Sea World Whale Watch is the Gold Coast’s Closest Operator to the Humpback Highway; spend less time in transit and more time with the whales! Observe the breathtaking display of whales launching into the air, slapping their mighty tails on the water, and diving deep into the ocean. During close encounters, gain a unique perspective by watching live underwater footage streamed directly to your mobile device. You may even hear the iconic whale song through our advanced underwater microphones. While you anticipate your cruise, enjoy the waterfront deck cafe, enrich your knowledge with informative exhibits, and visit the gift shop at our stunning terminal. Sea World Whale Watch are the ultimate experts in Gold Coast Whale Watching, offering a 100% Whale Sighting Guarantee that ensures a free return cruise if no whales are spotted.
Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.
Out at sunset: the 3:30 PM departure is under way when the sun sets, around 5:57 PM in the coming weeks.
In demand: 204 of the next 275 departures are already sold out.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 7.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
Excurgo comparison of 160 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Whale Watching by Sea World Cruises lasts about 2h 30min.
Prices start at $63 per person for this Gold Coast experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, with 11 departures a day between 8:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Children aged 3–13 pay from $56, adults from $63. Infants go free.
It can: 204 of the next 275 departures are already sold out, so booking ahead is a good idea.
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
The meeting point is Cruises depart from the Sea World Cruises Terminal (Main Beach). Entry to Sea World Marine Park is not required. Free car parking is available. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
The experience is available in EN.
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 150 participants.
Wheelchair accessible Transportation options are wheelchair accessible If you travel with wheelchair, please contact the supplier in advance due to the limited seats.
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
Amazing experience to do while on GC. Saw loads of whales. 1st day was cancelled due to deal conditions so moved to following day.
Thank you so much for your fantastic review! 🐋 We’re thrilled you had an amazing experience and got to see so many whales! We appreciate your understanding when the first trip was cancelled due to sea conditions, and we’re delighted the following day delivered such a memorable experience. We hope to welcome you back onboard again! 🌊💙
The ocean can get rough however still an enjoyable trip. The staff were amazing and extremely helpful & knowledgeable.
Thank you for your review! 🐋 We’re delighted to hear you still enjoyed the experience despite the ocean conditions. It’s wonderful to know our crew were amazing, helpful and knowledgeable throughout your trip. We really appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you back onboard for another whale-watching adventure! 🌊
Great experience, the facilities are amazing and the crew are very accommodating. Make sure to bring sun protection and get there early enough to not hold up the rest of the group.
Thank you for the fantastic review! 🐋 We’re thrilled you had a great experience and enjoyed the facilities and friendly crew. We really appreciate the helpful tips for future guests too! Sun protection and arriving early definitely help make the day even more enjoyable. We hope to welcome you back onboard for another adventure soon! 🌊😊
Wayne the skipper was brilliant along with the rest of the crew Be sure to accept the offer of motion sickness tablets never under estimate the sea ! Didn’t need ourselves but many got caught out and missed highlights of the trip
Thank you for joining us, Teresa! We’re so pleased to hear that Wayne and the crew helped make your day memorable. The ocean can certainly be unpredictable, so it’s great to hear you enjoyed the experience and made the most of the time onboard. We hope to welcome you back again soon.
Best day ever!! So many pods of whales and dolphins. Glorious weather and conditions on the sea! Great cometary from Seaworld staff about the whales and their habits at this time of year. Magical experience Thank you Seaworld!
What a fantastic day to be out on the water! It’s wonderful to hear that the combination of abundant wildlife, beautiful conditions and our crew’s knowledge made the experience so memorable. Thank you for joining us and for sharing your kind words!
I was so happy to see whales and so many of them l really enjoyed when we saw the mother whale teaching its calf how to tail slap
Thank you for sharing such a wonderful moment with us! Seeing a mother and calf interacting like that is truly special, and we’re so glad you got to witness it firsthand. We hope the experience stays with you for a long time to come!
The whale watching experience was absolutely fantastic. We saw plenty of whales up close and the 2&1/2 hours passed so quickly. The atmosphere on the cruise boat was great and all the passengers got into the experience. The crowd size was ideal for the craft we were on and the staff and Captain Wayne were awesome. Highly recommend the upgrade to the Captains lounge too. Can't wait to come back again soon. Gary the whale was a real thrill to encounter too.
Thanks for the awesome review, Mark! We're so glad the 2.5 hours flew by and that you had such a blast out on the water. Spotting plenty of whales up close—especially getting to see Gary—is exactly what we love to hear! Captain Wayne and the team will be stoked by your shoutout. It's also great to know that the atmosphere on board was buzzing and that you loved the Captain's Lounge upgrade. We appreciate the high recommendation and look forward to having you back out with us again soon!
Lovely day out at the sea, watching whales. The whales weren't as close as we expected but that's understandable given we are in their territory. The big waves created a lot of turbulence, and with the sea sickness pills that were sold in the cruise we likely managed to stay alright. Worth the buy. The food at th cafe was also good.
Thanks for the great feedback! Mother Nature definitely brought some big waves out to sea that day, so we're really glad our onboard sea sickness pills did the trick and kept you feeling alright. We truly appreciate your understanding when it comes to keeping a respectful distance from the whales in their home territory. It’s awesome to hear you enjoyed the cafe food too! Thanks for choosing Sea World Cruises, and we hope to see you on board again on a calmer day!
Great tour. Commentary was excellent. Saw many whales over the 2.5 hours. Boat was spacious & omfortable.
Hi, thank you for this 5-star review, we are glad to hear that you had the best time out with Sea World Whale Watch!
Great experience saw whales and dolphins. Crew were friendly and professional. The captain gave informative talks throughout the trip
Hi, thank you for this 5-star review, we are glad to hear that you had the best time out with Sea World Whale Watch!
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whale Watching by Sea World Cruises | 2h 30min | 4.8 (364) | $63 | |
 Gold Coast Whale Watching Cruise | 2h 30min | 4.9 (383) | $62 | View |
 Whale Watching Tour with Spirit of Gold Coast | 2h 50min | 4.6 (920) | $52 | View |
 Whale Watching Gold Coast | 2h 30min | 4.9 (68) | $106 | View |
 Gold Coast Buffet Lunch Sightseeing Cruise | 2 hours | 4.8 (295) | $63 | View |
 Gold Coast Buffet Dinner Sightseeing Cruise | 2h 30min | 4.6 (221) | $98 | View |
 Surfers Paradise Sightseeing Sunset River Cruise | 1h 30min | 4.7 (162) | $39 | View |