Whale Watching by Sea World Cruises
Recommended by 95% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Gold Coast, Australia
+8
- 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Why travelers loved this
·
Explore our promoted experiences
Overview
Wildlife enthusiasts will love the chance to spot whales in the wild so close to the Gold Coast. Just a twenty-minute cruise offshore, the Australian Whale Sanctuary is prime humpback whale habitat. Get great views of the creatures (when conditions are right) from onboard your comfortable boat, and watch live underwater footage streamed directly to your mobile device. This easy 2.5-hour trip can fit into busy itineraries.
- Enjoy wildlife viewing without traveling far from the city
- A great tour for the whole family
- Depart from the conveniently located Main Beach terminal
- Humpback season is from late May to early November
What's Included
- Up to 2.5 hour Whale Watching Cruise
- 100% Whale Sighting Guarantee
- Expert commentary from experienced captains and marine naturalist guides
- Purpose-built luxury whale watching vessel
- Complimentary parking
- Onboard hydrophones and underwater cameras (subject to daily conditions)
- Look for dolphins, sea turtles, sea birds and more
- Food and beverages
- Hotel transfers
- Photos. Available for purchase on the day of the cruise
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Sea World Whale WatchSea World Cruises Terminal, Seaworld Dr, Main Beach QLD 4217, Australia
Cruises depart from the Sea World Cruises Terminal (Main Beach). Entry to Sea World Marine Park is not required. Free car parking is available.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.What To Expect
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- If you travel with wheelchair, please contact the supplier in advance due to the limited seats.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 150 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
This was an amazing experience. We loved every moment of it. Staff were very helpful and friendly. The coordinator was very knowledgeable. I recommend this tour to everyone.🙂
Reviews
4.8
based on 360 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Wayne the skipper was brilliant along with the rest of the crew Be sure to accept the offer of motion sickness tablets never under estimate the sea !
Didn’t need ourselves but many got caught out and missed highlights of the trip
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for joining us, Teresa! We’re so pleased to hear that Wayne and the crew helped make your day memorable. The ocean can certainly be unpredictable, so it’s great to hear you enjoyed the experience and made the most of the time onboard. We hope to welcome you back again soon.
I was so happy to see whales and so many of them l really enjoyed when we saw the mother whale teaching its calf how to tail slap
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for sharing such a wonderful moment with us! Seeing a mother and calf interacting like that is truly special, and we’re so glad you got to witness it firsthand. We hope the experience stays with you for a long time to come!
Great tour. Commentary was excellent. Saw many whales over the 2.5 hours.
Boat was spacious & omfortable.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Hi, thank you for this 5-star review, we are glad to hear that you had the best time out with Sea World Whale Watch!
Great experience saw whales and dolphins. Crew were friendly and professional. The captain gave informative talks throughout the trip
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Hi, thank you for this 5-star review, we are glad to hear that you had the best time out with Sea World Whale Watch!
The staff were so lovely and helpful... and when my son got sea sick they were so caring and comforting.. we saw so many whales and dolphins even on a windy cold day.. we all loved it.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Hi, thank you for this 5-star review, we are glad to hear that you had the best time out with Sea World Whale Watch!
Had such an amazing whale-watching experience with Sea World Cruises! 🐋💙
We were incredibly lucky to see so many different humpback whale behaviours, including breaching, tail slaps, pectoral fin slaps and beautiful tail dives. We even saw the whales breach multiple times, which was absolutely unforgettable!
The crew were friendly, knowledgeable and enthusiastic, and made the whole experience even more enjoyable. Seeing these incredible whales up close with the Gold Coast skyline in the background was definitely one of the highlights of my time in Australia.
Highly recommend Sea World Cruises for whale watching — such a memorable experience! 🐋✨
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Hi, thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience! We're thrilled to hear that you had a fantastic time aboard Sea World Whale Watch. Our team works hard to provide informative and enjoyable trips, and it's wonderful to know that you found our captain and crew to be helpful and knowledgeable.We appreciate your kind words and hope to see you aboard again soon.
Great experience from start to finish. So many whales and even a new baby. Water was a bit choppy so lots of whale playing.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi Nicky,
Thank you for your great review! W're glad to hear you had such an incredible experience and saw lots of whales!
Hospitality is good and welcoming people. There was all kind of help if asked by the staff. Enquired about the sea sickness.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi there, thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience! We're thrilled to hear that you had a fantastic time aboard Sea World Whale Watch. Our team works hard to provide informative and enjoyable trips, and it's wonderful to know that you found our captain and crew to be helpful and knowledgeable.We appreciate your kind words and hope to see you aboard again soon.
The good. Smooth boat ride with whale sightings. Family enjoyed the experience.
The not so great. Boat had more people than seats. When there was a whale sighting, you better be on the left side of the boat. The right side was ignored, so basically everyone had to an abandon the right side and stand three deep on the left side.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We're glad to hear your family enjoyed the smooth boat ride and whale sightings.
We appreciate your comments regarding the viewing areas and seating availability. We understand how important it is for all guests to have a comfortable and enjoyable experience, and we’ll share your feedback with our team as we continue to improve our tours.
We hope to welcome you and your family onboard again for another whale watching adventure.
Amazing and unforgettable experience. The Crew and captain are nice and experienced. The Wales are so smart and funny, they show you how much like you.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're so pleased to hear you had an amazing and unforgettable whale watching experience. Our captain and crew will be delighted to know their friendliness and expertise made your day even more enjoyable. There's nothing quite like seeing these incredible whales up close, and we're glad they put on such a memorable display for you! We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back on board for another unforgettable adventure soon.
It was an amazing experience. It was quite a dull day, but everyone at Sea World cruises tried for over 3 hrs. to give us the experience. Ultimately we experienced one of the best viewing of a bunch of whales. Thanks a lot for the experience
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you for your 5 star review of Sea World Whale Watch! We're happy to hear that the extra time paid off and you got to see a wonderful pod of whales.
The captain and team amazing, the boat amazing, the service, second to none and the 'icing on the cake' the spectacular encounter with the biggest and heaviest mammal on the planet - breath taking. Would I buy another ticket to have the same experience? I definately will, many times over in the future. The time for the cruise, just perfect.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you for such a glowing review! Hearing you'd come back many times over means the world to us. Looking forward to welcoming you aboard again soon! - Sea World Whale Watching Team.
You're going to see whales. They may only be swimming along peacefully minding their own business, but you will see them. We saw moms and their calves. The crew was courteous and helpful. Lots of good information. Always responded when a whale was spotted.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you for the great review and we appreciate that you enjoyed the whale watching tour. We hope to see you on board again. - Sea World Whale watching team.
A cruise along the Gold Coast watching whales. What more could you want??? It was the perfect day for it. Mother’s and their babies swimming along not far from the boat. The commentary was excellent and it was very enjoyable all around.
It was an unbelievable time was able to see 3 whales. tThe crew was awesome they took great care of everything.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
We definitely appreciate your feedback and we are glad that you have enjoyed the whale watching and saw a whales. We hope to see you soon again! - Sea World Whale Watching Team.
The crew on the SeaWorld Whale Watching were courteous, friendly and knowledgeable. They knew where to go for us to see the whales
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you John for your 5-star review. We are delighted you enjoyed your time on board Sea World Whale Watching with our crew, we hope to see you next season!
The tour was flawless. Ran to time, crew were friendly, helpful and had great knowledge. Whale watching was exceptional. The whales really put on an amazing show.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Hi Nadia, we are glad that you enjoyed the whale watching tour with us! We hope to see you soon again. - Sea World Whale watching team.
This was an amazing experience. We loved every moment of it. Staff were very helpful and friendly. The coordinator was very knowledgeable. I recommend this tour to everyone.🙂
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you for the lovely review! We're so happy to hear you had an amazing experience and felt well taken care of. Your recommendation means a lot. Hope to see you again soon! 🙂 - Sea World Cruises Team.
Rubbish go 200m offshore an see more from shore the best part was going through the bar an the sunset
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. We’re sorry to hear the trip didn’t meet your expectations. Sightings can vary as the whales are wild and unpredictable, but we do our best to give guests the chance to see them in their natural environment. If you would like to discuss this further, please contact us on 07 55399299. Warm regards - Alana, Customer Experience Manager
Amazing wonderful staff. Great adventure. Magnificent whale watch. Worth every cent. Highly recommend
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you for the great review and we're glad that you have enjoyed the whale watching with us. We hope to see you soon again! - Sea World Whale Watching Team.
Best experience ever thanks
Would recommended to others
And let people know about this I would RATE IT AS PEFECT
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you so much for the amazing review! We're thrilled to hear you had the best experience and truly appreciate you recommending us. Hope to see you again for another perfect day! - Sea World Cruises Team.
An absolutely unforgettable experience. The commentary was very informative. Seeing the whales in their own natural habitat, rising up to the surface, jumping up and rolling in the waters making the beautiful song noises. Fantastic, best 2.5 hours of the day.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Hi Lorraine, thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with us. We're thrilled to hear that you had a fantastic time aboard Sea World Whale Watch. Our team works hard to provide informative and enjoyable trips, and it's wonderful to know that you found our captain and crew to be helpful and knowledgeable. We appreciate your kind words and hope to see you aboard again soon!! - Sea world whale Tours.
Seeing whales in the natural environment is a total privilege. Sea World staff are so knowledgeable. Great trip
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Hi Chris, thank you for your 5-star review of your experience with Sea World Whale Watch. We are delighted to hear you had a great trip and that you found our crew so knowledgeable.
Be prepared to be freezin cold on the new boat in August. We did see whales, out in the distance. Be prepared for three quarters of the boat to be unwell, certainly made the trip way less enjoyable. Probably wouldn't go again.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Hi Kerry,
Thank you for sharing your feedback with us. We’re glad you were able to see whales during your trip, however we’re sorry to hear the overall experience wasn’t as enjoyable as you had hoped. We try to inform our customers about seasickness with information on our website, in the pre-arrival guide, and motion sickness tablets for sale onboard. In saying this, we understand how uncomfortable it can be when it affects passengers. Being out in the open ocean can also be quite cold and we recommend wearing a warm jacket. We hope you’ll consider joining us again in the future. Alana - Customer Experience Manager
Well worth the cost, saw many whales 🐋 very special experience and super easy to book. Fantastic opportunity to see these beautiful sea creatures 💙
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you Cathy for your lovely 5-star review, we are thrilled you had such a wonderful experience on board with us and hope to see you again soon.
Amazing morning experience and so many whale interactions on a great boat. We saw breaches, and around 10 whales.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you for your 5 star review of Sea World Whale Watch! We're thrilled to hear you got to see so many whales and that they put on a show for you. We hope to welcome you back on board in future!
Excellent whale watching experience!
Captain Wayne was a standout — knowledgeable, friendly, and clearly passionate about giving guests the best possible experience. He went above and beyond by taking extra time to find us a whale calf, creating a truly memorable moment for everyone on board. The entire crew was fantastic — welcoming, attentive, and happy to answer questions. The vessel was clean and comfortable, with great viewing areas. We felt safe, informed, and cared for the whole time. Highly recommend this tour — especially if you’re hoping for a close-up look at these majestic creatures. Would absolutely book again!
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you Morgan for your kind 5-star review and feedback. We are thrilled Captain Wayne and crew enhanced your experience on board watching the gorgeous whales. We look forward to seeing you again soon!
Great experience. Skipper very informative. We were lucky enough to see Whales but the whole experience of the boat was awesome and great views of Surfers Paradise. We ate at the Deck Cafe before getting on the boar which was lovely and Staff very friendly.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you Nicola for your kind 5 star review. We are so happy you enjoyed your whole experience with us and our crew.
Was my birthday today and Nicole and other staff made my day special. Whales even came out to celebrate with me. Even when got sea sick first time staff were quickly to help out anyway they could. Best experience such a amazing morning.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you for your 5 star review of Sea World Whale Watch! We're so happy to hear that the crew and the whales were all on top form to make sure you had a Happy Birthday 🥳
Great experience, great staff and saw lots of whales.
Had informative commentary and was lucky to have reasonably calm waters.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you Michelle for your 5 stars and kind review, we are delighted you enjoyed your day with Sea World Whale Watch and hope to see you again.
Member Pricing
From
$60.44
per personWas $63.62(-5%)
up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
Compare Similar Experiences
Current
Member Pricing
Whale Watching by Sea World Cruises
360
2 hours 30 minutes
Free Cancellation
From
$63.62
$60.44
5% savings
Customers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought
Explore Similar Things to Do
Attractions in Gold Coast, Australia
- Marina Mirage Tours & Tickets
- Glow Worm Caves Tamborine Mountain Tours & Tickets
- WhiteWater World Tours & Tickets
- Gallery Walk Tours & Tickets
- South Stradbroke Island Tours & Tickets
- Springbrook National Park Tours & Tickets
- Tamborine National Park Tours & Tickets
- Sea World Gold Coast Tours & Tickets
- Lamington National Park Tours & Tickets
- Tamborine Mountain Distillery Tours & Tickets
- Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary Tours & Tickets
More attractions near Gold Coast, Australia