New South Wales · Attraction
Moonshadow TQC Dolphin Discovery Cruise
Bottlenose dolphins on your doorstep
schedule 1 min read / Updated Jun 2026
Port Stephens is home to around 120 resident bottlenose dolphins, and the best way to meet them is from the water. Moonshadow TQC Cruises runs a 1.5-hour Dolphin Discovery Cruise from d'Albora Marina in Nelson Bay every day of the year, taking passengers through the sheltered bay and beyond the headlands to where the pod typically feeds and plays.
The cruise departs daily with morning and afternoon services, and an additional service during school holidays outside winter. Passengers enjoy live captain commentary on the dolphins' behaviour and on the surrounding headlands, including Tomaree and Yacaaba. Once dolphins are located, the crew offers boom-netting for those who want to ride in the net at the bow as the vessel moves slowly through the water.
Moonshadow TQC has operated on Port Stephens for decades and is the largest cruise fleet in the region. Vessels have open deck areas and covered indoor seating, plus a licensed bar and snack foods. Because dolphins are wild animals, sightings cannot be guaranteed, if no dolphins are found, passengers receive a complimentary return voucher.
The marina precinct in Nelson Bay also has cafes, restaurants, and a fish co-op nearby, making it easy to combine a cruise with a waterfront meal.
Where to stay
Holiday parks near Moonshadow TQC Dolphin Discovery Cruise.
5 options via our booking partner
Halifax Holiday Park
1.6km away
Shoal Bay Holiday Park
2.5km away
Reflections Jimmy's Beach Holiday Park
Hawks Nest
·5.5km away
Reflections Hawks Nest Holiday Park
6.1km away
Thou Walla Sunset Retreat
7.8km away
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Scenic views
