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6.5 hour Broughton Island Cruise
Highlights
- Cruise through stunning coastal scenery, immersing yourself in the natural beauty of Broughton Island National Park.
- Savour a packed picnic lunch on board or ashore, enhancing your experience with delicious local flavours.
- Explore wildlife breeding areas and secluded coves on a guided walk, connecting with nature in a serene environment.
- Enjoy boom-net rides and dolphin watching on the return journey, adding excitement to your unforgettable day at sea.
If you are looking for a full day of cruising, snorkelling, swimming, exploring and eating, you can’t go past the Broughton Island National Park Cruise.
Take in the spectacular island and coastal scenery as the boat makes its way to Broughton Island. Enjoy a packed picnic lunch to enjoy on board or take ashore and explore. After lunch explore on a guided walk to wildlife breeding areas, secluded coves and beaches or enjoy your time relaxing on the beach or in the water.
Bring your snorkelling equipment and enjoy the crystal clear waters, enjoy swimming or just relaxing on the beach.
On the return journey (time permitting) enjoy boom-net rides and bonus dolphin watch.
(Seasonal and weather permitting off-shore sea conditions)
Please note: This is an offshore excursion and is not suitable for children under the age of 5 years.
Itinerary highlights
Broughton Island National Park
Broughton Island is located approximately eight nautical miles North East of Port Stephens and is a part of the Myall Lakes National Park.
Broughton is an island of sandy beaches, volcanic peaks and stunted, wind-swept vegetation.
Departing from Nelson Bay, the sea journey is a kaleidoscope of sea cliffs, swells, terns, flying fish, dolphins and salt spray. Most visitors come for what lies below the water: snapper, drummer, kingfish, flathead and groper. For scuba divers there are undersea caves, coral, sponge gardens, boulders, sandy gutters, ledges, sheer walls and marine life of every type.
Broughton is packed with life. In the warm months of the year thousands of shearwaters (or muttonbirds) enter their underground burrows at night, firstly to hatch and then to care for their single chick. Growing up, the young birds are left alone for long periods while their parents feed.
Broughton Island is part of the Myall Lakes National Park. It is essential that it stays free of predators such as dogs, cats and foxes. A torch and the willingness to walk about the island at night are all you need to observe yet another bird that breeds and sleeps underground.
Cruise Return Location
Broughton Island – Action or relaxation, includes bonus dolphin watch and outer island cruise.
Explore ashore on an island discovery walk to wildlife breeding areas, secluded coves and beaches.
Your chance to see huge pods of oceanic dolphins, penguins, seals, orcas, turtles, whales and much, much more. Enjoy snorkeling, swimming and island walks, a fabulous buffet lunch, with your choice of dining onboard or picnic packs are available to take to the island. A licensed bar and snacks are available.
Tour details
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Available from 25 September 2022 to 30 April 2026
Features
Service facilities
Sevice Activity
This business does not currently offer accessible facilities.
Operation information
Moonshadow – TQC Cruises
Moonshadow TQC Cruises is a family-owned cruise operator based in Port Stephens, just 2.5 hours north of Sydney and 30 minutes from Newcastle Airport. With more than 44 years of experience and the largest vessels in Port Stephens, they deliver safe, memorable experiences on the water.
Their Dolphin Cruises depart daily in search of resident Bottlenose dolphins, with a 95 per cent sighting success rate, plus the chance to enjoy boom-net rides while taking in the beauty of the bay.
From May to November, Whale Watching Cruises offer unforgettable encounters with humpback whales during the annual migration, when more than 45,000 whales pass the coastline.
For a full-day adventure, the Broughton Island Cruise explores the pristine beauty of Broughton Island National Park, while a range of Historical Cruises to Broughton, Fingal, Outer Islands and the Western Harbour reveal the region’s rich maritime stories, hosted with local historian John “Stinker” Clarke.
During Daylight Savings, the Sunset on the Bay Cruise operates every Saturday evening, offering a relaxed way to experience Port Stephens at golden hour aboard one of the region’s largest vessels.
Moonshadow TQC Cruises also offers private charters across a fleet of six vessels, catering for everything from casual celebrations to formal functions, making them a leading choice for marine tourism, special events and unforgettable experiences in Port Stephens.
Accreditations
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ATEC India Host
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ECO Certified (Advanced Ecotourism) by Ecotourism Australia
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International Ready Accreditation
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Quality Tourism Accreditation
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Sustainable Tourism Accreditation by ATIC
Memberships
- Australian Tourism Export Council
- Charter Vessel Association
- New South Wales Business Chamber
- Regional Tourist/Tourism Association/Organisation
- Visitor Information Centre
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