Port Stephens Dolphin Cruise & Wildlife Day Tour from Newcastle
Dolphins, dunes and hand-feeding kangaroos in one full day
A full-day small-group tour from Newcastle to Port Stephens combines a 1.5-hour dolphin-watching cruise through waters home to over 160 resident bottlenose dolphins, a stop at the Southern Hemisphere's largest moving sand dunes, and a private wildlife encounter at Oakvale Wildlife Park where you pat koalas, hand-feed kangaroos and bottle-feed baby goats. Hotel pickup and a freshly cooked BBQ lunch are included, with a live English-speaking guide leading the day from start to finish.
Step-by-step itinerary
Dolphins, dunes, wildlife, and lunch
- 1.5-hour dolphin boat cruise
- Visit largest moving sand dunes
- Private koala encounter
- Enjoy BBQ lunch
- Feed kangaroos, quokkas, and goats
- See dingos, wombats, emus, Tasmanian Devil
What’s included
- Hotel pickup and return transport from Newcastle.
- 1.5-hour dolphin-watching cruise with views of Tomaree and Yacaaba headlands.
- entry to Oakvale Wildlife Park.
- private koala patting session.
- hand-feeding kangaroos, quokkas and baby goats.
- access to wombats, emus, dingos and Tasmanian Devils.
- Tasmanian Devil presentation.
- freshly cooked BBQ lunch with dietary catering.
- water and animal food provided.
- live English-speaking guide throughout.
Times
- Friday to Sunday 09:00
Before you book
Operated by Newy Tour Co.
Prices and times updated yesterday
Traveler reviews
The experience
The day starts with a 1.5-hour boat cruise through Port Stephens Bay, where more than 100 bottlenose dolphins live year-round. You'll navigate the clear waters between the Tomaree and Yacaaba headlands while watching for the dolphins to surface and play. An optional boomnet ride is available if you bring a swimsuit: a chance to get closer to the water without leaving the boat.
After the cruise, the tour stops at the Southern Hemisphere's largest moving coastal dunes. The sand shifts constantly, creating a landscape that changes with the seasons and weather. It's a stark contrast to the water you've just left, and the scale of it makes for striking photos. From there, you head to Oakvale Wildlife Park for a private 10-minute koala encounter where you can pat them and take pictures. Lunch follows (a freshly cooked BBQ with options for dietary needs), then the wildlife interactions begin. You hand-feed kangaroos and quokkas with food the park provides, bottle-feed baby goats, and walk past wombats, emus, dingos and Tasmanian Devils. A Tasmanian Devil presentation is included, giving you a closer look at one of Australia's most elusive animals.
The tour runs seven hours total and returns you to your Newcastle accommodation by late afternoon. A live guide travels with the group throughout, and the small-group size keeps the pace manageable. All transport, entry to Oakvale, lunch and animal food are included in the price.
Is this one for you?The seven-hour day means an early start and a late return, so book this if you're based in Newcastle or staying nearby and have a full day free. The tour moves between four different stops (boat, dunes, park, animals), so you're not standing in one place, and the wildlife interactions are hands-on rather than observation-only, which suits travelers who want to engage with the animals rather than watch from a distance.
Compare the 3 alternatives
Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Youth (7 to 14 years). Children under 7 can't be included in the booking.
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
How many dolphins will I actually see on the Port Stephens cruise?
Port Stephens Bay is home to over 160 resident bottlenose dolphins, though the number you see on any given cruise depends on where they're feeding and playing that day. More than 100 typically inhabit the bay, and the 1.5-hour boat ride covers the waters where they're most active.
Can I swim or get in the water during the dolphin cruise?
Swimming is not part of the standard cruise, but an optional boomnet ride lets you get closer to the water if you bring a swimsuit. It's an add-on experience available during the cruise.
What happens at Oakvale Wildlife Park, and how much time do I spend there?
At Oakvale you get a private 10-minute koala patting session with photos, then move through the park to hand-feed kangaroos and quokkas, bottle-feed baby goats, and see wombats, emus, dingos and Tasmanian Devils up close. A Tasmanian Devil presentation is included. Lunch is served at the park before the wildlife interactions begin.
Is the BBQ lunch included, and can you cater for dietary requirements?
Yes, a freshly cooked BBQ lunch is included in the tour price, and dietary needs are catered for. Water is also provided throughout the day.
What's the Southern Hemisphere's largest moving sand dunes stop like?
The dunes are a coastal landscape where sand shifts constantly with weather and seasons, creating an ever-changing vista. It's a photo stop rather than an activity. You get out to see the scale and take pictures, then move on to Oakvale.
Do I need to be fit or active to do this tour, and what's the age requirement?
The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. Children are welcome from age 7. The day involves a boat ride, some walking at the dunes and through the wildlife park, and standing while hand-feeding animals, but nothing strenuous.
Port Stephens Dolphin Cruise & Wildlife Day Tour from Newcastle
7h · EN · at your hotel
from AU$ 295 per person
≈ US$ 210 in your currency
Next, you choose your date and number of travelers and see the final price.