First ever guided camping tour on Broughton Island

Imagine Cruises in Port Stephens has launched the first-ever guided, overnight camping tours to Broughton Island, the biggest island off the NSW coast, 14km north-east of Port Stephens.
 

Deserted aside from a few fishing cottages and protected as a national park, the 114-hecatre isle is home to a colony of wedgetailed shearwaters, sea eagles and fairy penguins which waddle ashore in spring and summer while dolphins and, in winter and spring, whales and seals can be seen on the 40-minute journey from Port Stephens past rain forested Cabbage tree island on the voyage to Broughton Island.
 

The first of the new, one-night camping trips to Broughton Island will leave Port Stephens aboard Imagine Cruises’ fast-cat, Envision, at 11am on Thursday, March 5, Friday, March 6 and Saturday, March 6, returning at 12.30pm the following day, with the dates chosen to coincide with the full moon for extra light at night. The overnight trip is fully guided, with US biologist, Terry Domico, and Russian photographer and naturalist, Pavel German, hosting the unique tour. Dates for more one-night camping tours after Easter will be announced soon.

 

The special, one-night island experience is limited to groups of 10 and is fully catered, with tents, air mattresses, head torches, sunblock, cutlery, snacks, beverages and three meals, including a BBQ lunch, dinner (with a glass of wine for adults) and breakfast all included along with Terry Domico’s unique dish of ‘prickly pear’. “Sounds bad but you got to try it,” says Terry. The camp-over package costs $290 per adult or child. The minimum age is eight.
 

Campers need only bring a sleeping bag, walking shoes, swim wear and warm clothes. After settling into the campsite at Esmerelda Cove, the itinerary includes time for a swim on the island’s pristine beaches, lunch, a guided nature walk to Pinkatop Hill, dinner, an early evening nature stroll, a cooked breakfast next morning and time for snorkelling or more exploration on foot before leaving the island aboard Envision at 11.40am, returning to Nelson Bay.
 

The new tours follow years of dreaming, planning and consultation by the owner of Imagine Cruises, Frank Future, a well-known nature lover in Port Stephens. “I am delighted the true magic of Broughton Island can now be experienced by visitors camping overnight on this very special place,” said Mr Future.