Australia · WHALE WATCHING

The 15 Best Whale Watching Trips in Australia

25 tours  ·  from $49 a head

Humpbacks run the entire east and west coast between roughly May and November, and the boats follow them. These 15 compare departure points, boat size and sighting guarantees, with prices and the months each one is worth booking.

Sydney: Whale Watching Adventure Cruise - The ride offshore takes patience
Cruises & Boat Tours, Sydney Tours, Tour Reviews, Whale Watching

Sydney: Whale Watching Adventure Cruise

1.Whale Watching Adventure Cruise

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

Review of Sydney’s 165-minute whale watching cruise, with harbour views, live commentary, hot drinks, sea conditions, and practical booking tips.

“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 - Leaving Redcliffe aboard Eye Spy
Brisbane Tours, Cruises & Boat Tours, Tour Reviews, Whale Watching

Brisbane Whale Watching Cruise from Redcliffe or Sunshine Coast

Freedom 3/4 Day Hervey Bay Premium Whale Watching Cruise - Watching Humpbacks Without Rushing the Encounter
4-Day Experiences, Cruises & Boat Tours, Hervey Bay Tours, Tour Reviews, Whale Watching

Freedom 3/4 Day Hervey Bay Premium Whale Watching Cruise

Whale Watching Tour with Spirit of Gold Coast - The first whale sightings can come fast
Gold Coast Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Whale Watching

Whale Watching Tour with Spirit of Gold Coast

Sydney Whale-Watching Cruise Including Lunch or Breakfast - The best harbor views come before the whales
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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

Review of Sydney’s 4-hour whale-watching cruise, with harbour sights, breakfast or BBQ lunch, live commentary, and practical seasickness tips.

“Luggage storage nearby was $8AU per bag, but convenient. Double decker boat didn’t feel crowded, and lunch was great. Commentary was pleasant and informative. We saw so many breaches that the boat lingered longer than usual. I’ve heard from others that the morning tour is a bit underwhelming and today was no exception according to the crew, so afternoon is a must!”

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Sydney: 2-hour Express Whale Watching Cruise - Check in at Circular Quay Wharf 6
2-Hour Experiences, Cruises & Boat Tours, Sydney Tours, Tour Reviews, Whale Watching

Sydney: 2-hour Express Whale Watching Cruise

6.2-hour Express Whale Watching Cruise

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

Review of Sydney’s 2-hour express whale cruise from Circular Quay, with fast access to open water, viewing decks, tips, value, and whale guarantee.

“A great experience. We had whales come right next to the boat for around 30 minutes. Would definitely recommend. You also get a great view of the harbour bridge and opera house”

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Spirit of Gold Coast 2.5-Hour Whale Watching Tour - Finding Spirit of Gold Coast at Main Beach
Gold Coast Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Whale Watching

Spirit of Gold Coast 2.5-Hour Whale Watching Tour

Hervey Bay: Ultimate Whale Watching Experience - The Ocean Defender gives you a closer view
Hervey Bay Tours, Tour Reviews, Whale Watching

Hervey Bay: Ultimate Whale Watching Experience

8.Ultimate Whale Watching Experience

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

Review of Hervey Bay’s 3-hour whale watch with marine scientists, live whale songs, small-group views, snacks, and conservation support.

“The team are fantastic and knowledgeable. We managed to spot three pods of whales and were even lucky enough to see a triple breach. I would highly recommend as the money also goes towards the conservation of these animals though if I hadn’t seen the activity we had, I am not sure I would have been as happy but this is obviously not something any of them can control”

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Whale Watching Boat Trip in Sydney - Searching for humpback whales
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Whale Watching Boat Trip in Sydney

9.Whale Watching Boat Trip in Sydney

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

Sydney whale watching with a small group, expert crew, Harbour views, dolphins, humpbacks, and a free return cruise if whales stay hidden.

“I really enjoyed this tour and the weather wasn’t what we had hoped but we had a great time. The crew was fantastic and it’s well worth the day. Had a lot of fun and would recommend.”

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Hervey Bay 4-Hour Whale Watch Encounter - The 45-minute ride from your accommodation
Hervey Bay Tours, Tour Reviews, Whale Watching

Hervey Bay 4-Hour Whale Watch Encounter

10.Hervey Bay 4-Hour Whale Watch Encounter

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

See humpback whales from a luxury catamaran on a four-hour Hervey Bay cruise with expert guides, underwater windows, snacks, and hotel pickup.

“Fabulous day out, the crew were all very friendly and engaging, the guide very knowledgeable. We saw lots of whales that swam right up to the boat, awesome experience, highly recommend it.”

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Hervey Bay Whale Watching Cruise - A catamaran built for watching whales
Cruises & Boat Tours, Hervey Bay Tours, Tour Reviews, Whale Watching

Hervey Bay Whale Watching Cruise

12.Hervey Bay Whale Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 538 reviews · from $105

Review of the Hervey Bay whale watching cruise, with catamaran views, hydrophones, tea, family facilities, pricing, and practical tips.

“What a great experience we set off in torrential rain but that didn’t put anyone off. When we got out to sea there was hot drinks and snacks provided. ( I would suggest instead of little prices of pizza, biscuits, cakes for the breakfast maybe a baRead more”

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Fraser Island Whale Watch Encounter - Watching whales from the boat
Fraser Island Tours, Hervey Bay Tours, Tour Reviews, Whale Watching

Fraser Island Whale Watch Encounter

13.Fraser Island Whale Watch Encounter

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 466 reviews

Spend eight hours whale watching from Hervey Bay to K’gari, with a small catamaran, hydrophone, submerged platform, lunch, and hotel pickup.

“The staff and the captain were fantastic the yacht was beautiful the day was was it was a birthday gift for my wife she had never seen whales before loved next birthday will be hard to top this one”

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From Fremantle: 2-Hour Luxury Whale-Watching Cruise - The Two-Hour Search for Humpback Whales
2-Hour Experiences, Cruises & Boat Tours, Perth Tours, Tour Reviews, VIP, Whale Watching

From Fremantle: 2-Hour Luxury Whale-Watching Cruise

14.2-Hour Luxury Whale-Watching Cruise

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

Cruise from Fremantle on a spacious catamaran, with expert commentary, warm seating, and strong chances of seeing humpback whales.

“Knowledgeable staff who went above and beyond. They brought my son to the front of the boat to be able to see the whales and really made him have the best experience. I would 100% do this again.”

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Spirit of Hervey Bay Whale Watching Cruise - The ride across Platypus Bay
Cruises & Boat Tours, Hervey Bay Tours, Tour Reviews, Whale Watching

Spirit of Hervey Bay Whale Watching Cruise

15.Spirit of Hervey Bay Whale Watching Cruise

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

Spirit of Hervey Bay whale watching cruise review with boat details, whale sightings, onboard commentary, costs, tea, transfers, and booking tips.

“Amazing experience!! Well worth the time and money. The crew was professional and the trip was very enjoyable. We were lucky to get the opportunity to see many whales.”

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