All signs pointing towards bumper 2021 whale watching season in Port Stephens

Imagine Cruises and Moonshadow-TQC Cruises said it has not been hard to locate whales on its reconnaissance cruises during the past two weeks, prior to the official launch of the season on June 1, which indicated that viewing opportunities will be strong this winter.

"Sightings have been strong over the early bird period and we have definitely been treated to some spectacular shows already," Mel Turner, Moonshadow's business development manager, said.

"We have not had to travel far off shore to find the whales, with sightings being made off Fingal Island and Box Beach. We have had sightings of a Minke whale, a few juveniles and some larger whales who put on some wonderful breaching acrobatics.

"The seal colony is also making its way back to Cabbage Tree Island. This is a great start and a positive sign of what is to come for the 2021 whale watching season."

Frank Future from Imagine Cruises, which has just clocked up 25 years in operation, said that in addition to the strong the whale numbers expected to pass the Port this year, 35,000-plus, there was also indications that visitation would be strong, despite restrictions on international travel.

"Port Stephens has become the second busiest tourist destination in regional NSW," said Mr Future, who is also a board member of Destination Port Stephens.

"We [Imagine] have enjoyed quite a bounce in domestic visitation, which I think has extended to a lot of other areas in Port Stephens. Because of our proximity to Sydney, and restrictions on other travel, we've seen that increase in domestic travel. I think this will continue during the whale watching season.

"We're already seeing quite a lot of interest from Victoria and Queensland visitors. Private charter groups for family reunions have also been popular. I think we're in for a bumper season."

The whale watching season in Port Stephens runs from mid-May to November. After a summer of feeding on krill in Antarctic waters, humpback whales migrate north between May and August to their breeding grounds in sub-tropical waters.

The southern migration takes place from August to mid-November when mothers and newborn calves make their way back down the coast to the feeding grounds in Antarctica.

This annual migration of up to 10,000km attracts thousands of visitors to coastal towns such as Nelson Bay, as the creatures pass close to the coast and can be spotted from land and the water.

From Wednesday, June 5, Moonshadow-TQC Cruises will be offering departures from Tea Gardens Wharf on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 11am. Nelson Bay departures are daily at 10am and 1.30pm.

Dine and Discover NSW vouchers, which expire at the end of June, can be used on Moonshadow and Imagine cruises.

There are a number of land-based spots across the Port where you can see whales pass the coast including:

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