Seabird Pelagic Trips

Come and join Treeswift Wildlife & Nature on a wildlife watching experience of a lifetime! Journey with us as we travel out into the depths of the Bass Strait on a quest for albatrosses, shearwaters, storm petrels, prions, penguins, terns, jaegers, dolphins, seals, and whales!

On board the magnificent 3-level Southern Explorer (complete with brand-new Gyro Stabiliser for comfort whilst on the water), we’ll depart the picturesque Port Fairy at dawn, just as the first morning light creeps in from the east. As we leave the shoreline behind, expect to watch Australasian Gannet plummeting into the ocean as they dive for fish and to see flocks of hundreds (if not thousands) of shearwaters and maybe our first albatross or two for the day.

Cruising out to further depths, we may be joined by jumping Common Short-beaked Dolphin and Oceanic Bottlenose Dolphin who often follow the boat. Eyes will be peeled for Sperm Whale, Blue Whale, Humpback Whale, and possibly even Killer Whale!

Around midmorning we will reach the continental shelf, when suddenly seabird numbers go into overdrive! Chumming from the boat, rare seabirds will be drawn directly into the boat for unbelievable views – sometimes flying only a few meters over our heads and coming close enough for unbelievable full-frame photographs. Be prepared as a Wandering Albatross with its 3.5m wingspan forces you to take a step back in order to fit the whole bird in frame (see full target species below)!

Finally, we’ll turn around and cruise back to shore. Here we’re often followed by waves of albatrosses and petrels, providing an amazing opportunity for in-flight photography! The boat will return to dock around 3-4pm.