Up close and personal encounters with mammoth but gentle humpback whales is the phenomenal experience gained from half-day Hervey Bay whale watching tours.
These encounters are offered twice daily during the winter season from the Hervey Bay Marina. The cruise is a tranquil and relaxing ride along World Heritage Fraser Island to the playground of the humpback whales.
Other equally important marine species you’ll have a chance to encounter during the tour include sea birds, turtles, sharks, dugongs, and dolphins.
Special cruise vessels
Whale watching cruise tours usually use luxurious and fast catamarans to make the experience relaxing and tranquil. The fast crafts quickly get you to the watching grounds of the whales for you to spend more quality time with them.
These gentle and magnificent giants of the sea will be viewed unobstructed by anyone and everyone on the cruise. Some cruise ships have specially-designed large decks to make the encounter up close and personal with the giants.
The humpbacks love to people watch as well and cruise ships equipped with underwater viewing rooms offer the best eye-to-eye contact with them. The natural inquisitive characteristics of humpbacks make them want to come in as close as possible to cruise vessels.
Highlights of the Tour Packages
- Fully licensed cruise ships
- Two daily trips
- Guaranteed whale sightings
- Locally owned and operated
- Friendly, experienced, and knowledgeable crews
- Free Wi-Fi
- Air-conditioned, fast, and luxurious cruise vessels
- Features a kids’ corner with complimentary pens and papers
- Free courtesy transfers from the Hervey Bay Marina or bay area
- Complimentary morning or afternoon tea
- A Complimentary platter on the return cruise
- Complimentary documentary DVD
- Viewing deck
- Morning cruise tour starts at 8:30 am and ends by 12:30 pm
- Afternoon cruise tour starts at 1:30 pm and ends by 5:30 pm
Why choose Hervey Bay to Watch Whales?
Hervey Bay and Fraser Island’s protected and calm waters provide the perfect playground for humpback whales. The fluctuations, temperature, and current changes in the magnetic field of the Earth serve as cues for humpback whales.
The cues in the waters between Hervey Bay and Fraser Island are the things that attract humpbacks to visit, breed, and feed before they go off to Antarctica.
Scheduling a whale watching tour is also quick and easy in Hervey Bay. The place is an easy 3.5 hours drive from Brisbane, making it the perfect weekend getaway for couples, groups, and families.
The Best Seasons to Whale Watch in Hervey Bay
July is the starting whale watching season. This is a continuing event until November when the whales start to leave.
July
Whale watching season starts with key events such as the Paddle Out for Whales, the Blessing of the Fleet, and the Hervey Bay Seafood Festival. Paddle out for Whales is a momentous event that allows people to use bright inflatables, surfboards, and kayaks to paddle out into the bay. This is to encourage people to support whale and environment conservation.
August
The month brings in more whales that take no part in the breeding cycle.
Middle of August to middle of September
Whale watching reaches its peak during this time. The largest number of whales is seen at this time.
September
Humpback females with calves mark this month as their own. This is the time mothers teach adulthood to their young.
Whale watching and swimming with the whales are two different equally phenomenal experiences gained from whale watching tours. Spirit of Hervey Bay can organise whale watching tours in Hervey Bay for your group during your vacation.
