Whale watching Port Stephens from Hawks Nest
Updated: Oct 6
Written by the owners of Tilly and Annies Place and Seacrest 7, Hawks Nest. Last reviewed October 2026.
Humpbacks pass Port Stephens twice a year. Roughly May to August heading north, and September to November heading south with calves.
In short: Whale watching in Port Stephens runs from about May to November. From Hawks Nest you can watch from land at the southern end of Bennetts Beach and Yacaaba Spit, or take the ferry to Nelson Bay for a whale cruise. September to November, when mothers and calves head south close to shore, is the better half.
At a glance
Season: about May to November
Best months: September and October, mothers and calves
From land: Winda Woppa and Yacaaba Spit, with binoculars
Boat tours: from Nelson Bay, via the Tea Gardens ferry
In this article
The southern migration is better
Mothers travelling with calves move slowly and stay closer to shore. September and October are the pick.
Up to 40,000 humpbacks pass the Port Stephens coastline on the annual migration (Port Stephens). They head north from about May to July to breed in warmer water, then come back south from September to November with the calves born up there.
The southern leg is the better half for a simple reason: a newborn calf cannot travel fast or far offshore, so mothers hug the coast and move slowly. That puts them within range of anyone standing on a headland with a pair of binoculars.
Watching from land
You don't need a boat. The viewing point on the Yacaaba Headland track gives you height and a wide view. The northern end of Bennetts Beach works too, with less effort. Take binoculars and be patient. Twenty minutes of watching for two minutes of whale is a normal ratio.
Note: since October 2024 the Yacaaba Headland track has been open only to a viewing point, with the section beyond closed for visitor safety. Check the NPWS alerts before you go. The flat walk along Winda Woppa and Yacaaba Spit still gets you close to the entrance.
If you are willing to drive, the Port Stephens side has purpose built spots: the Tomaree Head Summit Walk at Shoal Bay with two viewing platforms, Barry Park at Fingal Bay with a whale watching platform, Boat Harbour Headland about fifteen minutes from Nelson Bay, and Birubi Point at Anna Bay (Port Stephens).
From Hawks Nest itself you do not need any of them. Height and a clear eastern horizon is the whole requirement, and the northern end of Bennetts Beach gives you that on foot.
What you'll actually see
Usually a blow, then a back, then a tail. Breaching happens and it's spectacular, but it's not what most sessions look like. Anyone promising you breaching whales is selling something.
A blow is the giveaway. A humpback exhales a column of mist several metres high, and on a still morning you see it before you see any part of the animal. After that you usually get a dark back rolling through, and sometimes the tail as it dives.
Mothers with calves are the ones worth waiting for. The calf surfaces more often than the adult because it has smaller lungs, so a pair gives you more to look at than a single adult passing through.
Boat tours
Cruises run out of d'Albora Marina at Nelson Bay, with morning and afternoon departures through the season (Port Stephens). From Hawks Nest the pleasant way to do it is the ferry across from Tea Gardens rather than the drive around, which turns a tour into a day out.
Book ahead in the school holidays. September and October are the busiest weeks of the whale season and the boats fill.
Nelson Bay, across the water, runs whale watching tours in season. Take the ferry from Tea Gardens and make a day of it.
Resident bottlenose dolphins live in Port Stephens year round, which is why a whale cruise in the off season is still usually worth it. Fur seals turn up as well (Port Stephens).
The rest of the year
Dolphins are in Port Stephens permanently and turn up in the Myall often. Sea eagles work the river. Pelicans are constant.
Best time of day, and conditions
Morning, before the sea breeze gets up. Light wind means a flat surface, and a blow is far easier to pick out on flat water than on chop. An overcast morning is often better than a bright one, because you are not fighting glare.
Face the sun away from you where you can, give yourself twenty minutes rather than two, and scan slowly along the horizon rather than staring at one point. A blow hangs in the air for a few seconds, so you are looking for a small white smudge that was not there a moment ago.
One practical note: whales move at roughly walking pace. If you see one, it will still be in view for several minutes. There is no need to rush anywhere.
Frequently asked questions
When is whale watching season in Port Stephens?
Humpbacks pass Port Stephens from about May to November. They head north first, then return south from September to November with calves, which is the better half of the season.
Can you see whales from land at Hawks Nest?
Yes. Bring binoculars and be patient: twenty minutes of watching for two minutes of whale is normal. The Yacaaba Headland track is open only to a viewing point since October 2024, and the flat walk along Winda Woppa and Yacaaba Spit gets you close to the entrance. The entrance has strong currents, so watch from the sand rather than the rocks, and stay out of the water there.
How do I get on a whale watching cruise from Hawks Nest?
Nelson Bay, across the water, runs whale watching tours in season. Take the ferry from Tea Gardens and make a day of it.
Is it worth the trip from Hawks Nest?
Honestly, it depends what you want. If you want to be certain of seeing a whale, book a boat out of Nelson Bay in September or October and accept the half day and the cost. If you are happy to let it happen, watch from land over a week and you will almost certainly see something, for nothing.
Most of our guests do the second. You end up checking the water every time you walk past it, which is a pleasant way to spend a week.
The Yacaaba Headland walk and Jimmys Beach are the two pieces of this coast most people pair it with.
This is general information based on our own experience. Conditions change. Check Beachsafe, SharkSmart and NSW National Parks alerts before you go, and follow lifesavers' directions on the day.
Plan your stay
Two Waters has two places to stay in Hawks Nest, each sleeping six. Tilly and Annies Place is a three-bedroom townhouse near calm Jimmys Beach. Seacrest 7 is a two-bedroom apartment with a pool, across the road from Bennetts Beach. Pick your dates on either live calendar.
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