Where to go whale watching in Queensland

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Hannah	 Statham

By Hannah Statham

Queensland's coastline has a habit of drawing in visitors with its good looks and adventure year-round, but things get even more action-packed when very special visitors stop by between June and November - humpback whales.

Each year like clockwork, these marine mammals undertake a 5,000km migration from Antarctica to have a babymoon followed by birth story in Queensland’s warm, inviting waters. Humpback whale migration is nothing short of something out of a circle of life documentary, as they swim north to birth their calves and teach them life skills, before returning south to chilly Antarctica.

While there's a good chance you'll spot whales from coastal lookouts and hikes during this time of year, it's even more incredible to get a closer look. Here's where to go whale watching in Queensland.

Hervey Bay, Fraser Coast

Guided day tour to watch and swim with humpback whales, Hervey Bay Dive Centre

Hervey Bay Dive Centre, Fraser Coast

Hervey Bay is the home of whale watching in Queensland, and the world’s first official Whale Heritage site which sets the benchmark for whale watching across the globe.

It’s not marketing spin, it’s scientific, as these warm waters are where around 7,000 humpback whales and their new calves choose to stop over to rest and play in the bay’s calm and safe waters. In fact, nowhere else in the world have scientists recorded whales stopping their migration to aggregate and socialise together.

The abundance of whale activity gives these operators confidence to promise guaranteed sightings in whale season, all in Hervey Bay’s calm, sheltered waters.

With so many whale watching options here, it’s important you choose the right tour for you. Do you prefer an intimate exprience? Blue Dolphin Marine Tours specialise in small, personalised full-day tours. Or are you after an action-packed half-day tour? Take a look at Tasman Venture Whale Watching. Bringing the kids? Spirit of Hervey Bay has fantastic underwater viewing rooms.

Whalesong Cruises is an accredited wheelchair-accessible and mobility-friendly whale watching cruise in Hervey Bay, and can accommodate travellers with low-vision, sensory and cognitive needs. NDIS participants and their carer/s can also sign up for a 'Crew for a Day' program for an interactive day out.

Want to swim with the whales? You better believe you can do it here – join Hervey Bay Dive Centre for the region’s only dedicated swim with humpbacks experience.

Best time to go: August – October. Take a scenic road trip from Brisbane to get here.

Gold Coast

Whale watching on the Gold Coast with Sea World Cruises | whale watching queensland

Sea World Cruises, Gold Coast

The good thing about the humpback whale migration is that they like to pay a visit to the entire coastline – and it all starts with the Gold Coast.

From Coolangatta to Surfers Paradise, our southern coastal city welcomes the first pods and is the best place to watch them at the start and end of the season as they make the way back to Antarctica. On arrival and on a mission to swim north to their breeding grounds, scientists record plenty of aerial acrobatics as bulls show off with male bravado in these parts.

Join Whales in Paradise for a half day whale watching tour to catch the action, with the option of a morning or afternoon tour departing from the heart of Surfers Paradise. Don’t see a whale? No worries, Whales in Paradise happily offers a whale sighting guarantee and will take you out again.

Sea World Cruises offers 2.5hour whale watching tours, that depart up to six times per day between June and November. Early risers can even join the Wake Up With the Whales cruise, where you'll set sail at 6am and enjoy a BBQ breakfast on the way. 

Best time to go: June - November

Brisbane

Watching two humpback whales breach near the boat on board a whale watching cruise with Brisbane Whale Watching, Redcliffe

Brisbane Whale Watching, Redcliffe

As the migration moves north, Queensland's capital gets in on the humpback action.

These marine giants come close to Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island), making land-based whale watching from the lookouts possible. Wander along North Gorge Walk to find a spot on the cliffs and a pair of binoculars is all you’ll need for a sighting.

For a close up, join a local tour. Cruise out into Moreton Bay with Brisbane Whale Watching, a purpose built whale watching vessel that departs daily from Redcliffe Jetty (hotel transfers from Brisbane and Sunshine Coast are available). Or, join Tangalooma Whale Watching Cruises - departing Brisbane or Tangalooma Resort on Mulgumpin (Moreton Island). 

You're sure to learn a thing or two about humpback whales while cruising, but here are some mind-bending facts to get you started.

Best time to go: June – November

Sunshine Coast

Swimming with whales Sunreef Sunshine Coast

Sunreef Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast

Humpback whales might be marathon swimmers, but they are not sprinters, clocking up a leisurely 5-15 km/hour on their migration north. You can be certain once they’re spotted on the Gold Coast and Brisbane, their next stop in their migration movement is the Sunshine Coast.

Hop aboard Sunreef Mooloolaba and you'll not only witness the magic from the surface but have the option to swim with the whales too.

You’ll spend four hours on the water after a short 15-minute commute out from the Mooloolaba River to the open water, where the whale spotting and swimming will begin. If the whales are playing safe, you’ll be allowed in the water for your swim with the whales experience, all within a safe distance, of course. If you’ve done regular whale watching, coming snorkel mask-to-fin with these marine mammals is completely immersive.

Don’t be surprised to share Sunreef’s decks with scientists and researchers. This vessel has a dedicated research project underway to collect knowledge about these gentle giants. You can play Attenborough using a whale watching sheet and collecting information about their movements too.

Prefer to watch the action from above the water? How about on an open deck boat, champagne in hand? Jump on board Cavelier Cruises from Mooloolaba. You won’t have to jostle for the best spot on deck on these intimate cruises, with a maximum of 22 passengers on each sailing you’ll have guaranteed rail-side views.

Best time to go: June to November

Southern Great Barrier Reef

Whale watching Lady Musgrave Experience | whale watching queensland

Lady Musgrave Experience. Photo by @tracyolive

The Southern Great Barrier Reef is no stranger to curious and fascinating marine life, and depending on the season you may see manta rays and turtles nesting and hatching, among much more. 

Keep an eye out for whales when you are transferring by boat over to both Heron Island and Lady Musgrave Island where regular sightings happen – or jump onboard the Lady Musgrave Experience for a whale watching tour that departs from Bundaberg between July - October. You can even combine your whale watching cruise with a trip Lady Musgrave Island to snorkel with turtles, rays and a myriad of colourful coral and reef fish.

Take to the sea with Freedom Fast Cats where you’ll get lunch and a show as you explore the spectacular Keppel Bay Islands. Or, get an aerial view of the migration on the scenic flight over to Lady Elliot Island whose whale sightings are well documented.

Best time to go: July to September

The Whitsundays

Whale watching with Whitsundays Paradise Explorer

Whitsunday Paradise Explorer, The Whitsundays. Photo by @whitsundaysparadiseexplorer

Who could blame the humpback whales for choosing the warm Whitsundays waters to end their annual migration?

This tropical destination is the whole reason for their 5000km migration, offering Mother Nature’s nursery with cosy waters and protection from 74 islands and the Great Barrier Reef. It’s here that female whales give birth, and some lucky whale watchers get the chance to watch a whale birth firsthand.

Whitsunday Paradise Explorer offers whale watching tours that depart from Bowen Marina and cruise out toward Gloucester and Middle Islands during migration season.

You could even skipper your own Whitsundays whale watching adventure - book a bareboating trip and keep an eye out for them playing in the sheltered waters of the Whitsunday Islands and the Whitsunday Coast.

Best time to go: July – September

Cairns & Great Barrier Reef

While the rest of the coast has humpback whales, Cairns & Great Barrier Reef has a whale encounter of its very own.

This part of the reef is the only place in the world where you can snorkel with the elusive dwarf minke whales who holiday on the Ribbon Reefs June and July every year. Their movements for the rest of the year are somewhat of a mystery.

Dr Matt Curnock from James Cook University explains: “They seem to love the northern waters of the Coral Sea for just a few weeks every year and then simply disappear. No one has yet tagged them so they simply disappear off our radar.”

To experience seeing dwarf minke whales on our remote reef you need to join a day trip or liveaboard experience - here's the Cairns operators who offer trips. 

Best time to go: June – July

Ready for an unforgettable whale watching experience in Queensland? Discover where you can swim with whales, or add these incredible marine encounters to your next road trip.

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