Hervey Bay whale watching is renowned as being the best in the world. Find out why and which are the best whale watching tours to book.
Renowned as one of the best places in the world to spot whales, Hervey Bay was also the world’s first Whale Heritage Site, recognising it as one of the best places in the world for sustainable whale watching.
And whale watching in Hervey Bay certainly doesn’t disappoint!
Every year, humpback whales migrating to Queensland from Antarctica call in to Hervey Bay to take advantage of the shelter in the calm bay.
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What makes Hervey Bay Whale Watching so good?
What sets Hervey Bay apart from every other whale watching experience in Australia (or around the world) is the interactions that take place with the whales here.
While at other whale watching places the whales are usually just passing by on their migration, Hervey Bay is unique as it is an area where whales choose to stay and chill for a few days.
They generally hang out here anywhere from 3-7 days, using it as a resting point, a breeding zone, and a nursery to strengthen up the young and teach them essential life skills before they make their long journey back south.
Local operators don’t call this whale ‘watching’, they call it ‘encounters’, thanks to the close encounters with the gentle giants.
The whales here are relaxed and inquisitive and as keen to check out people as we are them. It’s a magical experience and one not to be missed.
The Best Whale Watching Tours in Hervey Bay
We’ve done whale watching tours with several different whale watching companies in Hervey Bay. They all offer something unique and I can honestly say that we’ve loved every single one!
Which tour to choose depends on a few things – do you prefer a large comfortable boat with indoor seating and a bar? Or do you prefer a small sailing catamaran with less people? Or perhaps a fun speedboat ride along the way?
Do you want the opportunity to swim with the whales? Or are you happy admiring them from the boat deck?
Click here to compare and book whale watching tours.
Whatever you’re looking for, here are our recommendations of the best Hervey Bay Whale Watching tours:
K’gari Salty Safaris: best for swimming with whales
Salty Safaris offer whale watching, swimming with the whales and a beach stopover, all in a half-day tour.
The beauty of this tour is that the boat is small, with a maximum of only 18 guests per tour (plus 2 crew).
As an 11m inflatable adventure RIB, it is also the closest vessel to the water surface, offering the perfect platform for a truly unique, up close and personal whale-watching experience.
But what we really loved about this tour was the opportunity to swim with the whales – it is one of the coolest things I’ve ever done! A big bucket list tick off!
You can watch my Instagram reel of this here:
This is all done on the whales’ terms. We entered the water, held on to the floating line and waited for the whales to come to us.
We had two gorgeous gentle giants stay with us for over an hour. Swimming below us several times, spy hopping us, slapping the water. An altogether magical experience.
Click here to check prices and availability for the Salty Safaris whale watching tour.
Blue Dolphin Marine Tours: best for small group catamaran sailing
Another great option for a small boat experience is Blue Dolphin Marine Tours. These whale watching tours are aboard a comfortable 11.6m sailing catamaran and numbers are limited to just 24 passengers.
Tours on Blue Dolphin are full-day tours (most other operators offer half-day tours) giving you plenty of time to hang out with the whales. Morning and afternoon tea and a full buffet lunch are all provided.
But what really sets Blue Dolphin Tours apart is the skipper Peter Lynch. Sailing with Peter gives you access to his 40 years of experience with marine mammals.
He has a wealth of knowledge to share and he genuinely cares about the whales. So you’ll not only have an amazing whale watching experience, but you will come home wiser!
Click here to check prices and availability for Blue Dolphin Marine Tours.
Tasman Venture: best for a large, comfortable boat experience
If you prefer the idea of a large, stable boat with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating and an on-board licensed bar, then Tasman Venture is for you.
There’s plenty of space for everyone on board the 20-metre catamaran, with a choice of seating and viewing areas.
The staff are friendly and knowledgeable and all tours have a Naturalist Guide on board to provide educational insights about the whales. They also have an onboard hydrophone so you can listen to the nearby whales!
Another unique feature of these tours is the underwater viewing window on board, so you can take a look at the whales as they swim around the boat.
Whale Watching with young kids? Ask about the Junior Whale Warriors activity pack.
Tasman Venture also offer hotel pickup and drop-off at select Hervey Bay accommodation locations.
Click here to check prices and availability for Tasman Venture tours.
Fraser Island Boat Charter: best for an overnight experience
For something very cool and unique, check out Fraser Island Boat Charters ‘Wake Up with the Whales’ tour. This is Australia’s only overnight humpback whale watching experience.
Choose from a 1 or 2-night journey aboard your very own private yacht with a skipper to take you in search of whales. Catamaran K’gari Breeze sleeps up to 6 people and all catering is taken care of.
There’s even the opportunity to watch movies on deck under the stars and an onboard hydrophone means you can be rocked to sleep by the waves to the sound of whale song. How cool?
Hervey Bay Whale Watch: best for whale watching from K’gari
Staying overnight on K’gari? You can whale watch directly from the island with Hervey Bay Whale Watch.
Australia’s first whale watching company has been family-run for over 30 years, offering good value tours aboard the Quick Cat II.
They are the only Hervey Bay whale watching company to collect from Kingfisher Bay Resort on K’gari. They offer a range of packages combined with the resort (including lunch options) and with K’gari Explorer Tours.
Click here to check prices and availability for Hervey Bay Whale Watch.
FAQs
When is the Whale Watching Season in Hervey Bay?
The Hervey Bay whale watching season runs from July – October every year. The best time to swim with whales is August. The best time to see mothers and calves is September. There are fewer whales to be seen at the beginning and end of the season.
Can you swim with whales in Hervey Bay?
Some whale watching tours from Hervey Bay do allow you to swim with the whales. The best time for this is August, as come September there are often calves with mothers and they don’t allow getting into the water when there are calves present.
Where do I get the boat for whale watching at Hervey Bay?
The boats for Hervey Bay whale tours depart from Great Sandy Straits Marina in Hervey Bay. Hervey Bay Whale Watch also offer a pick up at Kingfisher Bay Resort on Fraser Island.
Disclaimer: Mum on the Move were guests of several whale watching tours for the purposes of writing this review. This in no way affects our review, and all opinions, as always are honest and our own.