Whale watching in Australia
3 towns and 12 operators, with the months each species is around. Listed trips run from A$79.50 to A$210 per person.
When to go, town by town
Dark squares are peak months for at least one species, light squares are the rest of the season.
| Town | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Trips from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold CoastHumpback whale | January: quiet | February: quiet | March: quiet | April: quiet | May: quiet | June: in season | July: in season | August: in season | September: in season | October: in season | November: quiet | December: quiet | A$79.50 |
| Hervey BayHumpback whale | January: quiet | February: quiet | March: quiet | April: quiet | May: quiet | June: quiet | July: in season | August: in season | September: peak | October: in season | November: quiet | December: quiet | A$110 |
| SydneyHumpback whale | January: quiet | February: quiet | March: quiet | April: quiet | May: in season | June: peak | July: peak | August: in season | September: in season | October: in season | November: quiet | December: quiet | A$89 |
Every operator in Australia, cheapest trip first
| Operator | What you get | Town | From | Length | Group | If no whales | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gold Coast Whale Escape: Luxury Whale Watching Cruise |
A$79.50 per person |
2.5 hours; departs 9:00am (board 8:30am) or 12:00pm (board 11:30am) |
up to 135 guests |
Return free if no whale is spotted | Check dates | ||
Sydney Whale Watching Cruise (Oz Whale Watching) |
A$89 per adult |
4 hours including boarding; lunch cruise 12:15pm to 4:15pm, breakfast cruise 8:15am to 12:15pm Saturday and Sunday |
Whale tours limited to 95 passengers (vessel capacity 180) |
Join another whale watching cruise free within 3 years if no whales are seen | Check dates | ||
Gold Coast Whale Watching Cruise (Standard Ticket) |
A$89 per adult |
Approximately 2.5 hours; departure times vary by date |
Free return whale watching cruise valid for 12 months if no whale is sighted | Check dates | |||
2hr Express Cruise |
A$93 per adult |
2 hours; departs 12:00pm and 3:00pm daily, plus 9:30am Saturday and Sunday |
Free return cruise in the same season if no whales are sighted (standby voucher) | Check dates | |||
2.5hr Whale Watching Cruise |
A$99 per adult |
2.5 hours; 8:30am to 11:00am, 11:30am to 2:00pm, and 2:30pm to 5:00pm on weekends |
Free return voucher if no whale is seen | Check dates | |||
Whale Watching Cruise |
A$109 per adult |
2.5 hours (page also says 2.5 to 3 hours); daily at 9:30am and 1:30pm |
Vessel surveyed for 120 passengers plus 5 crew |
Complimentary return cruise in the same season if no whales are sighted; transferable, no refunds | Check dates | ||
Boat Club Hervey Bay Whale Watch |
A$110 per adult |
About 4 hours; departs 8:30am and 1:30pm |
Complimentary return ticket if no whale is found, for cruises 23 July to 7 October | Check dates | |||
Half Day Whale Watching Tours |
A$155 per adult |
About 4 hours; morning cruise 8:30am, afternoon cruise 1:30pm |
Free return cruise ticket if no whales are sighted | Check dates | |||
Half Day Whale Watching Encounter |
A$155 per adult |
About 4 hours; 8:30am to 12:30pm or 1:30pm to 5:30pm |
Limited to approximately 85 passengers in whale season |
Open dated return ticket if no whales are seen | Check dates | ||
Whale & Sail: Whale Watching Experience |
A$155 per adult |
About 5 hours; departs 10:45am, returns about 3:00pm |
Not stated | Check dates | |||
Exclusive Whale Watching Encounter |
A$210 per adult |
Full day, 7:30am to about 3:30pm (about 8 hours) |
Maximum 24 passengers |
No guarantee, since these are wild animals | Check dates | ||
Sydney Whale Watching Cruise |
Not listed |
2.5 hours (page title says 3 hours) |
Free re-cruise if no whales are seen, rebooked within 5 days of the original trip | Check dates |
Each operator's cheapest listed trip, from its own website on October 21, 2026. How we compare.
Other countries and states
- Alaska 2 towns
- California 6 towns
- Canada 3 towns
- Hawaii 2 towns
- Iceland 2 towns
- Massachusetts 2 towns
- Mexico 3 towns
- Portugal 2 towns
- South Africa 2 towns