Sunset Twilight Cruise

Get close and personal with these incredible animals on our Twilight Seal and
Dolphin Swim Tours. The experience viewed from the vessel and in the water is
magnificent as you watch these beautiful animals playing right next to and
beneath our boat.

The Maureen M is equipped with a roof top viewing platform which gives you a
great perspective of the seals and dolphins as they dart around the vessel, as
well as equipped with mermaid lines and an extending hammock net to relax in!

Experience a unique experience on board a historic

vessel and interact with the playful Australian Fur Seals under the beauty of

the setting sun. First, you’ll head to Pope’s Eye Marine Park, one of Port

Phillip Bay’s best dive locations due to its incredible biodiversity - there’s

even the chance to see Weedy Sea Dragons and for bird lovers, this is the home

to the Australasian Gannet, Australia’s largest diving seabird.

It’s then onto

Chinaman’s Hat, a shallow ‘haul-out site’ that houses up to 100 seals. These

playful and inquisitive characters have got to be one of the most exciting

marine species to interact with - twisting and turning below the surface

seeking your attention and often swimming in close to get a better look.

Whilst dolphins are not a priority on this tour they are often a regular
sighting on our Twilight Tours. If timing and weather allows, you'll also have
the opportunity to get in the water and swim with the dolphins.

Swimming with dolphins is handled by the experienced instructors that will
ensure that both snorkelers and dolphins benefit from the experience.

Departing through the summer months only (late November - January), subject to
availability and weather conditions.

Tours commence at 5:30pm returning to the harbour just before dark
approximately 8:30pm.

Please note: There is a $10 environmental levy included as part of the price
of this tour. This levy helps us help our oceans and will be put towards any
of the following programs and research through our partnership charity SOEL
(Southern Ocean Environmental Link):

• Plastic recycling education programs – funding will help us purchase more plastic recycling machinery for use within our recycling programs, facilitate our education sessions for school age children, and go toward community plastic reduction efforts.
• A Port Phillip Bay wide dolphin population study, utilising machine-based learning marine identification camera systems and citizen science base initiative to create a catalogue of dolphin dorsal fins with Port Phillip Bay.
• Port Phillip Bay Seal Watch program – mapping the movement trends of Australian Fur Seals within Port Phillip Bay Haul Out sites.
• Marine pest (Northern Pacific Seastar) eradication study utilising machine-based learning identification systems.
• An investigation into the effects of ecotourism experiences on young people’s awareness and attitude toward marine conservation. Read our recent report here.
• We will also use these funds to invest in an accessibility hoist for Queenscliff Harbour, and in doing so create the first readily available accessibility point for marine tourism within Port Phillip Bay.

**Visit SOEL'swebsite to find out more or contribute
further. **