There are perfect days and then there are the ones you can wait a lifetime for!
Shoal Bay, Port Stephens NSW
I was very lucky to find myself again at Port Stephens on a classic late spring day, calm, warm and with beautiful clear blues skies. Magic!
Today I’m heading out with Imagine Cruises in the hope of seeing some more dolphins in the clear blue waters of Port Stephens.
Imagine Cruises
I’m about to board the boat when I a voice say “What are you doing here?” It’s an old mate from Sydney Steve, who’ll be our captain for the day. I look up in surprise and ask the same question back. We both burst into laughter. Neither of us knew the other would be there and it’s been a few years since we last caught up.
Steve our Captain for the day. Imagine Crusies
Port Stephens is home to several pods of Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops aduncus or inshore Bottlenose), so my hopes are high for a few sightings. Offshore if we’re really lucky we might also see some Common Dolphins and Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) but these might be further out to sea than we’re going.
Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops aduncus)
The water is amazingly clear as we find our first pod of dolphins lazily fishing under the Nelson Bay Lighthouse only a few minutes from the dock. Fantastic!
An Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) blows
Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops aduncus)
It’s a small pod of a couple of adults and a calve.
Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops aduncus)
Just inside the heads we find another pod out on their morning fishing trip. We drift with them for a while before all too soon it time to head back to port.
Jimena and Monika enjoying a bow ride.
The afternoon cruise takes us out to clear magic waters off Cabbage Tree Island for a snorkel safari. Landing on Cabbage Tree Island is strictly prohibited, as it’s the nesting site of the threatened Gould’s Petrel who like to nest in the fallen fronds of the Cabbage Tree Palms. Sounds very romantic.
Western Bay of Cabbage Tree Island
The water is just mesmerising, clear and green as we are briefed for out snorkel on the front deck.
The amazing waters of Western Bay, Cabbage Tree Island
The water is just mesmerising, clear and green as we are briefed for out snorkel on the front deck.
Snorkel briefing on the front deck.
Sitting on the rear seat looking out back towards the mainland the cares of the world just melt away…
Snorkelling Western Bay, Cabbage Tree Island
After a refreshing swim we wonder back to home, having a sail and are greeted by another pod of dolphins that have come out to play around Cabbage Tree Island.
Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) off Cabbage Tree Island
Can’t wait to visit Port Stephens again, maybe even venture out to see the Common Dolphins. My great thanks to Steve and the team from Imagine Cruises. To learn more about the Port Stephens area and Imagine Cruises please see these links:
Port Stephens Visitors Information Centre PSVIC
Imagine Cruises IMC
Camera Kit
Nikon D500 Digital Camera
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 16-35mm f4G ED VR Lens
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR Lens
Sirui W-2204 Waterproof Tripod with Sirui K-20X Ballhead
F-Stop Camera Bag
Thanks!
My great thanks to Nikon Australia, Mainline Photographics and Pixel One for your outstanding support, guidance and encouragement. Without it this trip would not have been possible!
Nikon Australia – Nikon Cameras
Mainline Photographics – Siri Tripods
Pixel One – F Stop Camera Bag