Port Stephens dolphin cruises: Best Nelson Bay tours for sightings

The joy of Port Stephens dolphin watching cruises from Nelson Bay is that dolphin sightings are very reliable. Several operators run dolphin tours catering to slightly different tastes.

Port Stephens in New South Wales is well-renowned for being a dolphin-watching destination. This is largely because there’s a permanent dolphin population in Port Stephens.

Around 100 Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins live within Port Stephens’ large natural harbour.

To book your Port Stephens dolphin cruise, step this way. For more information, read on…

Why is dolphin watching in Port Stephens so good?

This means that dolphin cruise operators don’t have to go out into the ocean searching for dolphins. They know roughly where the pod will be, and tracking it down doesn’t take much time. Don’t worry about sighting guarantees – unless you are extraordinarily unlucky, you will see dolphins here.

6 fantastic Port Stephens experiences worth going for.

4WD dunes tour with sandboarding – whizz down the Sahara-style dunes
Dolphin-watching cruise with fun boom nets 🐬.
Quad-biking over the Worimi sand dunes – learning about local Aboriginal culture along the way.
Snorkelling with wild dolphins – the ultimate dolphin experience
Port Stephens koala sanctuary admission tickets 🐨.
Shallow water shark and ray encounter 🦈.

The other key advantage to Port Stephens dolphin watching cruises is that the natural harbour is well protected from the ocean swells.

This means calm conditions, easier dolphin-spotting and a generally more pleasant time had on the boat by all.

Port Stephens dolphin watching tours

There are several Port Stephens dolphin cruise operators, and all try to offer something a little bit different. All depart from d’Albora Marina in Nelson Bay, however.

Imagine Cruises heads out in a sailing catamaran for from $38. Aquamarine Adventures uses a smaller, fast-moving vessel to get to the dolphins quicker. Hour-long trips cost $40.

The Moonshadow-TQC cruise is more fun-focused. It offers water slides and boom nets to play in. These cruises cost from $35.

There are also cruises that allow you to go swimming with dolphins in Port Stephens. However, these involve a really early start and heading out into the ocean where encounters are not guaranteed.

Port Stephens day trips from Sydney

It is better to stay a few days in Port Stephens, and enjoy the region’s other attractions. These include 4WD tours over the sand dunes from Anna Bay, camel tours on Birubi Beach and the Tomaree Head Summit Walk. However, for the time-pressed, there are Port Stephens day trips from Sydney.