Dolphin & Whale Watching Tours
Port Stephens, Nelson Bay, Jervis Bay and Sydney Harbour
Private coach & minibus day tours from Sydney
Private Whale and Dolphin Watching Day Trips by Coach
Sydney Charter Bus Australia runs private coach and minibus day tours from Sydney to the best whale and dolphin watching on the NSW coast. We collect your group from your office, school, hotel or cruise terminal, drive you to the cruise wharf at Nelson Bay or Huskisson, wait while you are on the water, then bring everyone home. For a shorter outing, we transfer groups to Sydney Harbour whale cruises.
Humpback whales travel along the NSW coast from May to November, with mothers and calves often seen later in the season. Port Stephens is also home to around 90 to 120 resident bottlenose dolphins that can be seen at any time of year, so a dolphin cruise works in every season. Every tour is private and operated under NSW Bus Operator Accreditation No. 39461.
Port Stephens
Port Stephens
Our drivers take a 20 minute break after no more than 3 hours of driving.
Coaches are limited to 100 km/h on the motorway, which adds time on long trips.
Activities
Whale cruises (May to November)
Dolphin cruises (all year)
Kayaking
LAND:
Stockton Bight sand dunes
Sandboarding
Camel rides
Tomaree Head lookout
Traditional Custodians
Our Touring Buses
Port Stephens / Jervis Bay
- Whale Watching (May to November)
- Dolphin Watching (All Year)
- Nelson Bay & d'Albora Marina
- Huskisson & Hyams Beach
- Stockton Bight Sand Dunes
- Sandboarding & Camel Rides
- Kayaking & Paddleboarding
- Private Vehicle & Driver
- Cruise Tickets *
- Lunch *
- Professional Tour Guide *
- * Own expense or optional
Jervis Bay
Jervis Bay
Our drivers take a 20 minute break after no more than 3 hours of driving.
Coaches are limited to 100 km/h on the motorway, which adds time on long trips.
Activities
Whale cruises (May to November)
Dolphin and fur seal cruises
Kayaking and paddleboarding
LAND:
Huskisson village
Hyams Beach
White Sands walk
Aboriginal Heritage
Safety & Comfort
Full Day Tours (about 10 to 12 hours)
Private coach or minibus with driver
Whale or dolphin cruise (own expense)
Lunch (own expense)
Free time on the foreshore
* Some cruises include lunch or refreshments
Optional Extras
Professional tour guide
Sandboarding
Camel rides
Kayaking
Stand up paddleboarding
Lookout and beach walks
Restaurant bookings
* All extras are own expense
Port Stephens and Nelson Bay
Whale and dolphin cruises leave daily from d’Albora Marina in Nelson Bay, with morning and afternoon sailings run by several local operators. Whale cruises usually last two to three hours and head out to the open ocean, while dolphin cruises stay inside the port, where the resident bottlenose dolphins live within the Port Stephens Great Lakes Marine Park.
The coach sets your group down close to the marina and the driver waits nearby until you return. Groups often add lunch on the Nelson Bay foreshore or a dune experience on Stockton Bight near Anna Bay, one of the largest coastal sand dune systems in NSW.
Good to Know:
- Departures from d’Albora Marina, Nelson Bay
- Tomaree Head summit walk for land based views
- Best for groups happy with a long day on the road
Jervis Bay and Huskisson
Jervis Bay cruises leave from Huskisson Wharf, a short walk from the village cafes and the foreshore park. Dolphins are often seen in the bay, fur seals can be spotted on bay cruises, and migrating whales are regularly sighted inside the bay between May and November, which suits groups who prefer calmer water.
After the cruise, the coach can take your group to Hyams Beach for its famous white sand, or into Jervis Bay National Park for the White Sands walk and the lookouts along the shore. Jervis Bay is a slightly shorter drive from Sydney than Port Stephens.
Good to Know:
- Departures from Huskisson Wharf
- Calmer bay cruises
- Beach coach parking is limited, so we plan set down points ahead
Closer to Home: Sydney Harbour Whale Watching
During the season, whale watching cruises run daily from Circular Quay, Darling Harbour and Manly, with the peak usually from late June to early July. A harbour cruise needs only a half day, which suits conference delegates and cruise passengers. We set your group down at the nearest legal coach zone to the wharf and collect you when the boat returns. On land, North Head at Manly, Cape Solander at Kurnell and Barrenjoey Lighthouse at Palm Beach are all recognised whale watching spots, and we can build one into a Northern Beaches tour. The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service lists more top whale watching spots along the coast.
Who These Tours Suit
- Corporate teams: a full day out with lunch by the water.
- Schools: marine science and geography excursions, with Working With Children Check cleared drivers. See school excursion bus hire.
- Seniors and Probus groups: unhurried itineraries with short walks and comfortable rest stops.
- International and cruise visitors: pickups from hotels and the cruise terminals.
- Social and sporting clubs: one booking, everyone together.
What the Coach and Driver Provide
Your vehicle and NSW Driver Authority holder work to your agreed itinerary. Coaches have luggage holds for bags and jackets, and every seat has a seatbelt. Bottled water is fine on board, but food, hot drinks and alcohol are not permitted, so we plan lunch stops off the vehicle.
Our drivers focus on the road and do not give commentary. For commentary and help at the wharf, add a professional tour guide, or nominate your own group leader as host. Our vehicles do not have a wheelchair lift or ramp, but folded wheelchairs and walkers travel in the hold.
Suggested Itineraries (Approximate Times)
Port Stephens whale or dolphin day: depart Sydney 7:00am, rest break on the M1 around 9:00am, arrive Nelson Bay about 10:30am for an early lunch on the foreshore, board an afternoon cruise at d’Albora Marina around 1:00pm, depart Nelson Bay about 4:00pm and arrive back in Sydney around 7:30pm.
Jervis Bay day: depart Sydney 7:00am, rest break en route, arrive Huskisson about 10:00am for a late morning cruise, lunch in Huskisson, Hyams Beach in the afternoon, depart about 3:30pm, back in Sydney around 6:30pm.
Sydney Harbour half day: morning pickup, set down near Circular Quay or Darling Harbour, a two to three hour whale cruise, then return to your hotel, office or school, about 4 to 5 hours in all.
Cruise times vary by operator and season, so all times are approximate. Allow extra in peak traffic.
Vehicle Sizes
- 12-seat minibus (Toyota Hiace or Mercedes Sprinter)
- 20-seat Toyota Coaster
- 24-seat Mitsubishi Rosa
- 28 and 33-seat midi-coaches
- 39, 48, 53 and 57-seat coaches and a 62-seat HI-CAP coach
Larger groups can travel in several vehicles. See the full fleet.
How to Book
- Choose your destination and book your cruise directly with the operator.
- Send us your date, passenger numbers, pickup address and cruise time through our online quote form.
- We quote per vehicle, depot to depot, with tolls charged at cost at Class B heavy vehicle rates. See how pricing works.
- Confirm your booking and read our pre-booking information.
Office: Macquarie Park. Depots: Botany, Moorebank and Marrickville.
Dolphin and Whale Watching Tour FAQs
When is whale watching season near Sydney?
Humpback whales travel along the NSW coast from May to November. Around Sydney the peak is usually late June to early July, and mothers with calves are often seen in October and November. Dolphin cruises in Port Stephens run all year.
Which is better for a group, Port Stephens or Jervis Bay?
Both are excellent. Jervis Bay is a slightly shorter drive with calmer bay cruises, while Port Stephens offers more land activities such as the Stockton Bight sand dunes.
Do you book the cruise tickets?
We provide the private vehicle and driver. Book your cruise directly with the operator, or ask a professional tour guide to handle tickets, then send us the cruise time.
Can we eat or drink on the coach during the day?
Bottled water is fine. Food, hot drinks and alcohol are not permitted on board, so lunch is planned at a cafe, restaurant or picnic area.
How long is a full day whale watching tour?
Allow about 10 to 12 hours door to door for Port Stephens or Jervis Bay, including rest breaks and cruise time. A Sydney Harbour cruise transfer takes about 4 to 5 hours. Allow extra in peak traffic.
Plan Your Whale Watching Day Trip
Tell us your destination, cruise time and group size. Office hours: Monday to Friday 9:30am to 4:30pm, weekends 12:00pm to 2:00pm.
Request a quote | Contact us | More day tours | Ph: 1300 468 199
Additional Services
> Lunch Bookings
> Professional Tour Guides
Sydney Charter Bus
All our coaches and minibuses are NSW Government accredited (NSW Bus Operator Accreditation No. 39461), and as buses they can use Sydney’s bus lanes, which helps keep your group moving in peak traffic.