Whale cruises are available on the South Coast from Jervis Bay and at a number of other places along the coastline, all the way South to Merimbula and Eden. Contact the Shoalhaven Tourist Information Centre in Ulladulla for more info. Phone +061 2 4455 1269.
Although the whale watching cruises are strictly controlled and not allowed to get too close, the size of the whales make it easy to see them. Montegue Island, by Narooma, is a protected reserve and offers great diving but you can also just take a cruise there.
When the whales are not in season, you can take dolphin spotting cruises and often see them swimming near, under and around the cruise boat.
South Coast Diving
Good diving is available on the coast. This part of the east coast of Australia has wrecks, reefs, walls, dolphins, turtles, fish and invertebrates to see. You can go diving with the seals at Montegue Island, or see whales and dolphins in their natural habitat.
South Coast Marine Parks
There are two main marine parks in the Shoalhaven. Beautiful Jervis Bay Marine Park, located 180km south of Sydney and 20km southeast of Nowra spans more than 100km of coastline.
Batemans Bay Marine Park
Batemans Bay Marine Park also has excellent diving, it covers more than 85,000 hectares, extending from Wallaga Lake in the South to the North end of Murramarang Beach. Inhabited by diverse sea life, including bottlenose dolphins, weedy sea-dragons, eastern blue devil fish, whales, penguins, fur seals and endangered grey nurse sharks. Other things to do here include fishing (in designated areas) swimming, surfing and boating.
Enquire at the Nowra Visitors Information Centre for more about whale cruises in the Shoalhaven region. Cnr. Princes Highway and Pleasant Way, Nowra NSW 2541. Phone 1300 662 808 or International +061 2 4421 0778.
