South Coast Whale Watch

23 October 2026 / Story: Rose Smith; Photos: Rose Smith, Keith Monaghan

South Coast Whale Watch

15 October, 2026

There were no shiny MX-5s in convoy today, but that didn’t stop the South Coasties from enjoying a day out together. Instead, we gathered at Huskisson Wharf for a cruise on beautiful Jervis Bay. The weather was cool and overcast, but spirits were high as we boarded, with everyone keen to see what the bay had in store for us.

We settled upstairs in the open air, which offered a great vantage point for taking photos. However, the usually calm waters of Jervis Bay had other ideas! As we ventured further towards the open sea, the swell steadily increased, and the boat began to bounce around a little more than expected. There were a few hopeful glances towards the life jackets, with everyone silently wondering whether this might turn into a more adventurous outing than planned!

Sadly, our wildlife wish list remained unfulfilled. No whales, no dolphins and not even a seal made an appearance. Perhaps they’d checked the weather forecast and decided to stay in bed!

Fortunately, the Navy was putting on a much better show. The bay was a hive of activity, with a large & small vessels, rubber duckie helicopter and catamarans all in action. The highlight was watching the helicopter practising lowering a rescue line onto a small boat. This brought back memories for Roger, who had served as a winch man back in the day. 

On the return journey, a few of us decided that the indoor seating offered a rather more appealing combination of warmth and comfort. The open-air photo opportunities were lovely, but there’s only so much fresh sea air one can enjoy before seeking shelter!

Our day concluded at the Flamin Galah Brewery, where we tucked into some very nice food and enjoyed the brewery’s excellent selection of brews. It was the perfect way to warm up, share a few laughs and round off an enjoyable outing.

Although the whales, dolphins and seals failed to make an appearance, and the weather could have been kinder, the Navy provided the entertainment and good company made up for the missing wildlife. Another enjoyable day with the club - even without an MX-5 in sight!