With the season due to end mid-November, operators say this year has been one of the best for seeing mainly humpbacks off the Port as they migrant north to breed and return.

"It has been a very successful season in terms of both numbers of people carried and whale sightings," Tamboi Queen Cruises marketing coordinator John Longworth said.

"It definitely grows every season.

"I can't speak for other operators but the general feeling on the water has been very positive."

In a fitting salute to the whale-watching season a southern right whale gave guests a rare treat on-board Tamboi Queen Cruises flag ship, MV Spirit recently.

The endangered species, with a two-year-old calf close by, came in clear viewing distance as the boat passed between Broughton and Cabbage Tree islands.

"Harry Nichols took the photos of the whales and said he had only seen about a dozen in the 15 years he has been up here," Mr Longworth said.

Operators say they are excited by the large number of whales passing off Port Stephens.

Imagine Cruises operations manager Frank Future said the National Parks and Wildlife Service estimated 11,000 whales cruise off the Port this year on their way to and from northern breeding grounds.

The estimate was 2000 whales in 1996.