Of course, every whale season has those unforgettable days when something completely unexpected happens, and 2026 certainly delivered. One particular day, the 23rd October, will stay with us for a long time.
It started as one of those frustrating mornings when the Humpbacks seemed to be playing an elaborate game of hide and seek. Not a single whale sighting in the morning! Yet the ocean was anything but quiet. Bait balls were appearing across the water, dolphins were everywhere, and there was life in every direction. We knew something was happening out there; we just hadn’t worked out what.
Then we found them.
Bursting through one of the bait balls just outside Sydney Harbour was a pod of up to five Bryde’s Whales! We could hardly believe our luck. It took a little time to positively identify exactly what we were looking at, but with some help from our marine biology friends, Vanessa and Ellen, we were able to learn more about one of the less commonly encountered baleen whales in Sydney’s waters. To make the experience even more special, we were treated to the sight of these incredible animals lunging through the bait balls to feed.
It’s not every day you get to encounter a species like this, and to witness them actively feeding was an extraordinary experience for everyone onboard. A morning that had started with no Humpback sightings had turned into one of the most unexpected highlights of the entire season!
And that, in many ways, is what makes whale watching so special. No two days are ever the same, and no matter how many seasons we’ve spent out on the water, there’s always the possibility of something completely new and unexpected.
Beyond the incredible encounters, we’ve also enjoyed trying a few new things this year. We trialled capturing more video content for our social media followers, giving everyone a chance to experience some of the action from our cruises. The response has been fantastic, and we’ll certainly be bringing you more video from out on the water in 2027!
Whale Season 2026 has been a wonderful six months, filled with spectacular displays, unexpected encounters and some truly memorable moments. We’ve been fortunate enough to witness an incredible range of Humpback Whale behaviours, and we’re grateful to everyone who has joined us along the way.
For now, it’s time for our Humpback friends to make their long journey south towards the Antarctic feeding grounds. We wish them a safe passage, and we’ll be eagerly awaiting their return next year.
Thank you for another fantastic season. We hope you’ve enjoyed being out on the water with us as much as we’ve enjoyed sharing it with you.
Until next time, we’ll see you out on the Tasman Sea in 2027!
