Jervis Bay, around three hours south of Sydney, is getting a reputation for having some of the best beaches in Australia. It’s always good to take a break from relaxing in perfect white sand beaches though, and a dolphin spotting tour is a great way to spend a couple of hours. We did a dolphin spotting tour in Jervis Bay with Jervis Bay Wild and it was an awesome experience — not only did we see heaps of dolphins but we (well, Gia at least) tried out a unique activity known as boom netting. You’ll have to keep reading to find out exactly what that is!
Cruising around Jervis Bay
The first part of the tour, which starts in Huskisson, takes you north past Callala Beach. We didn’t see any dolphins in this area, but it was nice to see some of that Jervis Bay white sand from a different perspective.
Boom Netting
After a while the boat slowed down, and the people booked on the boom netting experience were told to get changed. It was pretty cold (and I’m a bit weak) so I decided to stay dry while Gia stripped down and entered the water. Plus, someone needed to get the photos! They basically lower the boom netting off the back of the boat and you climb in, a sturdy net keeping you from sinking into the depths below. It’s safe for all ages and you don’t need to be able to swim. The boat then speeds back up and you’re kinda sloshed around. It looks like a lot of fun — everyone in there was smiling and laughing almost the whole time. Note that the boom netting trips only run from December 1 until April 30.
Dolphin Spotting in Jervis Bay
The boom netting lasted around 10 minutes, and from then on, the sole focus was on seeing some dolphins. Sure enough, they eventually showed up. Not just one or two either — there were probably around 30 of them all around the boat. Like the boat man said, it’s about as close as you’ll get to dolphins without jumping in the water alongside them. We spent a good 10 – 15 minutes with the dolphins and it was a great experience. There were lots of kids on board and they were all excited to see them (as were the adults — everyone loves dolphins!).
Jervis Bay Dolphin Spotting: The Details
There are a few companies which do dolphin spotting tours in Jervis Bay. We went with Jervis Bay Wild because Gia was intrigued by the boom netting (and they hosted us, which always helps!). It costs $35 for the dolphin spotting tour (plus a little extra for the boom netting) which is great value. The tour starts in Huskisson, the main tourist town in Jervis Bay. If you visit at the right time of year (mid May to mid November) you can also do whale watching tours — spotting a whale in the wild is something everyone should try and do once in their lives!
Have you seen dolphins in the wild before? What has been your favourite wildlife experience? Let me know in the comments below!
I was hosted by Jervis Bay Wild, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Jon Algie
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