Swimming with dolphins, Port Stephens: Nelson Bay snorkel tours
It is possible to swim with dolphins in Port Stephens. But you’re going to have to get up really early for the Dolphin Swim Australia tours from Nelson Bay.
Port Stephens in New South Wales is world famous for its dolphin-watching cruises. The calm waters of the large natural harbour make Port Stephens an ideal hang-out for several dolphin cruise companies.
But only one Nelson Bay dolphin cruise allows visitors to swim with dolphins in Port Stephens.
Dolphin Swim Australia runs dolphin cruises with a difference, heading out into the open ocean rather than staying in the protected bays. You can book your tickets for this tour here.
This means the water can be choppier on these Nelson Bay dolphin tours – and if the swell is too big, tours can be cancelled. But, crucially, this is where Dolphin Swim Australia is permitted to swim with dolphins.
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 🦈.
Port Stephens dolphin swimming tours from d’Albora Marina
The Port Stephens dolphin swimming tour starts at d’Albora Marina in Nelson Bay, then heads along the coast of the Tomaree National Park into the open ocean.
Once the dolphins are found, their behaviour is assessed. If the dolphins seem calm and happy, it’s time to get into the water.
How swimming with dolphins in Nelson Bay works
What happens next isn’t exactly swimming with dolphins as such. A rope is stretched between two bows of a catamaran, and swimmers hold on to it. The catamaran keeps moving at roughly the same pace as the dolphins. Using a snorkel and mask, participants can see the dolphins close up.
When the dolphins are playfully bowriding, the swimmers are effectively part of the dolphin pod.
The dolphins seen on the tour are either common dolphins or common bottlenose dolphins. Both tend to be larger than those hanging out in the protected waters of Port Stephens.
When to swim with dolphins in Port Stephens
If you want to swim with dolphins in Port Stephens, you’re going to have to get up early. The Dolphin Swim Australia tours start at 5am, and last for around five hours. The early start is partly to catch dolphins when they’re more active, and partly to get sea conditions at their calmest.
Nelson Bay dolphin swimming tour price
The swimming with dolphins experience in Nelson Bay, Port Stephens, costs $349. Tickets should be booked online, in advance.
Other things to do in Port Stephens include camel riding on Birubi Beach in Anna Bay, glamping at the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary and nude bathing on Samurai Beach. You can also end the day with a cold beer by the beach at the Shoal Bay Country Club.
More regional New South Wales
How long is the Goulburn to Canberra drive?
The Three Sisters at Echo Point in the Blue Mountains.
Carrington Falls in Budderoo National Park.
The Scenic Railway at Scenic World in the Blue Mountains.
The best things to do in Salamander Bay, Port Stephens.