Dolphins in Port Phillip Bay

Port Phillip Bay is a popular destination for dolphin watching, with the number of local dolphins on the rise. There are now approximately 150 bottlenose dolphins living in the bay, with up to 60 of them frequenting the southern end of Port Phillip.

Watch from the shore for a glimpse of these fascinating creatures as they cruise around, or get a closer look on or in the water. Tour operators based in Sorrento and Queenscliff offer dolphin-watching cruises and the opportunity to swim with the mammals.

The tours, which operate under strict guidelines to protect the dolphins, usually run in the warmer months – from October to April – when sightings are more prevalent. Tours last around four hours and include other bay attractions like fur seals and gannets.

If you decide to take a trip across the bay on the car ferry that operates between Sorrento and Queenscliff, look out for dolphins hitching a ride on the bow wave.