm.
Dolphin Watch Cruises also operates other tours in Jervis Bay. During the winter months, it runs whale-watching cruises. There’s also a Jervis Bay scenic cruise and a trip that concentrates on seals and sea cliffs.
For more information, and booking, visit the operator’s website. For Jervis Bay’s whale watching season, aim for mid-May to mid-November.
Where to stay in Huskisson
The best Huskisson accommodation options are:
- For a holiday park kids will love: Jervis Bay Holiday Park.
- To be right in the centre of the action: Huskisson Hotel.
- For a well-reviewed motel: Jervis Bay Motel.
Other things to do in Jervis Bay include taking the Husky Ferry to Callala Beach in Myola, or Greenfield Beach and Blenheim Beach in Vincentia, just the other side of Moona Moona Creek from Huskisson. You can also go into the Jervis Bay Territory and enjoy the likes of Iluka Beach, Green Patch, Cave Beach and Murrays Beach.
This article came as a result of a Melbourne to Sydney coastal road trip in March/ April 2022. This trip was supported by Tourism Australia.