A snapshot of dolphin numbers in Port Stephens has found the animals are thriving in the area.

The annual census enlisted the help of members of the public this year, recording dolphins spotted in different areas between 11:00am (AEST) and 12:00pm Sunday.

The results are now being collated and already almost 60 different dolphins have been counted, with that number set to increase as more sightings are assessed.

Frank Future from the Marine Parks Association said the results so far are impressive.

"It's as least as good as previous years and probably going to be better because we actually had more volunteers out there this year," he said.

"It's been previously run by National Parks and Wildlife themselves but this year they were a bit short of folk on the ground so we're helping them."

Mr Future said it is great news.

"We've had six newborns this summer which is when most of the babies are born and all of them have survived up until now anyway, so that's always a good sign because they're more valuable of course when they're young," he said.

Meanwhile, a record crowd has turned out to form the shape of a giant whale in Port Stephens.

1,000 people took part in the formation on Shoal Bay Beach on Monday afternoon to celebrate the start of the whale watching season.

More than 18,000 humpback whales are expected off the Hunter region's coastline between now and November.