Compare Port Stephens Cruise Operators
Three licensed marine tour companies operate dolphin and whale watching cruises from Nelson Bay, Port Stephens NSW. Here is a side-by-side comparison.
Moonshadow TQC
Tagline: Runs dolphin AND whale cruises year-round — even during whale season they keep the dolphin trips going.
- Dolphin cruise: Year-round, 1.5 hours. 160+ resident bottlenose dolphins. Runs daily even during whale season. Onboard café, toilets, undercover seating.
- Whale watching: May–November, 2.5 hours. Humpback & southern right whale sightings. Dolphins included on most trips.
- Departs: d'Albora Marina, Nelson Bay.
- Booking: FareHarbor platform.
Imagine Cruises
Tagline: Dedicated dolphin cruises in summer; switches to whale watching during whale season (May–Nov).
- Dolphin cruise: Year-round (primary focus outside whale season), 1.5 hours. Smaller vessel, more intimate experience. Local guides.
- Whale watching: May–November, 3 hours. Humpback migrations through Port Stephens.
- Departs: Nelson Bay Marina.
- Booking: Rezdy platform (imaginecruises.rezdy.com).
AquaMarine Adventures
Tagline: Fast and fun high-energy dolphin and whale watching — operated by the experienced Moonshadow TQC crew.
- Dolphin cruise: From 2 November onwards, 1 hour. Fast and fun. Affordable family pricing.
- Whale watching: May–2 November, 1.5 hours. Both humpback and southern right whales.
- Departs: Nelson Bay Marina.
- Booking: FareHarbor platform.