JOIN DOLPHINS’ PLAYGROUND
Imagine you’re floating through the open ocean, surrounded by dozens of wild dolphins brushing so close that it’s hard not to feel part of their pod.
Growing up in the country, I imagined that faraway destinations were the only way to experience this dream adventure. Little did I know that hiding in plain sight along the coast of NSW, Australia’s dolphin capital was waiting to be discovered. With the help of an eco-friendly operator, you can head out into the right part of the ocean to tick this once-ina-lifetime moment off your bucket list.
WELCOME TO PORT STEPHENS
Surrounded by 26 beaches, coastal walks and sand dunes, Port Stephens is an idyllic coastal city 2.5 hours north of Sydney.
With its laid-back lifestyle and array of outdoor activities, it offers any city dweller an escape from the hustle and bustle for a weekend or longer.
Impressively, it’s also home to more than 140 bottlenose dolphins, earning it the reputation as the dolphin capital of Australia with tourists and locals commonly seeing the cheeky residents frolicking close to the coast. Even without an organised trip, a visit to the beach offers a chance to swim with a wild dolphin.
CLOSE AND PERSONAL
If you want to increase the odds, join Dolphin Swim Australia on a tour not found anywhere else in the world. The first and only wild dolphin swim permitted in NSW, Dolphin Swim Australia is an eco-certified business grounded in conservation science advocating authentically wild experiences only. Therefore, each tour is different and depends on when, where and if the dolphins decide to come and say hello.
It’s early - 5am - when we hop into a boat specifically designed to swim with dolphins, and head out into the Pacific to explore the aquatic playground. The fresh ocean spray is a real awakening for the senses as the city’s golden coastline is slowly replaced by expansive blue water and the sun rises above the horizon.
Luckily for us, only 20 minutes later we were greeted by dozens of inquisitive dolphins dancing above the waves with an impressive display of speed, agility and acrobatics. As I looked on in awe, appreciating the spontaneous spectacle, I started to feel a growing sense of urgency that I may have just seconds to lower myself into the water to capture the attention of my new friends and entice them to stay.
I’d already instinctively positioned myself on the lowering station, a semi-submerged net at the front of the boat, and in just a few seconds I found myself underwater attached to a rope connected to the catamaran allowing me to glide through the ocean at a similar speed to the dolphins.
A truly exhilarating experience that I’ve never come across before, the unique and interactive engagement plunged me into a new ecosystem where not only could I appreciate a dolphin’s natural behaviour and socialisation as they playfully engaged and swam around me, but also made me part of the pod for a few moments.
Apart from a chimpanzee trek I did in Uganda, I can’t recall another wild animal experience where I felt as connected as I did.
DOWN TO THE DUNES
The best part about the 5am start for the dolphin swim is finishing by 10am, which leaves plenty of time to enjoy other attractions at Port Stephens.
Stockton Bight Sand Dunes are the largest moving sand dune in the southern hemisphere stretching out over 32km to reach peaks of 30m, making it the perfect place to 4WD, quad bike or try your luck at sandboarding.
Unspoilt beaches, a remote wilderness camping area, a shipwreck to observe and a hidden micro-city made of tin to explore; as far as afternoon adventures go, this everchanging desert landscape on the Worimi conservation area packs quite the punch.