Abyss Project Australia

25/06/2026

🐋 Cruising the East Coast

There’s something truly special about watching a humpback whale make its way along Australia’s east coast during the annual migration.

These incredible giants travel thousands of kilometres between their Antarctic feeding grounds and warmer breeding waters, passing right by our coastline and reminding us just how connected we are to the ocean.

Moments like this are why we do what we do; sharing the wonder of marine wildlife while helping people develop a deeper understanding of our ocean and the species that call it home.

Who else never gets tired of seeing whales on the horizon? 🌊

🎟️ Want to experience the migration for yourself?

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/o/abyss-project-australia-121286608528

Join us aboard a UN Ocean Decade endorsed Five Islands Nature Reserve Eco Tour and witness the incredible wildlife of the Illawarra coast while contributing to citizen science and ocean conservation.

Video credit

🐋🌊

24/06/2026

🌊🐋 ONLY A HANDFUL OF SEATS REMAINING! 🦭🐦

Join us aboard the Abyss Project Five Islands Nature Reserve Eco Tour and experience the incredible wildlife and natural beauty of the Illawarra coastline.

✨ Spot migrating whales
✨ Observe Australian fur seals
✨ Discover seabirds and marine life
✨ Learn from a marine biologist
✨ Support ocean conservation through tourism

🎟 Remaining availability:

📅 27 July | 3:30 PM — 3 seats left
📅 11 July | 3:30 PM — 1 seat left
📅 17 July | 3:00 PM — 4 seats left
📅 2 August | 1:00 PM — Selling fast
📅 8 August | 3:00 PM — Selling fast

After a completely SOLD OUT 2025 season, tours are filling quickly again. Don’t miss your chance to explore the UNESCO Ocean Decade-endorsed Five Islands Nature Reserve from the water.

🔗 Book now before these final spots disappear.
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/o/abyss-project-australia-121286608528

24/06/2026

💙 A few beautiful moments from Saturday’s SOLD OUT Five Islands Nature Reserve Eco Tour.

A huge thank you to Kirrie Shearer for sharing these incredible photos and for joining us for the second year running!

From Australian fur seals hauled out on the rocks, to sooty oystercatchers patrolling the shoreline, every trip offers a unique glimpse into the wildlife and landscapes of the Five Islands.

What makes these tours so special isn’t just the wildlife—it’s sharing the experience with passionate people who want to learn more about our marine environment. Every guest becomes part of our citizen science journey, helping us record and monitor the biodiversity of this remarkable marine ecosystem.

🐋 Whale season is now underway.
🦭 Fur seals are regularly being sighted around the islands.
🐦 Seabirds, including albatross, gannets and oystercatchers, are a highlight throughout winter.

Many of our upcoming tours are already SOLD OUT, with only a handful of tickets remaining for the season.

🎟 Secure your spot before they’re gone:
Book Now: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/o/abyss-project-australia-121286608528

23/06/2026

💙 A few beautiful moments from Saturday’s SOLD OUT Five Islands Nature Reserve Eco Tour.

A huge thank you to Kirrie Shearer for sharing these incredible photos and for joining us for the second year running!

From Australian fur seals hauled out on the rocks, to sooty oystercatchers patrolling the shoreline, every trip offers a unique glimpse into the wildlife and landscapes of the Five Islands.

What makes these tours so special isn’t just the wildlife, it’s sharing the experience with passionate people who want to learn more about our marine environment. Every guest becomes part of our citizen science journey, helping us record and monitor the biodiversity of this remarkable marine ecosystem.

🐋 Whale season is now underway.
🦭 Fur seals are regularly being sighted around the islands.
🐦 Seabirds, including albatross, gannets and oystercatchers, are a highlight throughout winter.

Many of our upcoming tours are already SOLD OUT, with only a handful of tickets remaining for the season.

🎟 Secure your spot before they’re gone:
Book Now
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/o/abyss-project-australia-121286608528

23/06/2026

🌅 Sunset Eco Tour – 21 June 2026
🎥 Video by

What an incredible afternoon to have taken a boat full of fellow ORRCA volunteers out to the Five Islands. It was wonderful to share this special place with so many passionate people dedicated to the protection and conservation of marine wildlife.

While I’m on board, my focus is usually on recording biodiversity observations, contributing to citizen science, and sharing as much knowledge as possible about the wildlife, history, and conservation values of this remarkable place. Apart from the occasional photo, I rely on the amazingly talented photographers and videographers who join our tours to capture these moments.

This fantastic highlight reel by captures the magic of the day perfectly, fur seals resting on the islands, seabirds soaring overhead, spectacular coastal scenery, and a breathtaking winter sunset over the Illawarra.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us, especially our ORRCA volunteers. Your enthusiasm, knowledge, and commitment to our marine environment made the tour even more memorable.

If you haven’t experienced the islands for yourself, now is the time. Our tours are filling fast, with only 3 spaces remaining this weekend.

🎟️ Book now: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/o/abyss-project-australia-121286608528

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/o/abyss-project-australia-121286608528

22/06/2026

We’re incredibly grateful to The Illawarra Flame for featuring our Five Islands Nature Tour and the work we’re doing through Abyss Project.

It’s a privilege to see this unique part of the Illawarra coastline recognised, and to share the importance of the Five Islands Nature Reserve, our marine wildlife, and the ongoing efforts to connect people with ocean science, conservation, and Country.

The recent UNESCO UN Ocean Decade endorsement is a huge milestone for our team and highlights the value of community-driven ocean literacy and conservation storytelling here in Wollongong.

Thank you again for helping shine a light on this special place and the species that call it home 🐋🦭🐦

Read the article here:
https://www.theillawarraflame.com.au/five-islands-nature-tour-returns-with-unesco-endorsement/

A project which showcases the biodiversity of the Illawarra's protected sea environments has a global tick of approval

21/06/2026

🌊❄️ Chilly temperatures and choppy conditions didn’t stop the wildlife from putting on a show this afternoon!

Our 3:30pm Abyss Project Ecotour around the Five Islands recorded an incredible diversity of wildlife, including a spectacular breaching humpback whale offshore, 15 fur seals hauled out across the islands, and two magnificent albatross species soaring effortlessly over the Southern Ocean.

Today we recorded 10 taxa and 95 individual birds, demonstrating just how rich the Five Islands ecosystem remains even in challenging weather conditions.

Citizen scientists onboard recorded:
🐋 1 Humpback Whale
🦭 15 Fur Seals
🪶 95 Birds across 10 taxa, including:
• 49 Australian Pelicans
• 22 Sooty Oystercatchers
• 12 Silver Gulls
• 8 Kelp Gulls
• 2 Crested Terns
• 1 White Heron
• 1 White-bellied Sea Eagle
• 1 Shy Albatross
• 1 Black-browed Albatross

We were also on high alert and actively searching for an entangled humpback whale believed to be in the area. Unfortunately, the animal remains in need of assistance.

Please keep your eyes on our coastline and report any injured, distressed, or entangled marine wildlife to ORRCA immediately. Early reporting can make all the difference and may help save a whale’s life.

I was especially blessed to have so many members of my ORRCA Wollongong Pod onboard today. Some joining us for the very first time and others returning after sharing this experience with us last year. Thank you all for your passion, vigilance and commitment to protecting our marine wildlife.

Join us next week for the 27th Annual ORRCA Whale Census on Sunday 28 June at Hill 60, Port Kembla, as we continue to monitor the incredible humpback whale migration along the NSW coast. Register online and head to the coast and contribute to whale conservation.

Here at Abyss Project every trip contributes valuable biodiversity observations that help build a better understanding of the wildlife that calls the Five Islands home.

Who knows what we’ll discover on the next voyage?

Join us and become part of real-world marine conservation in the Illawarra.

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/o/abyss-project-australia-121286608528

20/06/2026

🐋 NO WHALES, NO WORRIES! 🐋

All smiles aboard our first Five Islands Nature Reserve Eco Tour of the 2026 season! 😄🌊

While the humpback whales kept us guessing yesterday, the Five Islands still delivered an incredible wildlife experience. Our citizen scientists recorded:

🦭 18 Fur Seals
🐦 84 birds across 10 species/taxa
🖤 9 Sooty Oystercatchers
🌊 35 Great Cormorants
🦢 24 Australian Pelicans
🦅 1 Osprey
🤍 2 Australasian Gannets
✨ 1 Albatross cruising offshore
and MORE!

One of the best things about wildlife watching is that every trip is different. Sometimes nature rewards your patience with breaching whales, and sometimes it reminds you just how rich and diverse the Five Islands ecosystem is.

Yesterday was a fantastic afternoon of wildlife spotting, citizen science, learning, and exploring one of the Illawarra’s most spectacular marine environments.

Thank you to everyone who joined us on our maiden voyage of the season. The data collected contributes to ongoing biodiversity monitoring and conservation of this remarkable marine ecosystem.

No whales. No worries. Just another memorable day on the water surrounded by incredible wildlife and great company.

🌅 We can’t wait for our sold-out Sunset Charter this afternoon. Here’s hoping the humpbacks decide to make an appearance and welcome our next group to the Five Islands!

20/06/2026

🐋 2026 BEGINS TODAY! 🐋

What a way to start the season.
Our first weekend of 2026 on the Five Islands Nature Reserve Eco Tours are now SOLD OUT.

We can’t wait to welcome everyone aboard for another incredible year of whales, seals, seabirds and citizen science adventures.

Standing here looking across the islands this morning, it’s hard not to feel excited about what’s ahead.

The humpback whale migration is well underway, fur seals are hauling out around the islands, and every trip contributes valuable biodiversity observations that help us better understand and protect this remarkable marine environment.

🎟 Remaining tickets are extremely limited:
• 27 June – 2 seats remaining
• 11 July – 1 seat remaining
• 19 July – Limited availability
• 2 August – Available
• 8 August – Available

Join us for an unforgettable experience exploring one of the Illawarra’s most spectacular natural treasures while contributing to real-world conservation and marine research.

Secure your seat before they’re gone.

🐋 Whales
🦭 Seals
🐦 Seabirds
🌊 Citizen Science
🏝 Five Islands Nature Reserve

Book now:

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/o/abyss-project-australia-121286608528