Australia · WHALE WATCHING

The 15 Best Whale Watching Trips in Australia

71 tours  ·  ★★★★★★★★★★ 4.7 average  ·  from $52

Sydney: Whale Watching Adventure Cruise - The 165-minute ride: how the time actually feels
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Sydney: Whale Watching Adventure Cruise

1.Whale Watching Adventure Cruise

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

2h45 humpback whale cruise from Circular Quay with live commentary, landmark views, and complimentary coffee, tea and hot chocolate onboard.

“The boat trip was amazing! Captain and crew were very informative and polite. The views of the whales and dolphins spotted were spectacular. Would 100% recommend to anyone.”

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Brisbane Whale Watching Cruise from Redcliffe or Sunshine Coast - Eye Spy catamaran from Redcliffe: the ride, the boat, and how viewing works
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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

Brisbane whale watching cruise with guaranteed humpback sightings, gourmet lunchbox, and live commentary from Redcliffe or the Sunshine Coast.

“It was our first whale watching and we were lucky to have multiple viewings and close encounters! The whole team was great and commentary was excellent. Loved how the team had ensured to make the boat whale friendly and whales were not afraid to come close.”

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Swim with Whale Sharks in the Ningaloo Reef: 3 Island Shark Dive - The Whale Shark Swim: Getting Close Without Making It Stressful
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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

Swim with whale sharks in Ningaloo Reef from Exmouth, with hotel pickup, reef snorkels, full meals, and pro underwater photos.

“This was an amazing trip! We got to swim with a whale shark 4 times. The swims seemed incredibly well-organized. In addition to that, we had 2 snorkel stops where we saw other amazing sea creatures. There were probably about 20 humpbacks seen from our boat, too, some quite close. The food and crew were great, as well! We would gladly do it again.”

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Whale Watching Tour with Spirit of Gold Coast - Getting to Aqua Adventures in Southport, and settling in
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Whale Watching Tour with Spirit of Gold Coast

Sydney Whale-Watching Cruise Including Lunch or Breakfast - Meeting at Sydney Princess Cruises Eastern Pontoon, Then Getting Comfortable
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Sydney Whale-Watching Cruise Including Lunch or Breakfast

Sydney: 2-hour Express Whale Watching Cruise - Fantasea Crystal setup: where you sit changes the whole experience
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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

A 2-hour express whale cruise from Circular Quay on Fantasea Crystal, with fast open-ocean access, deck views, and guaranteed sightings.

“Perfect, the whales where around us all the time, beautiful spectacle, 100% recommended, only advice is to go with very warm clothes because is freezing outside the boat”

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Spirit of Gold Coast 2.5-Hour Whale Watching Tour - Aqua Adventure Centre check-in, Broadwater departure, and first impressions
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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

Spirit of Gold Coast whale watching from the Broadwater: 2.5 hours of 360-degree views, marine biologist commentary, and a free try again.

“Great activity, they stayed out an additional 30 minutes to make sure we got the best chance to see wales! Only one side of the boat seemed to get opportunities to see, however great value for money.”

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Hervey Bay: Ultimate Whale Watching Experience - Should you book this Hervey Bay whale watching experience?
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Hervey Bay: Ultimate Whale Watching Experience

8.Ultimate Whale Watching Experience

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

3-hour humpback whale watch from Hervey Bay with marine scientists, hydrophones for live whale songs, and guaranteed sightings in season.

“Unfortunately, our tour on Sunday was cancelled due to weather and tide conditions. Whilst disappointing, Pacific Whale Foundation was very accommodating and helped reschedule the trip to Monday. Due to the lingering winds, it was still quite choppy on board, which made moving a little difficult. However, the whales did not disappoint. They came up to the boat, and we did have about 20 minutes of two whales mugging the boat. It was truly an amazing experience, which is exactly what we hoped for. Our guide was very passionate and knowledgeable, sharing lots of information about the whales’ migration. Highly recommend whale watching in Hervey Bay; it really was the…”

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Whale Watching Boat Trip in Sydney - Darling Harbour check-in and the views start right away
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Whale Watching Boat Trip in Sydney

9.Whale Watching Boat Trip in Sydney

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

Sail from Darling Harbour for small-boat humpback whale watching in Sydney, with harbour views, live commentary, and a whale sighting guarantee.

“Experience of a lifetime! Friendly and informative staff on and off the boat. We saw dolphins and whales and I was lit up like a kid on Christmas morning! If you’re thinking about it, just do it! Absolutely worth it. I went solo and did the 12pm ride. Pack a rain jacket and a hat!”

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Hervey Bay 4-Hour Whale Watch Encounter - Getting on board: Tasman Venture, the marina, and pickup that works
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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

4-hour Hervey Bay whale watch on the 20m Tasman Venture. Underwater windows, water-level viewing, tea, and expert whale spotting.

“We thoroughly enjoyed the whale watching! We were picked up on time & had such a lovely time with Tasman Venture. The crew were all so friendly & helpful & the vessel was tops for viewing & comfort & nothing was a hazzle! Our morning tea was tasty & welcomed. Our commentary was both interesting & informative. All in all, a wonderful day on the bay seeing so many whales.”

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Hervey Bay Whale Watching Experience - The easy part: pickup, marina start, and how the day runs
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Hervey Bay Whale Watching Experience

11.Hervey Bay Whale Watching Experience

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

Half-day humpback whale cruise from Hervey Bay with pickup, hydrophone whale sounds, onboard meals, and close-up viewing in Platypus Bay.

“Very friendly staff and plenty of room to see the whales. Accommodated for my gluten free diet. A great day out with friends 9n the water watching the whales.”

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Hervey Bay Whale Watching Cruise - Two viewing modes that make a real difference: underwater windows and the outdoor platform
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Hervey Bay Whale Watching Cruise

12.Hervey Bay Whale Watching Cruise

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

Spot humpback whales from an air-conditioned catamaran with underwater windows and hydrophones, plus pickup, tea, and a whale guarantee.

“What a wonderful day you managed to tick off 1 of my bucket lists. It truly was a magical experience to see such giants gracefully play”

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Fraser Island Whale Watch Encounter - Spotting whales the right way: safe distance, better viewing
Hervey Bay Tours, K'gari & Fraser Island Tours, Tour Reviews, Whale Watching, Whale Watching Trips in Hervey Bay

Fraser Island Whale Watch Encounter

13.Fraser Island Whale Watch Encounter

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 466 reviews

8-hour Hervey Bay whale watch from Fraser Island, Platypus Bay. Hydrophone, submerged platform views, lunch, tea, pickup on a small catamaran.

“Peter is amazing at his job, he told us finding a whale is easy but finding a good whale is key, one(s) that will pec slap, tail lob, breach and even sing all come down to right place, right time and Peter with all of his knowledge and experience cerRead more”

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From Fremantle: 2-Hour Luxury Whale-Watching Cruise - Getting aboard at Sardine Jetty, and what comfort looks like in practice
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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

Enjoy a 2-hour luxury humpback whale cruise from Fremantle on the Steep Point, with live expert commentary, warm comfort, and free parking.

“We had an absolutely wonderful time on the whale watching cruise. The experience of sailing on a catamaran was delightful, but witnessing humpback whales in their natural environment was truly remarkable. The crew was not only friendly but also well-informed, always available to answer our questions and capture memorable moments with photos. The boat offered ample seating and viewing spots, along with a bar serving refreshments and a play area for children. We enjoyed the experience so much that we are already planning to book another cruise in November.”

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Spirit of Hervey Bay Whale Watching Cruise - How the Half-Day Route Plays Out on the Water
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Spirit of Hervey Bay Whale Watching Cruise

15.Spirit of Hervey Bay Whale Watching Cruise

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

A half-day catamaran cruise from Hervey Bay built for whale sightings, with underwater viewing, hydrophone audio, and included tea.

“Booking was simple, access to boat was easy, all facilities were clean and in good condition. The staff were friendly and the guide was knowledgeable and we saw plenty of whales. All round great experiences!”

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