12 Best & Most Unique Whale Watching Tours In Australia By State. (2024.)

Queensland.

Queensland is blessed with a beautiful climate. Hot summers are perfect for hitting the state’s iconic beaches and mild winters mean being outdoors is enjoyable year-round, making it the best state to enjoy whale watching tours.

1. Brisbane Whale Watching.
Brisbane.

As the state’s capital, Brisbane is an excellent launchpad for Queensland.

But that doesn’t mean people who only have time to visit the city have to miss out on a magical encounter with these majestic creatures of the deep as Brisbane Whale Watching offers a 5-hour cruise aboard the purpose-built “Eye Spy” vessel that includes optional transfers from the CBD to Redcliffe and back again.

2. Whales In Paradise.
Gold Coast.

With an enviable beach scene, a gorgeous skyline, an abundance of attractions and a spectacular hinterland, there’s no guess as to how the Gold Coast became known as the city Famous For Fun. It’s Australia’s playground and there are so many fun things to do but it’s not limited to the land as it’s one of the country’s most popular places to embark on an enchanting whale-watching cruise.

There are plenty of companies to choose between, but Whales In Paradise gets top points because it combines two beloved Gold Coast tours into one magnificent one.

As the only whale-watching cruise to depart from Surfers Paradise (as opposed to the Spit), you get a canal cruise included in the first portion of the experience. So not only will you mingle with the majestic whales on an unforgettable ocean cruise, but you will also get to see the Gold Coast and its magnificent million-dollar houses from the famous Gold Coast Seaway. It’s a pretty sweet deal.

3. Cooly Eco Adventures.
Gold Coast.

It’s one thing to see whales pop their heads up out of the ocean and do all sorts of whale-y behaviours from a boat. It’s magical. But to see them do all that and more from below the water’s surface is almost spiritual.

Cooly Eco Adventures on the Gold Coast offers passengers the incredible opportunity to jump into the ocean to snorkel alongside these majestic giants of the sea. Being in such a vulnerable position in the whale’s natural environment and seeing them in all their underwater glory is unforgettable.

Because while snorkelling doesn’t allow you to speak while viewing the whales, it heightens the experience tenfold, making you feel like you’re telepathically connecting with them. It’s otherworldly and is, by far, one of the best and most uniquely thrilling things to do on the Gold Coast.

4. Ocean Defender.
Hervey Bay.

Hervey Bay is a beautiful, relaxed coastal town a few hours north of Brisbane. People love coming here for the beaches, the laid-back lifestyle and access to K’gari (Fraser Island), the world’s largest sand island.

But the popular seaside destination isn’t only great to visit during summer. It’s also fantastic during winter because Hervey Bay is the well-known humpback capital of Australia. Folks from all corners of life flock to this part of the world to see these incredible animals play in the sheltered waters between the mainland and the western coast of K’gari (Fraser Island).

There are a few whale watching tours to choose from, by why not do it in comfort with the state-of-the-art eco-vessel, the Ocean Defender? Not only can you observe the whales from one of the open-aired decks, but you can also listen to them singing live through special underwater headphones.

Furthermore, your ticket contributes to whale research, education and ocean conservation in Australia, so it’s a win-win situation.

5. Whale Watching Tours Cairns.
Cairns. 

Cairns is the largest city in northern Queensland and is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest underwater ecosystem. Therefore, it’s no surprise that it has some of the best opportunities to see marine animals, and whales are no exception. 

Whale Watching Tours Cairns not only offers fantastic chances to see these majestic behemoths of the ocean during their 90-minute eco-certified cruise, but it also includes 4 hours of free time to spend on the famous Fitzroy Island. 

New South Wales.

New South Wales is Australia’s most populous state and has many enchanting whale watching tours to choose from. So from the warm waters of Byron Bay to the cool climates of Edens, here are some of the best experiences.

6. Sydney Harbour Tall Ships.
Sydney.

Sydney is Australia’s largest city and the country’s tourism capital. It is also smack bang in the middle of the whale migration route, so there are plenty of opportunities to go whale watching both from land and at sea. But two cruises stand out in particular.

In the late 1700s when eastern Australia was discovered by the British, it was with tall ships, which were the transportation of choice when it came to navigating the high seas.

These days, you don’t get to see many of those majestic wooden vessels out on the water, much less get the chance to cruise in one, which is what makes this whale-watching cruise so unique. Not only are you able to sail the Humpback Highway in a historic tall ship like Captain Jack Sparrow while looking for Free Willy, but you can also opt to steer the ship and climb the mast, making an already magical experience even more interactive and unforgettable.

7. Ocean Extreme.
Sydney.

If whale watching from a tall ship sounds too slow for you, how about something on the other end of the spectrum? Like a speed boat with Ocean Extreme!

Feel the wind whipping through your hair as you skip across the sea at thrilling speeds of up to 50 km an hour. This means it’s a quick ride out to the whales and because the vessel sits so low in the water, it means the whales can get tremendously close. It’s the most intimate experience you can have with the marine giants without actually getting in the water with them and it’s simply magical. Perfect for the person who loves animals and thrills.

8. Jervis Bay Wild Cruises.
Jervis Bay.

Halfway between Sydney and the NSW/Victorian border lies the beautiful Jervis Bay, home to one of the longest whale-watching seasons in the state. 

Board the Jervis Bay Wild Cruises boat and enjoy the spectacular scenery as you search for humpback whales and bottlenose dolphins. The waters around the bay are usually calm, so spotting these beautiful marine animals is a breeze. And because it is often so tranquil, it’s a great place to go whale watching for people who are prone to seasickness. 

Victoria.

Victoria is the southernmost state on mainland Australia and while it doesn’t have as many opportunities to go whale watching because of a shorter migration season, it’s not the worst thing in the world as winters down there are notoriously frigid. 

Still, those daring enough to brave the antarctic breeze to look for whales won’t have to stray too far. 

9. Wildlife Coast Cruises.
San Remo.

While there are no cruises departing directly out of Melbourne, there’s one company based in San Remo, an hour and forty-minute drive from the city near the famous Phillip Island that’ll take you out on the high seas.

As you search for humpback and southern right whales aboard the Wildlife Coast Cruise vessel, keep an eye out for other animals such as dolphins and seals which are also frequently spotted on these tours. Not only are you spoiled with wildlife sightings, but the cruise also sails past some spectacular coastline including the magnificent Cape Woolamai.

This tour also includes morning tea, but be sure to dress really warm because it’s crazy cold down there, and you can always remove layers but can’t add any if you don’t bring them.

Western Australia.

Taking up one-third of the island continent, Western Australia is an enormous state, which means it has a massive coastline. 

However, because it isn’t as densely populated and developed as the easternmost states, there are fewer whale-watching tours departing from this side of the country, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any.

10. Naturaliste Charters.
Dunsborough.

One of the closest places to Perth that offer whale watching tours is south in Dunsborough, near Busselton. 

It is a cruisy three-hour drive south of the city, where you can board the Naturaliste Charters vessel and enjoy seeing the beautiful creatures in style aboard a gorgeous 20-foot luxury catamaran. And unlike most similar cruises, photos and videos are included in the price of admission.

11. Ningaloo Explorer Catamaran.
Exmouth.

For a much more intimate experience with the whales, head halfway up Western Australia’s stunning coastline to Exmouth. 

Instead of just observing the marine mammals from a boat, board the gorgeous Ningaloo Explorer catamaran, ride the high seas, then jump in the water and swim right alongside these magnificent creatures of the deep and in the famous Ningaloo Reef, no less.

While it’s much more vulnerable floating amongst them in the ocean than seeing them from the safety of the vessel, it’s not something you’ll want to miss out on because it’s such an unbelievably magical experience that’ll stay with you long after it’s over.

12. Naturaliste Charters.
Bremer Bay.

It’s not only humpback whales you can take a cruise to see. Other whales also live in the oceans off the Australian coastline, and at Bremer Bay, halfway between Margaret River and Esperance, you can go on Australia’s most unique whale watching tours to see Killer Whales, also known as Orcas!

These stunning black and white animals are known as some of the ocean’s most fearsome and intelligent predators, and opportunities to see these magnificent, highly social creatures in Australia are not something you’ll come across often, so it’s definitely worth the long drive out to board the Naturaliste Charters vessel to see these rare animals.