Pelagic trips off Port Stephens, NSW Australia
Month-by-month Port Stephens birding guide
Pelagic trips off Port Stephens are organised on intermittent dates set by the organisers and the skipper. Cost is $160 AUS per head and payable at the end of the day by cash (if the boat is not full, participants may be asked to contribute to the shortfall). The trips depart from the Public Wharf at Nelson Bay at 0700 and return by about 1600-1700.
Month-by-month Port Stephens birding guide
Pelagic trips off Port Stephens are organised on intermittent dates set by the organisers and the skipper. Cost is $160 AUS per head and payable at the end of the day by cash (if the boat is not full, participants may be asked to contribute to the shortfall). The trips depart from the Public Wharf at Nelson Bay at 0700 and return by about 1600-1700.
Contact: Mick Roderick via email: mick.roderick@birdlife.org.au
Trip dates for 2023
Port Stephens (all are Sundays)
22nd January |
12th February |
26th March |
16th April |
21st May |
25th June |
16th July |
20th August |
17th September |
15th October |
19th November |
10th December |
M.V. Contagious
The Port Stephens trips are set to run again in 2022 on the M.V. Contagious. Some people may be familiar with Contagious as she formerly operated as the M.V. Grinner; the vessel that ran many years of pelagic trips out of Southport, Queensland. So the Contagious comes with incredible pedigree! Contagious is a 38ft Steber and will move faster across the ocean than the Argonaut did, at around 12-14 knots. We will still travel slowly enough that birds can keep up, though the journey to the continental shelf should be well under 3 hours. Once at the shelf break or a short distance beyond, we set up a drift and drop our "secret weapon" (a rag soaked in cod-liver oil) over the side and remain on this drift for between 2.5 and 3 hours. This gives us plenty of time searching for pelagic birds in deep water. Many birds follow the boat from not far outside the heads and then back to port in the afternoon, so there are opportunities to watch and photograph seabirds virtually all day.
What to bring: As for other pelagic trips; binoculars, camera, sunscreen and sea-sickness tablets. I cannot stress enough that if you are unsure about getting seasick, to take tablets anyway. Travelcalm has been recommended by several people (noting that it may need to be taken the night before as well as on the morning of the pelagic). We have had an instance where the boat had to turn around and come back early because someone was very seasick. We do not want this to happen again. Please take responsibility for managing seasickness and don't potentially spoil the day for others on board. You will need to bring your own drinks and snacks though there will be some fresh water on board in case you forget. I always recommend people bring a 'dry bag' to protect camera equipment etc from rain or sea spray. Polarising sunglasses are a very good idea.
Clothing: In windy conditions the chances are you will get wet from spray at some stage, especially if you spend a lot of time at the rear of the boat. Being undercover helps but there is always a chance of spray or splashes from waves hitting the sides of the boat when we are drifting. Therefore bringing a spray jacket is a good idea.
Where to meet, park etc: The boat leaves from the Nelson Bay Public Wharf at 0700, so try and arrive at least 10 minutes early so we can get away on time. We usually gather at the tables under the shelters near the toilet block on the main road before we all head down to the wharf, so just look for people milling about with bino's, eskies and wellies. By far the best place to park is Magnus Street, which is above the main road and from which there is a staircase / ramp down to the wharf. This is free and all-day (you park under the blackbutt trees). The map below shows the Public Wharf (yellow circle), the shelters where we meet (red rectangle) and the Magnus Street parking place (red arrow). To get to Magnus Street keep following the main road from Nelson bay towards Shoal Bay, then turn right onto Trafalgar St, then right again onto Fingal Street (which becomes Magnus). The Blackbutts and car park should be obvious on your right soon after.