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Gold Coast Dolphin & whale watching

Our most recommended Gold Coast Dolphin & whale watching

Moreton Island: Dolphin and Tangalooma Wrecks Day Cruise

1. Moreton Island: Dolphin and Tangalooma Wrecks Day Cruise

Discover Moreton Bay Marine Park and learn about marine life from an onboard marine naturalist on this cruise. Go on a guided snorkeling tour of the Tangalooma wrecks and keep an eye our for the dolphins, dugongs and sea turtles that call this glamour area home. Choose from a tour where you meet the boat at the Rivergate Marina or with pickup from the Gold Coast or Brisbane. Throw your swimwear into a bag and set sail to uncover miles of unspoiled white sand beaches. Departing daily from Brisbane, cruise in luxury to Moreton Bay Marine Park aboard the modern, air-conditioned catamaran Spirit of Migaloo II. Here enjoy the freedom to do as much or as little as you please with all activities included and no local fees. Dive in and snorkel the fifteen shipwrecks that have been deliberately sunk just off the coastline with an abundance of spectacular coral formations and colorful marine life that needs to be seen to be believed. No experience is required and all equipment and water safety items are provided. Afterwards, join our naturalist guides in a fish-feeding session with the 200 species that frequent the area. Satisfy your appetite with a gourmet tropical buffet featuring ocean king prawns, and quench your thirst with a glass of local wine, craft beer or frozen cocktail. Take the time to relax, enjoy free island time on the pristine white-sand beach. Kayak on sheltered crystal-clear waters, join a game with complimentary beach sporting equipment, or simply kick back and soak in the serenity. Watch out for some of Queensland’s best marine wildlife in this area that is home to one of the largest populations of bottlenose dolphins in Australia. Feel the joy of seeing them jump and play in turquoise waters. Search for six of the world’s seven species of sea turtles and herds of shy and gentle dugongs in one of the world’s remaining strongholds for this species. Get help from the onboard marine naturalists that have been working with these incredible animals for over a decade and have the experience to give you the closest wildlife encounters possible.

Gold Coast: Sunset Guided Boat Cruise

2. Gold Coast: Sunset Guided Boat Cruise

Experience the Gold Coast in Style! It’s not every day you have the opportunity to sit back with a drink in your hand, blissfully cruising aboard a luxury super yacht while watching an epic Sunset Cruise Gold Coast. Choose from a spacious, air-conditioned mid deck or open top, middle and bottom decks to enjoy the fresh Gold Coast air as you cruise through the Gold Coast Broadwater. Keep an eye out for marine life such as dolphins, turtles, rays and dugongs as we discover the Seaway and (weather permitting) Watch the sunset over the Iconic Gold Coast Skyline. Mermaid Spirit is a first class luxury Tri-Deck Catamaran . Be immersed in the stunning natural beauty of the Gold Coast Broadwater while our professional crew make sure your experience is second to none.

Spirit of Gold Coast 2.5-Hour Whale Watching Tour

3. Spirit of Gold Coast 2.5-Hour Whale Watching Tour

Come join this family-owned and operated business with over 20 years whale watching experience, committed to offering you the best customer service and memories to last a lifetime. With caring and knowledgeable crew who are focused on your comfort and safety as well as guaranteed whale sightings, you can travel with peace of mind. Within minutes of departure, Spirit of Gold Coast will have you up close and personal with these majestic creatures as they embark on their annual migration along the east coast of Australia. This amazing journey is a truly captivating experience, as right before your very eyes these 40-ton Humpback Whales breach, wave their pectoral fins and slap their tails. Join us for the journey of a lifetime - a memorable adventure to be shared with friends and family.

Gold Coast: Swim with Whales

4. Gold Coast: Swim with Whales

Witness Humpback whales in their natural environment as you swim and experience something truly unique and intimate. Get the closest whale encounter with eye-level 360 degree viewing of these elegant creatures. Have the safety of an experienced and knowledgeable skipper and crew on hand throughout your experience. Use a ‘soft in-water encounters’ approach, a proven method to achieve a successful and sustainable whale swim. Remember, you don’t swim with the whales, the whales swim with you. Get as close as 30 meters to the whales, however the rest will be up to the whales. Hear informative and captivating commentary throughout the tour on Humpback whales and other marine life, Australian, Aboriginal and European history along with the local area.

Gold Coast Whale Watching Cruise

5. Gold Coast Whale Watching Cruise

Take part in a truly special seasonal activity on the Gold Coast. Cruise the waves of this beautiful tropical destination and keep an eye out for humpback whales. Watch these incredible animals as they migrate on their annual trip and learn about their travels. Depart from the Marina Mirage, in Main Beach and admire mesmerizing views of the world-famous Gold Coast from the water. Gaze at the towering skyscrapers and enjoy panoramic views of the deep blue ocean as you sail away. Receive insightful commentary from your captain to acquire a deeper understanding of the majestic humpback whales. Stay on the lookout for these incredible mammals and watch them swim around underwater with the innovative 'Whale Eye View' camera on the boat.

Gold Coast: Whale Watching Guided Tour

6. Gold Coast: Whale Watching Guided Tour

Jump aboard a clean, well appointed vessel and a truly international operation for a unique tour away from the crowded big players. Sensational commentary with lots of fun and games along the way, our world-class and informative crew will guide you on an epic adventure learning about the unique marine life and Whale Migration off the Gold Coast Morning / Afternoon Tea and Coffee is provided. We have a bar and snacks on board should you want extras! Besides that, just bring some sunscreen, a hat and a camera!

Gold Coast: Snorkeling with Turtles Half-Day Tour

7. Gold Coast: Snorkeling with Turtles Half-Day Tour

Upon arrival to your snorkelling Gold Coast tour, you will be greeted by one of our friendly Cooly Eco Adventures team members. After this, Tea and coffee are provided, whilst our friendly crew assist you with fitting and collecting your snorkel equipment. (wetsuit, mask, snorkel, fins, SharkBanz) Prior to departure to the Pacific Ocean via the Tweed River, our Skipper will go through a short safety briefing and overview of the day's itinerary. Our tour begins with a 20min boat ride to Jungurra-Ngarrian (Cook Island Aquatic Reserve). The reserve lies approximately 600m off the shore of Fingal Head, NSW. It is a foraging ground to a significant number of sea turtles. The numbers are so significant that the island was originally named Turtle Island. It is here that we will dive in and meet these 'turtally' awesome locals! The surrounding waters of the reserve are also home to a wide variety of subtropical and temperate species of fish, crustaceans, and rays – just to name a few! Prepare to be awed by the magical underwater world that lies here on our doorstep! Whilst cruising along the scenic Tweed River we will see a myriad of passing local wildlife. Expect to possibly see eagles, dolphins and even the occasional kangaroo. Once we are out on the open ocean, you will see your snorkeling destination: Cook Island! Get ready for a 'turt-ally' awesome guided snorkel with the local Turtles. Our experienced snorkel guide will instruct you regarding the use of your snorkel equipment, essential safety signals and ensure that your gear is fitted correctly prior to entering the water. They will be in the water with you during your snorkel. After our snorkel, we will provide you with fresh fruit to enjoy, over our shared stories of the day as we make our return journey to the dock, where our journey began.

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What people are saying about Gold Coast

Overall rating

4.7 / 5

based on 3 reviews

We had a great trip today with the nice and extremely helpful crew. We only booked the trip last night at 10:00 p.m. and were lucky that there were still places available for the next day. We saw dolphins and a lot of turtles on our tour. Snorkeling is truly an extraordinary experience. The food was great and the timing was stress-free and relaxing. If possible, I would book the tour on a weekday, as it should be a bit emptier then. We were alone with our group in the reef of the sunken boats and it was mega. Would book this tour again and again and it really is worth every penny. As a recommendation I would recommend the pick-up service for travelers from Brisbane, this should have gone very smoothly. We opted for Uber when we arrived and had to pay a tidy surcharge on arrival at crush time. So the price wasn't really worth it.

The whole exp was great !! We were picked from Gold Coast on tym & the operator was so nice to talk . She was very polite & made our journey comfortable till we reached the cruise. The staff & captain were really nice & and understanding. The food was amazing& place was really clean . The snorkelling exp was great as we never did in deep water with tide. We were to spot dolphins to our way back.We really had a fun tym!!

Most of all, I was impressed by all efforts from staff, they really consider people's safety. I feel safe during the whole journey even though I'm a bit afraid of water. I joined the programme by myself, but it was still very enjoyable. You can explore and catch beautiful sea life with lovely and professional staff. I bet it is one of the best experience you can get in Brisbane.

Definitely worth the money you pay for it! Lovely trip, nice staff, great experience! The snorkeling equipment was also very tidy & clean!

An absolutely perfect day. The events were wonderful, food delicious and staff incredible. One of my top highlights of my Australia trip.