BOUTIQUE SMALL BOAT.
WHALE WATCHING TOURS.
From $119 (June to October)
Duration: up to 2.5 Hours (approx.)
Main Beach, QLD
AN ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME
This 2 – 2.5hr Gold Coast whale watching adventure tour is an absolute personalised experience on a smaller vessel with a maximum of 12 participants. The spectators can look forward to closer and longer encounters as humpback whales do not feel intimated by a smaller vessel. The outer tubes of our semi inflatable vessel are only 50cm above the water surface which even allows to submerge your water proof camera on passing whales for some great underwater shots for those lucky enough.
Whilst no vessel is allowed to approach whales closer than 100m, our experience shows that the whales are usually approaching us whilst our engines are turned off and the vessel drifts through the water. For this very reason, our vessel is frequently chartered by research groups to conduct field surveys and sampling. This Gold Coast whale watching cruise departs ex Southport, 95 Marine Parade.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Up to 2.5hr* return whale watching cruise in a small group
- Departs up to 3 times per day including at sunrise
- Small groups of 12 or less
- Great for photographers
- Closer whale encounters possible
- Whale sightings guaranteed*
- Knowledgeable staff
- Participate in whale research activities (optional)
- Waterproof jackets provided
DEPARTURE TIMES
Our whale watching tours depart up to 3 times per day on selected days. Check our website calendar for live availability and times. Daily departure times may vary due to tides and other factors.
- Meet 8:30am – Depart 9.00am Morning Tour (usually the calmest sea conditions and the least likelihood of weather cancellation)
- Meet 11:30am – Midday Tour (the most popular choice for locals)
- Meet 02:30pm – 3.00pm Sunset Tour (from July to August only. Amazing lighting for photographers)
Please note that departure times can vary and are subject to change on short notice. Please check your booking reminder emails for time changes or check our calendar for the latest times and availability. From there, you can also book and pay online.
PRICING
Our whale watching vessel is small hence you will need to pay a little premium to make this experience possible.
- Base Price – $119pp (all ages)
- Children (10-13) – $119pp
- Private Charter for 12 people – from $1190
- A small booking fee is charged on check-out by the booking system provider.
PARTICIPANT REQUIREMENTS
- This tour is conducted on a smaller vessel. Boarding and disembarking as well as holding on whilst underway requires a moderate level of fitness and mobility.
- Any person with a serious medical conditions including pregnancy or physical disability should chose a larger vessel instead. If unsure please email us beforehand or consult your treating doctor.
- Whilst we try our best to plan tours around sea conditions, participants must be prepared to maybe get partially wet due to sea spray. We do provide spray jackets and these events are rare. We usually cancel and reschedule tours for comfort reasons if wind forecasts exceed 15 knots however sometimes forecasts aren’t 100% accurate.
- WHALE SWIM – Minimum age is 10 years for boating safety reasons e.g. life jacket sizes etc. One adult must accompany each child aged 10 to 16 at all times in and out of the water. If there are two children aged 10-16, there must be two paying adults to accompany them in the water and on the boat.
- WHALE WATCHING – Minimum age is 5 years for boating safety reasons e.g. life jacket sizes etc. Adult supervision is required at all times during the trip. If there are two or more children aged 5 to 12, there must be the same number of adults as children in your booking. All adults and accompanying children will be required to wear a lifejacket during the tour.
BASIC ITINERARY (9:00 AM CRUISE*)
- 8:30am – Meet us at Southport use the toilets and get ready.
- 8:45am – Safety brief, put on spray jackets
- 9:00am – Depart marina and cruise through the Broadwater.
- 9:15am – Enter the open ocean to find and watch the whales.
- 10:30am – Commence return cruise to the Marina whilst watching whales.
- 11:00am – Arrive back at our Southport Jetty.
*Sunrise cruises or afternoon cruises follow the same itinerary but with a different departure times as advertised.
OUR VESSEL
Our primary whale watching vessel is, a 8m long, semi-inflatable, rigid hull adventure boat with a capacity of 10 guests. Whilst spectators are more exposed to the elements, the vessel provides an incredible intimate feel of closeness to the water. Due to its small size and quiet engine, whales love to check out our boat up close. Should weather be against us, we may substitute the vessel to our 12m catamaran Game Changer.
BOOKINGS & PAYMENT
- Select cruise date and time
- Hit the book now button
- Enter your personal details
- Check-out and receive our booking confirmation via email
- A small booking fee is charged by the system provider on check-out
- All of our tours must reach a minimum of 4 participants to depart
PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH (OPTIONAL)
You can also (optional) participate in research activities such as filling in survey data sheets and using the hydrophone to listen to underwater sounds. Each participant will receive a print brochure with a summary of information about humpback whales and what options there are to get involved. Alternatively, you can simply sit back, relax, take photos enjoy the experience.
WHAT TO BRING
- SunSmart clothes (hat, sunglasses, sunscreen etc.)
- Warm clothes as it can get cold
- Drinking water (no glass)
- Waterproof bag for phones etc.
- Camera (splash-proof cameras recommended)
- Seasickness medication if needed (take well before departure)
MEETING POINT
- Meet us at 95 Marine Parade, Southport inside Aqua Adventures and Southport Fish and Dive Centre.
- Your confirmation email and reminder emails will include a map and a hyperlink for directions.
- Please arrive on time as we always depart on time.
*WHALE SIGHTING GUARANTEE AND TRIP DURATION
Our minimum return trip duration is 2 hours however, if we don’t find whales initially, we will extent the tour duration to up to 3 hours. If whales are not spotted on a designated whale watch tour between the months of June to September, each passenger will be entitled to a ’stand-by ticket’ enabling them to return on another subsequent tour date subject to availability as per our online calendar. Refer to our terms and conditions to read the full details about our sighting guarantee.