Top Australia Whale Watching

Escape the city and see Sydney’s marine life up close on a whale-watching cruise from Darling Harbour. Cruise through Sydney Harbour in search of migrating humpback whales, with live onboard commentary and insights into the local marine environment. A small vessel offers a more intimate experience and better viewing opportunities on the water.

Maximize your chances of spotting whales on this half-day cruise from Hervey Bay. Hop aboard a purpose-built vessel designed for comfort, visibility, and responsible eco-tourism, and listen as the crew guides you through close-up whale encounters and shares insights into their behavior. Listen to whales sing via an onboard hydrophone, and watch for other marine life as you cruise the bay.

Look for wild bottlenose dolphins in the waters of Port Stephens on a dolphin-watching cruise from Nelson Bay. You can also get great photo ops of the Tomaree and Yacaaba Headlands, and ride in the boomnet (a sturdy net attached to the boat). Learn about the region's abundant marine wildlife as you cruise the waters in comfort on an all-weather boat (indoor and outdoor seating available).

Witness one of nature’s most fascinating phenomena: the annual humpback whale migration. Set sail for the crystalline waters of the Jervis Bay Marine Park and get up close to the gentle giants, who migrate to the warm waters of New South Wales between May and November. Enjoy prime viewing opportunities on-board your cruise vessel, with the chance to spot bottlenose dolphins, penguins, seals, and albatross along the way.

Wildlife enthusiasts will love the chance to spot whales in the wild so close to the Gold Coast. Just a twenty-minute cruise off shore, the Australian Whale Sanctuary is prime humpback whale habitat. Get great views of the creatures (when conditions are right) from on board your comfortable boat. This easy 2.5-hour trip can fit into busy itineraries.

Many whale-watching tours head straight into open water, but this cruise begins in Sydney Harbour, where you can enjoy breakfast or a barbecue lunch (depending on the option selected). After your meal, sail past sights such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge en route to the Pacific Ocean, in search of migrating humpback and southern right whales. A naturalist guide provides live commentary along the way, and helps you spot marine life.

Experience the thrill of an up-close encounter with migrating whales on this half-day cruise from Brisbane, available only between June and November. Set sail around Moreton Bay on a luxurious high-speed catamaran and tuck into a delicious buffet lunch on-board as you soak up the scenery. Finally, keep your camera to hand as you spot humpback whales swimming and breaching beside the ship – a rare opportunity to spot the gentle giants in their natural environment.

Get into the Sydney Harbour and look for whales on this two hour group tour, starting from Circular Quay. You’ll have onboard commentary by your captain and crew so you can learn all about the harbor and the wildlife within it. The boat itself has indoor and outdoor seating, and a licenced bar onboard, where you can purchase snacks and drinks.

Witness the spectacular coastal scenery of Australia on a 4-hour whale watching cruise around Phillip Island. Climb aboard a stylish vessel with a professional guide and scour the sea for sightings of rare wildlife. See thousands of fur seals at Seal Rocks; keep your eyes peeled for rare seabirds like the shy albatross and little penguin; and marvel at dolphins diving out of the water with incredible grace. With luck, enjoy the unforgettable experience of watching humpback whales in their natural environment on this exhilarating cruise.

Spot humpback whales swimming and playing in their natural environment on this half-day Hervey Bay catamaran cruise. Observe the majestic sea creatures using the boat’s underwater viewing windows or listen to the whales sing using the onboard hydrophones. Learn all about the gentle giants from your expert guide, then tuck into morning or afternoon tea as you watch the whales from the deck.

Maximize your chances of seeing whales off the coast of Hervey Bay with this morning or afternoon half-day cruise. Ride the sheltered waters of Platypus Bay in a stable catamaran that offers superior comfort and clear views of passing marine life, which may also includes dolphins, turtles and seabirds, and perhaps even a dingo on the sandy beach at Fraser Island.

Some call Hervey Bay the Whale Watch Capital of the World for the migrating humpbacks which glide through between July and late October. Marvel at these playful 44-ton (40-tonne) mammals from the comfortable MV Amaroo catamaran with guaranteed sightings (conditions apply). While packages include morning or afternoon tea on board.

Maximize your chances of seeing humpback whales by joining this tour from Byron Bay, led by a marine biologist. Head for areas that the whales are known to pass through as they migrate in winter (June–November), watch them as they majestically breach, and listen to them sing by using an underwater hydrophone.

Get up close and personal to whales on this tour from Hillarys Boat Harbor in Perth. You’ll meet your group and get aboard your vessel, and then your pilot and crew will take you to where the whales are. There are three viewing decks onboard, so you can see the whales from all angles. Note that hotel pick up is also offered, taking any transport stress out of the equation.

Look for dolphins off the coast of Adelaide on a dolphin-spotting cruise from Glenelg, a seaside town just west of the city. As you glide across Holdfast Bay by catamaran, keep your eyes peeled for some of the thousands of dolphins who live in these waters. This wild dolphin tour is commentated and hosted by our team of marine biologists who will inform and educate you along the way.

Many whale-watching tours only allow you to see the majestic creatures from a distance, but on this Fraser Island tour you’ll get the chance to swim with them. Visit the more remote parts of the island that many visitors skip, and have fun bushwalking, snorkeling, kayaking, and swimming. On board the boat, look out for humpback whales and, if the conditions are right, take a dip in the sea beside them.

Watch as bottlenose dolphins frolic and swim alongside you during this cruise onboard a boat equipped with a waterslide. Visit these marine mammals out at sea and while enjoying views of the Tomaree and Yacaaba headlands. Ride the onboard waterslide into the sea or relax onboard with a drink on one of the decks.

Search for whales during this 8-hour wildlife-watching tour from Hervey Bay. Aboard a fully equipped catamaran that can accommodate up to 24 guests, sail out to Fraser Island's Platypus Bay. Climb on to the submerged platform to view whales in the water at a safe distance, and use the boat's hydrophone to hear their songs. Tea and a buffet lunch included.

Enjoy a whale-watching cruise on a comfortable vessel with a naturalist guide. Depart from Augusta or South Fremantle and set out on the waters of Geographe Bay in search of humpback whales and southern right whales, plus seals, dolphins, and seabirds. Your guide provides commentary about the whales and their migration along Western Australia’s coast, so you learn fun facts the whole time.

Discover the joy of coming face to face with majestic humpback whales while cruising across the ocean on a sailing boat on this fun-filled tour from Sydney Harbour. Running between May and November, the annual whale migration is a sight to behold. This small-group sailing tour gives travelers the chance to cruise alongside these incredible creatures without noisy engines or megaphones, so you can enjoy an immersive and wild natural experience.

Explore one of Australia’s top snorkeling sites with a marine biologist. Take a boat from Byron Bay to Julian Rocks/Nguthungulli, an underwater nature reserve teeming with marine wildlife. You’ll get to snorkel with professional guidance in order to see maximum fish, sharks, sea turtles, manta rays, more. Plus, you’ll enjoy epic views of the Byron Bay coastline.

Look out over the water in search of migrating whales during this whale watching boat cruise. Watch for humpback whales, southern right whales, and maybe even illusive blue whales as they make their northern and southern migrations between the months of May and December. Your naturalist guide will help you spot these massive marine animals as well as other sea life like seals, dolphins, and birds.

The Gold Coast Broadwater is an estuary north of Surfers Paradise, known for sheltered waters, island beaches, and dolphins. Working out where to go and what do there can be hard visiting on your own. With this tour, your guide will get you set up kayak equipment and snorkeling gear for you to visit nearby Wavebreak Island. If you’re lucky, you might even spot a dolphin in the area.