Imagine Cruises is affiliated with many local (Port Stephens), regional (NSW North Coast), New South Wales, Australian & World-wide environmental & tourism organisations... click link for more information.
After a rather cold and rainy June the winter weather has settled down into some glorious sunny days that are already noticeably longer. The Humpback whale’s northern migration is in full swing and sightings have been very steady averaging around 6 to 8 whales a voyage right through the school holidays and some spectacular breeches seen on most trips.
One of the things most commonly mentioned by folk who travel with us in Port Stephens that have also been on whale watching trips elsewhere is the spectacular beauty of the backdrop of islands and coastal hills. Together with the huge variety of bird life including a number of different species of Albatross and other marine mammals such as the Australian Fur Seal, Bottlenose dolphins and Common dolphin, often seen in pods of hundreds, a 3 hour cruise is often remarked as “the trip of a lifetime”.
INTERNATIONAL WHALING COMMISSION IWC 60 MEETS IN CHILE
This year we helped sponsor 15-year-old Skye Bortoli’s trip to the IWC to protest against Japan’s continuing application to restart commercial whaling and its ongoing killing of whales in the Southern Ocean whale sanctuary under the guise of science. Skye who started the very successful Teens Against Whaling
web site has now attended two IWC meetings and went this year as a youth reporter.
Earlier this year Skye went to Japan and delivered over 130,000 signatures from the Daily Telegraph/ Today show Stopwhaling web site to one of the two major political parties. It was “very intimidating” said teen schoolgirl Skye who has now committed to join Paul Watson onboard Seashepherd for its voyage next summer to the Antarctic. Sea shepherd is well known for its anti-whaling activities and intends to disrupt Japan’s whaling fleet again. Paul awarded Skye an environmental medal for youth bravery this year for her work and we only expect her voice to get louder for the whales as a result. Read more about the IWC here...
KIDS IN JAPAN SICK OF BEING FORCE FED WHALE MEAT
It appears the Japanese governments push to reintroduce Japanese kids to eating whale meat disguised in hamburgers to look like western food is backfiring. A call to Frank Future from a school master in Japan informing him that Japanese students are now discussing the topic of whaling which was “not for discussion” before. Many children have logged onto Skye’s website and seen her great You tube footage and are impressed with her arguments. So who knows, whaling was stopped in Australia in 1978 when ex prime minister Malcolm Fraser’s young daughter Phoebe nagged her dad about how cruel it is, maybe the same will happen in Japan!
PORT STEPHENS WHALE FESTIVAL IN SPRING HOLIDAYS
For the second year running Port Stephens is hosting a springtime whale festival during the school holidays from Saturday 27th September to Sunday 12th October. www.whalefest.com.au there will be loads of events and activities especially for kids and the itinerary of the festival can be viewed on the above web site.
SPRING TIME IS BEST FOR VIEWING BABY HUMPBACK WHALES
The best time to see the Humpback mothers with their newborn calves is during October. These very active “little’ animals, born at one and a half tonnes in weight and three and a half meters in length are guzzling up to 400 litres of milk a day. Whale festival time is right in the peak run of the southern migration and cows and calves are commonly sighted. Read more about whales... See photo Gallery... Book a cruise now...!
DON'T FORGET ABOUT YOUR CHRISTMAS PARTY CRUISE!
It's time to start thinking about it!
Our specialty is helping you create the best celebration for any occasion and our friendly and professional crew will ensure that your private charter will be one to remember.
Imagine is a large sailing catamaran, so if there is any breeze at all we like to hoist the sails and turn off the motors so you can enjoy the cruise in peace. We quite often see dolphins along the way and its fun to watch them play around the bows as you lay back in the bow net sipping champagne.
We usually set a course along the southern channel to beautiful Fame Cove where we anchor up for dinner, it’s a secluded natural harbour and sheltered from all winds so dining on deck is a real option. Imagine has both covered foredeck and aft deck seating and down below is the cosy saloon with the fully licensed Mermaid bar and two bathrooms. For mor information on charters and menus click here..!
IMAGINE NOW OFFERING SPECIAL CRUISES FOR SCHOOL TOURS
All Imagine’s cruises now come with Advanced Eco tour accreditation and after 13 years of operation delivering a factual and fun commentary, we have decided to put together some great educational cruises specially designed for school students that might be studying Biology/marine science, Geography and Physical education or Australian History.
A great mix of in water activities including sailing; snorkelling and swimming are combined with some fact-finding sheets and interpretation of the natural environment and local history of Port Stephens.
We have attached (see below) the Winter/Spring and Summer/Autumn programs for some great ideas for your class excursions and a breakdown of costs. These will be posted on the website in the future and we hope to create a school friendly information section also.
If you are a teacher, parent, or student or and know people who might be interested, feel free to pass this informaton around.
SUMMER/ AUTUMN PROGRAMS:
1 Hour Private Eco-Cruises
Interpretation of key elements of the Port Stephens Great Lakes Marine Park eco-systems and how they play a role in the health of our local marine environment. (1, 2 and 3 hour cruises)
Interpretation of Tomaree and Myall lakes National park. (1, 2 and 3 hour cruises)
Tour of the eastern part of Port Stephens: Mouth of the Myall river and sand banks. (1, 2 and 3 hour cruises)
Visit of sea grass beds on the North beach and the ports volcanic headlands. (1, 2 and 3 hour cruises)
Chance to see dolphins, sea eagle, penguins and variety of other wild life.
Global warming and climate change ramifications explained. (1, 2 and 3 hour cruises)
2 Hour Private Eco-cruise and Dolphin Interpretation
As 1 hour eco-cruise plus dolphin interpretation and boom netting
3 Hour Private Eco-cruise Dolphin Interpretation and Snorkelling
As 2 hour cruise plus:
Snorkelling includes use of equipment and dive master tuition and supervision
Sailing and boom netting experience
1 to 3 day Learn to Sail Program: Price and details on application
WHEN?: Mid November to Mid May, Midweek and outside School Holidays.
COSTS?:
1 Hour $10 per Student + 3 teachers FOC. (minimum 2 class for 1 hour)
2 Hour $18 per Student + 3 teachers FOC.
3 Hour $22 per Student + 3 teachers FOC
Min: 30 students per cruise
Max: 60 students per cruise
WINTER / SPRING PROGRAMS:
Included in both 2 and 3 hour Private Eco Tours Experiences:
Dolphin watch and interpretation.
Interpretation of key elements of the Port Stephens Great Lakes Marine Park eco-systems and how they play a role in the health of our local marine environment.
Interpretation of Tomaree and Myall lakes National park.
Global warming and climate change ramifications explained.
Sailing experience.
2 hour Private Eco Cruise and Dolphin Interpretation
Coastal bottlenose dolphins social behaviour and interpretation.
Tour of the eastern part of Port Stephens: Mouth of the Myall river and sand banks. (2 and 3 hour cruises)
Visit of sea grass beds on the North beach and the ports volcanic headlands. (2 and 3 hour cruises)
Chance to see sea eagle, penguins and variety of other wild life.
3 hour Private Eco Cruise and Dolphin and Whale Interpretation
Whale watch and interpretation, Humpback or other species of whales can be seen like Fins, South and rights, Minkies, false killers.
Great chance to meet with offshore Pacific Common Dolphins.
Visit of the Marine Park offshore waters around some outer islands.
Chance to see Australian fur seals, sea turtle, albatrosses and other wild life.
WHEN?: Mid May to mid November excluding October, midweek and outside school holidays.
COSTS?:
2 Hour $18 per Student + 3 teachers FOC (Min 30 Students Max 60 passengers Per Cruise)
3 Hour $28 per Student + 3 teachers FOC (Min 30 Students Max 47 passengers Per Cruise)
