Premier Whale Watching Byron Bay
Description
Enjoy a once in a lifetime, close encounter with Humpback Whales! (June- November). Join us and our marine biologist on our Premier Whale Watching Cruise. Depart from Ballina’s Richmond River and enter the stunning waters of Cape Byron Marine Park. Encounter astonishing Humpback Whales in their natural habitat as they migrate past the iconic coastline between Byron Bay and Ballina. Enjoy the breathtaking scenery while listening to live Humpback Whale song using our specialised underwater hydrophone. Our friendly Marine Biologist will share in-depth knowledge of the area, local points of interest & encounters we experience within Byron’s Marine Park.The migration of whales is a significant feat & a spectacular event to witness as they frolic & breach. At more than 2,500-kms, this is considered one of the longest migrations in the animal kingdom.
Tour Options
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Not recommended for children under 5yrs
Reviews(415)
The experience was amazing! The captain was amazing and very fast to act when he saw a whale at a distance and ensured we got there fast enough to see it. The marine biologist was also fantastic with so much passion for her job and definitely kept the vibes high throughout the trip! The trip happens during sunset which makes seeing the whales even more magical. We saw soo many whales and they came so close to the boat. Definitely recommend !
This was a FANTASTIC tour!! We got to see a pair of adolescent humpbacks breaching and playing around with each other. Absolutely fabulous!
I had great time. The guides went above and beyond, with a marine biologist onboard. We were very lucky and saw many whales.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear you had such a great time onboard and that you encountered many whales during your cruise. Our crew and marine biologists are incredibly passionate about creating memorable experiences on the water, so they’ll really appreciate your kind words. Thanks again for joining us and we hope to welcome you back onboard again in the future!
Great experience, with very knowladgeable staff. Plenty of whale sightings with informative commentry by the guide. High safety standard practist by the onboard crew. Highly recommended for visitors and locals a like.
Thank you so much for the lovely review and recommendation! We’re so happy to hear you enjoyed the experience and appreciated the knowledge and commentary from our crew and marine biologist guides throughout the cruise. Safety is always our highest priority on the water, so it’s wonderful to hear this stood out during your tour alongside the incredible whale sightings. Thanks again for joining us and we truly appreciate your support. We hope to welcome you back onboard again sometime soon!
What an incredible, intimate glimpse into these beautiful creatures and their habits. Our guide was very knowledgeable and made the experience both interesting and educational too! The trip starts a bit outside Byron, so take a shuttle! The whole experience door to door from the town of Byron will take about 4 hours total. It was such an exciting morning out, though! The boat they use is perfect for this kind of tour - fast but also shaded and dry.
Hi Danielle, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted you had such an exciting and memorable morning and enjoyed learning about these magnificent whales. While our tours depart from Ballina (due to Byron not having a jetty or marina), we explore the stunning Cape Byron Marine Park so guests can experience the very best of the region’s wildlife and coastline. We’re so glad you enjoyed the balance of adventure, comfort, and expert commentary. We truly appreciate you sharing your experience!
Amazing experience saw loads of whales and their babies and got up close . Hugely informative marine biologist who was so interesting too . Sea is quite choppy so be prepared but loved every moment . Beware the location Viator supply is incorrect - that takes you to a random roundabout in Byron bay where you need to be 30 mins away in Ballina !
Hi Catherine, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re so pleased to hear you loved your experience and enjoyed learning from our marine biologist - it sounds like you had some incredible close encounters with the whales and some calves! We appreciate your note about the meeting location. For future guests, all tours depart from The Lance Ferris Wharf in Ballina, as Byron Bay doesn’t have a jetty or marina. Unfortunately, Viator’s new confirmations can show simply as 'Byron Bay' before clicking through for details on the meeting point, but we always include the correct Ballina address and directions in your booking confirmation and reminder email instructions. We’re delighted you had such a memorable day on the ocean and hope to welcome you aboard again next season!
Booked on to Whale Watching tour whilst in Byron Bay. We received an email with the incorrect instructions of where to meet the morning of the tour. Consequently, we then missed the excision. Upon contacting the company, the staff member we dealt with was extremely rude and defensive. They have acknowledged the details were sent incorrectly but are declining us a refund. This of which is ongoing. Please be cautious booking with this company. Do not allow yourself to be in a similar position to us.
Hi Rachel, We’re sorry to read your comments and disappointed to hear that you’ve chosen to leave this review after our multiple attempts to resolve the issue for you, outside of our usual policy. Your booking confirmation and reminder emails, along with our advertised tour, clearly stated the correct boarding location as the Lance Ferris Wharf, 12-24 Fawcett Street in Ballina. This information was also included in the confirmation email you had forwarded to us and you had also confirmed that you had indeed seen this information prior to missing your tour. Our team had also emailed you prior to your tour departure to remind you of the correct boarding location. As a goodwill gesture, despite not showing for your tour and the error being due to a misunderstanding of the meeting instructions provided, our team kindly offered you the opportunity to join the next available tour later that same day at no additional cost - something that falls outside our standard policy for missed departures. Unfortunately, you declined this offer and we therefore proceeded with another gesture of goodwill by offering a complimentary standby ticket to use at a later date, to which you had emailed us to accept. Our manager and owner communicated with you respectfully and professionally throughout this matter, and at no point acknowledged that incorrect details were sent to you. We take pride in our clear communication, integrity, and the consistently positive feedback we receive for both our customer service and experiences. We absolutely love what we do and sharing these wonderful experiences with our customers and are saddened that you were unable to join or take us up on our complimentary offer. We understand how disappointing it must have been to miss your tour, especially when travelling, but we hope this provides some clarity for others reading this. If you’d like to revisit this in good faith, our team would still be happy to assist directly.
Had a wonderful time! Hazel was really nice and knowledgeable and we got to see SO MANY whales..and dolphins! So lucky! Highly recommend, small boat (not touristy at all!) Thank you very much!
HI Lara, Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled you had such a wonderful time out on the water and were treated to so many whales (and our supporting actors - the dolphins!). Hazel and our crew will be so happy to hear your feedback. We really appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back aboard again soon! 🐋✨
Seeing the humpback whales like that was the highlight of our trip! A day to remember for sure!Great
Hi Ursula, Thank you so much for your review! We’re so happy to hear that seeing the humpback whales was the highlight of your trip! Our crew love creating those once-in-a-lifetime moments for guests, and it’s lovely to know the day left such a lasting impression. We truly appreciate you joining us and hope to welcome you back again soon
A well organised and respectful tour. The tour didn’t harass the whales or invade their space. Our guide was excellent. Knowledgeable, informative and enthusiastic. Definitely recommend.
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We’re so pleased to hear you enjoyed your experience and appreciated our respectful approach to observing the whales in their natural environment. Protecting, preserving and educating our guests on our wonderful marine life is at the heart of everything we do. We’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to our guide - they’ll be thrilled to hear you found the tour both informative and enjoyable. We truly appreciate the recommendation and hope to welcome you aboard again one day!
