Just off NSW’s South Coast, Barunguba Montague Island Nature Reserve is an abundant wildlife haven of cultural and historic significance.
Story + Photos Kate Newsome
The humpback whale calf coasts close, then smacks its tail into the ocean. Hurtling through the surf, Benn Boulton is at the wheel of the Montague Island Adventures boat. On sighting the whale, he switches off the motor to drift. “The calves are super inquisitive, so a lot of the time they’ll just come to you,” he says.
Benn has been making the trip to Barunguba Montague Island, 9km off the NSW South Coast, for nearly three decades. Growing up, he spent many weekends on the island, so he’s seen many changes. These days, there are limits on the number of human visitors, so more native animals have been calling in. “It’s crazy the amount of trees on there now,” adds skipper Georgia Poyner.
It’s different beneath the surface, too. Only a decade ago, Georgia says, if you went scuba diving in the surrounding Batemans Marine Park, you’d be lucky to see anything. Now, the marine life they spot from the boat is “hectic”.
This story excerpt is from issue #164
Outback Magazine: Dec/Jan 2026
