Whale Watching Cruises

Sometimes there is only one option for a whale watching cruise in a location, but in the some locations there are many options. Spoilt for choice? Sometimes it can end up very frustrating trying to work out which is the best one for you. However, if you look for what is important to you, narrowing your choice will help you make that decision!

In Gold Coast Australia we have 5 different whale watching tour options. They each have their own different pros and cons and I try to lay that out easily for visitors to see at a glance which is the best whale watching cruise for them. It is hard for me to say one tour is better than the other, because it can depend upon circumstances and needs.

So how can you pick which cruise to take? Here are a few questions you might want to consider.

Are you good on boats? Or do you get a bit seasick?
If you are not very good on boats and get sea sick easily, there are some precautions you can take before you go, but the choice of boat will also play a part. Larger boats are generally more stable and often have airconditioned inside areas.

Do you have any of your group who is a bit older, younger, unstable on their feet or even in a wheelchair?
Some boats, especially the smaller boats are less stable. Catamarans are more stable than monohull boats. Smaller boats may not have facilities for wheelchairs. Some cruises even have restrictions on age. For example on the Gold Coast Sea World Whale Watch won't allow children 3 and Under on their whale watching cruise, but they have great facilities for wheelchair passengers. When you have a requirement like this be sure to let the operator know before you go on the cruise.

Where do the whale boats leave from? Is that close to your accommodation or will you need a transfer? Is that included in the price?
If you are on an budget, sometimes getting to the cheapest option can end up costing you more than you save! Factor in the location and see if you can get a deal for transfers especially if there is a group of you.

If you are driving, is the boat easy to find and is there any parking?
Sometimes there is lots of free parking right by the boat, other times the free parking is a few hundred metres away. In Surfers Paradise, parking is very expensive, but just up the road at Marina Mirage in Main Beach where a few of the Gold Coast whale watching boats go from there is plenty of free undercover parking!

What time do they leave and how long is the cruise?
The time the cruise leaves may determine which cruise you take. Maybe you are on a tight time frame and want to fit more than one thing in, so an early cruise or a later cruise fits your schedule. Most cruises on the Gold Coast are 2½ to 3 hours long. But whale watching cruises in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast are termed a full day departing at 10am and returning at 2.30pm. You have to be there 30 minutes before departure so these end up being pretty much the only thing you can do in a day.

How long will you actually be with the whales? Can you spot them close to shore or will you have to go many miles off shore for the viewing?
A longer cruise doesn't necessarily mean you will be with the whales for a longer time. It may mean that you have to travel further up a river before you get to the ocean whale watch area. It may mean you have to travel further offshore to see them. It pays to find out especially if you are prone to a bit of motion sickness.

Does the whale watching cruise operator offer a guarantee? What happens if you don't spot any whales on your tour and what do they define as spotting whales?
We are incredibly spoilt on the Gold Coast. All our main tour operators offer a guarantee, which is pretty much that you will get another whale watching cruise ticket if you don't see whales on your tour. They can offer that guarantee because they all have fantastic sighting statistics, and we have a steady stream of humpbacks during our whale watching season. It does pay to check this out, and another good reason to book your tour early in your visit, just in case it has to be rescheduled due to bad weather or if you have to go out again.

How big is the boat? Is it a catamaran?
Bigger boats usually especially catamarans are more stable and better for people who are likely to get seasick. Bigger boats usually have more facilities, but they may try to cram more people on board. Are there lots of places to view from? High vantage points I find are great as you see more.

Is there any inside area where you can go to get out of the cold, sun or wet?
Make sure there is somewhere to get out of the cold, sun or wet. Bigger boats tend to be pretty good with this, but my sister went on a whale watching tour from Byron Bay a few years ago and it turned out to be an open semi-inflatable that took 12 people! Amazingly she paid the same as she would have for a larger boat. She did have an incredible experience, but she wasn't actually expecting it and I don't think my kids would have been too pleased if that was their whale watching experience! She ended up freezing cold and wet through!

These are a few of the considerations, I hope you have found the useful and if you are ever in the Gold Coast why not try one of our fabulous whale watching cruises. We are fast becoming the whale watching capital of Australia because of the great viewing and choices we have.