Tens of thousands of whales will make their way up the coast over the next few months, and you can see them up close on tours leaving Shellharbour Marina. Photo: Shellharbour City Council.
It’s a weekday afternoon and school excursion energy buzzes from the small knot of people on the waterfront at Shellharbour Marina.
Bags are double-checked, anti-nausea tablets are passed around and last-minute dashes are made for the loo.
We all share the sense we’re about to go on a great adventure as Captain Henry Cieslack guides us onto Shellharbour Wild’s newest whale-watching catamaran, the Cat Balou.
We’re a motley bunch, and most of us haven’t met before – reporters, tourism operators and council staff alongside Shellharbour Wild’s Sonia Tooley and Shellharbour Mayor Chris Homer.
The prospect of seeing some of the very first whales to make their way north this year, coupled with an afternoon on the open ocean instead of in the office has everyone chatting excitedly in a matter of minutes.
Forty-five thousand whales pass by our coastline on one leg of their annual trip – even more when they head south again with babies in tow.
Informative and witty, Captain Henry is a gem.
He wanders away from the steering wheel to say hi to a dog being walked on shore, before casually mentioning dogs are always welcome on his cruises.
Wild Shellharbour say they make no guarantees for other captains, but Henry is master of his own ship, and he captains most of the voyages out of Shellharbour.
The boat provides a different view of Shellharbour, and one that shows just how much the waterfront has grown up over the past few years.
While there are still cranes dotting the skyline along with uncompleted constructions, and many of the plantings are yet to mature, the overall effect is a modern, vibrant harbour with abundant greenspace.
He steers us easily out past the bar and we head south, watching surfers take off on wave after wave rolling into the Shallows and Redsands.
As we round Bass Point a curious drone comes to check us out, and we spot the operators on the rocky outcrop that forms the southern end of Bushrangers Bay.
Captain Henry says the reserve is beloved not just by the grey nurse sharks that use it as a breeding ground, but Australian and New Zealand fur seals, too.
We continue south towards Kiama, scanning the horizon for the tell-tale “puffs” of mist that signal a whale has come up for air.
We spot nothing except for deceptive whitecaps, and swing around to continue our search north.
At the Five Islands off Port Kembla we spot a white-bellied sea eagle hovering over the water, looking for its lunch.
Captain Henry tells us it’s unusual to see just one, as the birds mate for life.
Minutes later a second eagle joins its mate in the sky, and we round Martin Islet.
On the rocks two fur seals are engaged in a vigorous debate, although even Captain Henry can’t tell what it’s about.
We swing south again and someone spots a “puff” on the horizon.
The “puff” rises again, and we are off full-steam ahead towards it.
Upon closer inspection, the “puff” is unfortunately mist rising off waves breaking on a rocky outcrop just above sea level.
We check the time and are astonished to discover it’s been two hours.
No-one has checked their phone once; we’ve all been too absorbed in the moment.
Captain Henry brings us back to the marina and we all disembark with hearty appetites, and, despite the lack of whales, we are still buzzing.
It’s hard to be disappointed when you’ve spent the afternoon totally absorbed in the magic of our local environment.
Sonia says Shellharbour Wild has offered whale-watching tours out of Shellharbour for four years now, but on smaller boats.
With the addition of the Cat Balou there’s no need to travel to Jervis Bay or Sydney to make the excursion in comfort.
Mayor Chris Homer says he hopes the new offering encourages tourists and locals alike to get off the devices and into the great outdoors.
“It can be hard for all of us to get off the phone nowadays, but you get out there and the phone goes away,” he says.
“When the weather is a bit colder you can get in your cozy clothes, get on a boat and enjoy everything our coast has to offer.”
Shellharbour Wild offer Whale Watching Cruises from May to November out of the Shellharbour Marina.
Season passes are available until the end of May. If you’re travelling with your pooch ensure they are leashed, well-natured and happy to cruise. Please mention this at the time of your booking.
Book your whale watching cruise with Shellharbour Wild Cruises online.
