Australia · WHALE WATCHING

Whale Watching in Australia: The 15 Best Boats

28 tours  ·  from $52 a head

Humpbacks run north from May and come back south with calves until November, and the boats follow them from Sydney to Hervey Bay to the Gold Coast. These 15 are priced and timed, with a note on which guarantee a second trip if the whales do not show.

Sydney: Whale Watching Adventure Cruise - The catamaran, seating, and best viewing spots
Cruises & Boat Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Sydney, Whale Watching, Whale Watching in Sydney

Sydney: Whale Watching Adventure Cruise

1.Whale Watching Adventure Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 1,790 reviews · 2h 45m · from $63Our pick

Set out from Circular Quay on a 165-minute whale watching cruise aboard a spacious catamaran. An English-speaking guide explains whale behavior as you search Sydney’s coast for humpbacks, dolphins, and possible mother-and-calf pairs. Enjoy broad viewing decks, indoor seating, toilets, a licensed bar, and free tea, coffee, and hot chocolate.

“It was a beautiful day on the water. We did get to see some whale activity. The trip was well worth the money!”

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Brisbane Whale Watching Cruise from Redcliffe or Sunshine Coast - The cruise route through Moreton Bay
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Brisbane Whale Watching Cruise from Redcliffe or Sunshine Coast

2.Brisbane Whale Watching Cruise from Redcliffe or Sunshine Coast

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 997 reviews · from $114Top rated

Sail from Redcliffe aboard the purpose-built Eye Spy catamaran during the June to November humpback migration. Captain Kerry and the crew provide live commentary while you watch whales, calves, dolphins, and other marine life. Your five-hour trip includes a fresh picnic lunchbox, with hotel pickup from selected Brisbane and Sunshine Coast locations.

“This was an absolutely amazing trip. To see the whales up close like that is just spectacular. I was concerned about how engaging in a tour like this may adversely affect the whales, but the crew were very clear (and proud!) about how their boat is specifically designed to not disturb the whales, and once you are out there you see that the whales if anything are just as interested in us as we are in them. We were not chasing them and they could have easily gotten away from us if they wanted. The person providing commentary helped you to spot the whales easily and provided a lot of…”

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Swim with Whale Sharks in the Ningaloo Reef: 3 Island Shark Dive - Reef snorkeling before and after the whale sharks
Ningaloo Reef & Manta Rays, Scuba Diving, Tour Reviews, Tours in Exmouth, Whale Watching

Swim with Whale Sharks in the Ningaloo Reef: 3 Island Shark Dive

3.Swim with Whale Sharks in the Ningaloo Reef: 3 Island Shark Dive

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 919 reviews · from $444

Join Three Islands Whale Shark Dive from Exmouth for an 8-hour Ningaloo Reef outing. A spotter plane helps find whale sharks, while the boat crew leads several swims, reef snorkeling, and wildlife watching. Expect included gear, meals, drinks, hotel transfers, and professional underwater photos, with a maximum of 20 people.

“This experience was absolutely incredible! Worth every single penny! The crew was great, the ship was lovely, and of course the whale sharks!! It was truly unforgettable and I am so happy I was able to experience it.”

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Whale Watching Tour with Spirit of Gold Coast - What you learn from the marine biologist
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Whale Watching Tour with Spirit of Gold Coast

4.Whale Watching Tour with Spirit of Gold Coast

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 884 reviews · from $53

Cruise from Southport aboard Spirit of Gold Coast, a 24-meter catamaran with upper and lower viewing decks. A marine biologist explains humpback behavior as you search for whales migrating between June and November. The trip includes tea or coffee, morning tea, live commentary, and a return cruise if no whale is seen.

“Unfortunately our scheduled trip was cancelled due to inclement weather. However, they cheerfully rescheduled our trip for another suitable day, and everything was perfect - beautiful day, lots of playful whales and dolphins, great commentary and staff. Brilliant!”

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Sydney Whale-Watching Cruise Including Lunch or Breakfast - The Real Issue: Pacific Ocean Conditions
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Sydney Whale-Watching Cruise Including Lunch or Breakfast

5.Sydney Whale-Watching Cruise Including Lunch or Breakfast

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 878 reviews · from $74

Cruise from King Street Wharf through Sydney Harbour and beyond Sydney Heads in search of humpback whales from May to November. You will see the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Manly Beach, Watsons Bay, and The Gap, with breakfast or a BBQ lunch included. Guides such as Devlin and David provide live wildlife commentary.

“We were fortunate enough to spot a whale family, and it was certainly an incredible experience to watch them in the wild.”

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Sydney: 2-hour Express Whale Watching Cruise - Checking in at Circular Quay Wharf 6
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Sydney: 2-hour Express Whale Watching Cruise

6.2-hour Express Whale Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 756 reviews · 2 hours · from $63

From Circular Quay, Fantasea Crystal reaches the open ocean in about 20 minutes, leaving roughly 90 minutes for whale watching. You can watch from the open sun deck, covered rear deck, or air-conditioned cabin. English commentary, onboard screens, snacks, and a free return cruise if no whales are seen make this a practical choice for a short Sydney visit.

“What else to say that it was fine Perfect team cruiser ! So I recommend this activity Nature and ocean are priceless, so let s enjoy it till we can 😊”

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Spirit of Gold Coast 2.5-Hour Whale Watching Tour - What Captain Dean and the marine biologist add
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Spirit of Gold Coast 2.5-Hour Whale Watching Tour

7.Spirit of Gold Coast 2.5-Hour Whale Watching Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 703 reviews · 2h 30m · from $52Best value

From Southport’s Broadwater, you’ll spend 150 minutes watching migrating humpback whales with commentary from a marine biologist and captain Dean. The boat has 360-degree viewing decks, tea, coffee, and biscuits before departure, plus a free return trip if no whales appear. Bring sun protection and prepare for open-sea motion.

“I liked it a lot! Because you got a chance to see whales”

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Hervey Bay: Ultimate Whale Watching Experience - Meeting humpbacks at water level
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Hervey Bay: Ultimate Whale Watching Experience

8.Ultimate Whale Watching Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 656 reviews · 3 hours · from $84

Cruise Platypus Bay aboard the 12m Ocean Defender, a low, fast boat with water-level views of humpback whales. Marine scientists explain whale behaviour, while underwater hydrophones let you hear live songs. You’ll also get snacks, soft drinks, shade, a toilet, and a children’s Junior Naturalist activity book.

“unbelievable whale watching. Smaller boat which made it better to get up close to whales as they circled us.”

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Whale Watching Boat Trip in Sydney - Humpbacks, calves, and dolphins near the boat
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Whale Watching Boat Trip in Sydney

9.Whale Watching Boat Trip in Sydney

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 571 reviews · from $99

Cruise from Darling Harbour beneath the Harbour Bridge and past the Opera House before heading beyond Sydney Heads to seek migrating humpback whales. Whale Tales runs small-group trips with live commentary from guides such as Rex, Mette, Alex, and Isaac. Bring sun and rain protection, and prepare for a lively ride.

“Amazing experience!! Alex and Alex were great and very informative. It was a short boat ride (maybe 45 min until we got to the site). We saw a few mother humpback wales and their calves. We even got to see some dolphins on the way back!!”

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Hervey Bay 4-Hour Whale Watch Encounter - Boarding a 20-meter catamaran built for whale watching
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Hervey Bay 4-Hour Whale Watch Encounter

10.Hervey Bay 4-Hour Whale Watch Encounter

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 562 reviews · 4 hours · from $109

Cruise Hervey Bay and the western side of K’gari aboard the 20-meter Tasman Venture catamaran. You’ll have viewing decks, underwater windows, and a water-level platform for close humpback encounters. Guides including Vicky and Rachel provide clear commentary, while tea, coffee, biscuits, and an antipasti platter keep the four-hour trip comfortable.

“We had the most fantastic day. Transport arrived on time. The Crew were welcoming & the vessel was spacious and comfortable. The whale watching was non-stop once we reached the grounds & the Vicki providing commentary on the mic was knowledgeable. Drinks and light snacks were provided and were nice quality. Honestly it was a brilliant day. Would 100% recommend to others.”

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Hervey Bay Whale Watching Experience - Choosing between the five-hour morning cruise and the afternoon sunset trip
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Hervey Bay Whale Watching Experience

11.Hervey Bay Whale Watching Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 557 reviews · from $111

Cruise from Hervey Bay’s Great Sandy Straits Marina into Platypus Bay aboard Whalesong Cruises. Choose a five-hour morning trip with tea and buffet lunch, or a four-hour afternoon cruise with sunset, antipasto, and buffet dinner. Watch for humpbacks, dolphins, and K’gari’s coast from several viewing decks.

“What a lovely experience to see the Humpback Whales up so close to the boat. We all got some awesome photos of the whales breeching and slapping the water. The food onboard was very yummy too. The staff once again did and amazing job to make sure we all had a great and memorable experience.”

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Hervey Bay Whale Watching Cruise - Three ways to watch the humpback whales
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Hervey Bay Whale Watching Cruise

12.Hervey Bay Whale Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 553 reviews · from $111

Set out from Urangan on a four-hour Tasman Venture catamaran cruise. Watch humpback whales from an outdoor platform or underwater windows, hear their calls through hydrophones, and learn from live commentary in six languages. Tea, snacks, children’s activities, hotel pickup, and a free return trip if no whales appear are included.

“Amazing. Huge thanks to the whales that put on a show and the weather gods, but it couldn’t have been done without the team at Tasman Venture. Excellent commentary and vibrant staff made a great day even better.”

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Fraser Island Whale Watch Encounter - Watching whales from the submerged platform
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Fraser Island Whale Watch Encounter

13.Fraser Island Whale Watch Encounter

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 466 reviews

Join Blue Dolphin Marine Tours for an eight-hour cruise from Hervey Bay to Platypus Bay near K’gari. Peter, Jodie, Cassie, or another experienced crew member guides you toward humpback whales aboard a 12-meter catamaran for up to 24 people. You can watch from the deck or submerged platform, listen through a hydrophone, and enjoy tea and a buffet lunch.

“The best trip we’ve done in Australia! Seeing the whales was amazing and we learnt so much about them and their behaviour during the day. We saw so many whales! We were so lucky to watch a mother bring her calf right up to the boRead more”

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From Fremantle: 2-Hour Luxury Whale-Watching Cruise - Following the southern humpback migration
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From Fremantle: 2-Hour Luxury Whale-Watching Cruise

14.2-Hour Luxury Whale-Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 455 reviews · 2 hours · from $67

From Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour, you’ll spend two hours aboard the Steep Point, a purpose-built catamaran with five viewing decks, heated lounge seating, and live commentary from marine mammal experts. Watch humpback whales resting, breaching, tail slapping, and socializing near Perth. Niamh is one of the onboard commentators.

“We managed to see a lot of whales and learned more about them”

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Spirit of Hervey Bay Whale Watching Cruise - Boarding the Spirit of Hervey Bay at Urangan
Cruises & Boat Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Hervey Bay, Whale Watching, Whale Watching in Hervey Bay

Spirit of Hervey Bay Whale Watching Cruise

15.Spirit of Hervey Bay Whale Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 452 reviews · from $111

Spend about four and a half hours aboard the Spirit of Hervey Bay, a stable catamaran built for whale watching. Cruise Platypus Bay with live commentary, underwater viewing windows, a waterline platform, and a hydrophone. You may also see dolphins, turtles, seabirds, and Fraser Island’s beaches. Morning or afternoon tea is included.

“We always enjoy this tour. The captain/hosts and crew provide a most enjoyable trip out to Platypus Bay, with entertaining and informative commentary. You will see whales and it seems to be every year there are more and more. I love this tour and highly recommend it. Comfortable and fun.”

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New in Whale Watching

★ 5.0Noosa Whale Watching Cruise – Humpback Whale AdventureFrom $71144 reviews
★ 5.0Newcastle Whale Watching CruiseFrom $6061 reviews
★ 5.0Gold Coast Whale Watching CruiseFrom $63342 reviews
★ 4.8Noosa; Noosa Ocean Adventures – Whale WatchingFrom $70213 reviews
★ 4.7Noosa Whale Watching TourFrom $70148 reviews
★ 4.5Mooloolaba: Whale Watching CruiseFrom $60153 reviews
★ 5.0Swimming with the Whale Sharks – Ningaloo Reef (Exmouth)From $451172 reviews

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