Shoreline Charters

21/04/2026

Very significant plaque as I walked past this house on my way to my Charter boat in Port Fairy on the river. I noticed it was exactly 200 years ago that Captain Mills came to Port Fairy. The southern Ocean is an unforgiving but a wonderful environment at the same time. In 200 years we’ve managed to learn more and more about the southern ocean and at Shoreline Charters we run marine wildlife tours and do marine biological and oceanography research projects. 40 years experience as commercial fisherman. I am now blessed with so much intuitive knowledge about the southern ocean and also its local hot spots but inclusively is the fact that it’s one of the most beautiful parts of the coastline on the southern coast of Australia and actually is a Serengeti of the sea when it comes to the marine wildlife which immerses itself in the beautiful and nutrient rich Bonnie upwelling. Recently we did a blue whale research project to find blue whale krill and measure phytoplankton levels on the continental shelf south of Portland. I wonder what Captain Mills would say if he was on my vessel during my recent work on the shelf. 200 years of southern ocean dreaming something to think about moving forward our awareness and empathy to the ecology hopefully prevails and not in an awkward way but in a way that protects an enhances it. Shoreline Charters enjoy sharing the secrets mysteries and the presence of southern Ocean in all its dynamic glory.

14/03/2026

The communication and intelligence of whales is so underrated and as this discovery has proven.
We think our Prepper habits are increasing and becoming more sophisticated, with uncertainty and changes in survival conditions Killer Whales are also taking measures in food security.

Nobody on that helicopter was expecting to see this.
A routine flight over open ocean turned into something researchers are still talking about when the footage came back — a pod of orcas doing something that had no immediate, obvious explanation. Instead of eating their prey on the spot the way orcas typically do, they appeared to be transporting live seals to a small nearby island. Carefully. Deliberately. As if following a plan that had been agreed upon before anyone in the air had any idea it was happening.
The footage shows the whales placing the seals ashore and then swimming away. Not feeding. Not circling. Just — depositing them and leaving.
Then they came back.
And here's where it moves from surprising to genuinely remarkable. One orca appeared to patrol the area while others traveled farther out — and they returned at the same time each day with what looked like coordinated precision. The seals were allowed to move around briefly on the island before being guided back toward land again, as if boundaries had been established and were being enforced.
Marine biologists watching the footage believe the behavior could be connected to food management during uncertain hunting periods — essentially, a living pantry being maintained with a level of teamwork, timing, and coordination that points directly toward strategic planning rather than instinct. Not reacting to prey. Managing it.
Orcas have been astonishing scientists with their social intelligence and communication for decades. They have distinct cultures, regional dialects, and hunting strategies passed down through generations like traditions. But footage of what appears to be deliberate food storage involving live animals on a land mass raises questions that researchers are only beginning to form the right language to ask.
This isn't a pod of apex predators doing what apex predators do. This looks like a pod of apex predators doing what apex predators plan. And the difference between those two things is the kind of gap that keeps marine biologists awake at night in the best possible way. 🐋🦭
Share this because the ocean keeps revealing intelligence we weren't prepared for — and the orcas have apparently been several steps ahead of us the whole time.

09/03/2026

Autumn weather around Portland brings a beautiful stillness to the ocean and at the end of the Bonney upwelling season we the beginning of the mature Fish settling in providing food for the new recruits of the marine food web. As the frenzy begins for a fattening , to survive winter, some amazing activity from predators and prey give us an amazing display of the natural world , probably the most exciting part of the cycle, as the seasons revolve over a full year. We can now look forward to seeing migratory whales, baby dolphins getting stronger, seal pups swimming with their older brothers and sisters, fledgling gannets learning to fly strongly, learning to hunt and many migratory sea birds flocking together to hunt mature schools of Pilchards, White Bait and mackerel. The gannets will dive on the schools of small Bait Fish and the tuna, salmon and mackerel along with the dolphins who create bait balls and allow a cyclonic effect of diving gannets to Feast on these fish and fatten themselves for winter. All these amazing activities of the natural marine world are there waiting for us to see. Most of the time when we venture out into the ocean we can see these signs that show us where the activity may be going to take place on any given day. We follow these signs. You will follow these signs if you venture out on one of our marine wildlife tours and witness for yourself the power of the southern ocean and the abundance of the Bonney Upwelling. Over the last 10 to 15 years in my experience as a commercial fisherman and local Charter operator I have seen a significant explosion in the population of the marine wildlife in the Bonney upwelling area between Portfairy and Port McDonald. Victoria

06/03/2026

21/02/2026

Shoreline Charters offer tours into the amazing Southern Ocean to see incredible marine wildlife in its abundance, all supported by the oceanic phenomenon of the Bonney Upwelling. With more than 40 years experience owner operator of Shoreline Charters Rob Davis can take you into the deep of the southern ocean within 20 minutes of Portland to see Australian fur seals, Gannet colonies, dolphin pods and many other sea birds. We offer tours all year round starting at $100 for two hour tours. Phone or book online. # Victoria # wildlife # Whale watching

17/02/2026

No matter what kind of day it is there is always something special to see along our coastline and in our beautiful southern ocean. Our vessel is purpose built for the south ocean and with 40 years experience in the waters around Portland Shoreline Charters excel at exploring the wildlife and coastal scenery. Occasionally we find something extra special on the days that you least expect to find it. Victoria research

10/02/2026

The white dolphin could be seen on our next tour! Today was another fantastic day out at Lawrence Rocks. Always something different to see and learn about. Today we saw a greater crested turn hunting, it then caught a fish and fed its young one on the water. An amazing sight. Really the marine wildlife at Lawrence Rock is so varied and densely populated with Australian fur seals, Australasian gannets, cormorants, Greater crested terns and albatross. Albatross came in very close to the rock today - we saw five albatross. We also explored Nelson Bay and found a large pod of common dolphins that came around our boat. The Southern Ocean and the Bonney Upwelling provide a spectacular Serengeti of the Sea, and we know how to find it using 40 plus years of experience to ensure the best tours happen every time. Victoria wildlife

08/02/2026

This time of year the activity of the marine wildlife is amplified due to the peeking of the Barney upwelling marine system. Australasian gannets and Australian for seals and many other species of sea bird native to this area are working and feeding and bringing up their young ones. Every tour we see something different and something exciting as we watch the newborn marine wildlife growing and starting the new life cycle that creates a virtual serenity of the sea. Get on board and experience a memorable tour that is like nothing else. love Portland Victoria

04/02/2026

Shoreline Charters marine wildlife tours to Lawrence Rock is an amazing experience and for $100. This 90 minute tour explores the nutrient rich Waters of the Bonney Upwelling which is an an oceanic phenomenon that supports the life cycles of many marine mammals, sea birds and fish. In your 80 minute tour you will see Australian fir seals. Australasian gannets, a huge variety of sea birds, dolphins and occasionally whales, and the majestic and powerful movement of the southern ocean as it ebbs and flows against the backdrop of volcanic geology and abrupt cliff lines and Rocky Shores. Our tours will be running all summer long. You can make bookings online by phone or on Facebook. Get onboard and enjoy the comfortable ride and experience the marine wildlife so close to Portland. # LOVE PORTLAND LOVE WARRNAMBOOL WILDLIFE

31/01/2026