You will be part of the closest and one of the most intimate encounters in the region due to the eye-level viewing offered by the safari-style vessel. This whale watch is unique, and our highly experienced skipper and crew are on hand throughout to make this experience personal as well as professional. They have a wealth of knowledge and passion for whales and the stunning Gold Coast region they look forward to sharing with you.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Whale Watching Gold Coast lasts about 2h 30min.
Prices start at $107 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.
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
The meeting point is Meet at the white trailer with CEA signage. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
The experience is available in EN.
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 12 participants.
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Travellers rate it 4.9 out of 5 across 68 verified reviews; it is run by Cooly Eco Adventures.
Highly , highly recommend booking. A perfect adventure and exceptional experience with Lachie and Ashlee. Their expertise and knowledge added to our day making it very memorable . A real highlight of our holiday. Thank you.
Thank you so much for the kind words 🙌 It means the world to hear that your experience was a special one. We love sharing our passion and we really appreciate having you aboard. We hope to see you back on the water again someday!
Unbelievable experience. Wow! Just got off the boat a few hours ago. Amazingly spectacular. The captain is exceptional and the marine biologist gave so much valuable insight about the whales! We were in for a treat! I’ve been whale watching before and would rate today 100++ out of 10. We saw multiple, multiple breaches, whale swimming, pods. It was a Bonanza for whale watching and I will definitely- if I’m back in the region again- book with this tour company. The ride to and back the open ocean was fun and the captain is an expert. You all set the Gold Standard!!!!!
G'day! Thanks a million for the stellar review! We’re absolutely stoked you had such a ripper of a time out there and sounds like the whales were putting on their best performance just for you! It’s a real privilege to share the big blue with legends like yourselves. Our crew loves a good day on the water as much as you do, so hearing we set the 'Gold Standard' is the icing on the cake. Thanks for picking us for your adventure; hopefully, we’ll see you back on the boat again soon for another bonza day out!
I was genuinely excited about this whale watching trip during my visit from the UK, as it was meant to be one of the highlights of my holiday. Unfortunately, due to a genuine misunderstanding with the address and booking details, I wasn’t able to attend. As someone visiting from overseas, it can be easy to make small mistakes when navigating unfamiliar areas, but I reached out to the company straight away to explain and ask if there was anything they could do. Sadly, the response I received was extremely disappointing. There was no flexibility, no goodwill gesture, and no refund or credit offered — even though I never went on the trip. I completely understand that companies have policies, but I had hoped that some understanding and empathy would be shown, especially given the circumstances. It’s such a shame, as I had heard great things about this experience and was really looking forward to it. Instead, I was left feeling frustrated and let down by how the situation was handled. For a business that depends so heavily on tourism and customer experience, I would have expected a much more considerate approach. Unfortunately, I won’t be recommending or booking with this company again, and I hope they take this feedback seriously for future travellers. A little understanding can make a big difference
We’re sorry to hear about your experience and we understand how frustrating it must have been to miss an experience you were looking forward to during your visit from the UK but we’d like to clarify a few details. On the morning of the tour, our team called when you hadn’t arrived at the meeting point. You answered and explained that you thought you had booked with another whale watching company and had gone to their location by mistake. Unfortunately, as you were too far away, you wouldn’t have made it in time for departure. As a small local business with limited tour capacity, we still incur full operating costs whether guests attend or not. There are several whale watching operators across the Gold Coast and Northern NSW, so it’s very important to double-check the meeting address provided on your booking confirmation. If any incorrect information was provided by TripAdvisor support, we recommend following this up directly with them. While we understand mistakes can happen, as the correct booking and location details were provided, we’re unable to offer a refund in this instance. We hope you can understand.
Excellent trip - couldn’t recommend Gemma and Corey enough! So knowledgeable and friendly- thank you both for a great morning!
Thank you so much for your amazing review! Gemma and Corey will be happy to hear your kind words. Thanks for joining the tour :)
Amazing day on the water with Cooley Eco Adventures. We got to see quite a few humpback whales, mainly mothers with a calf. Such amazing creatures to watch. In the area there were loads of False Killer Whales which are apparently quite a rarity in the area. There were so many different groups around us which kept us thoroughly entertained. The small boat meant we all got a good view of the action and Lachie our skipper was a wealth of information. He clearly loves his job! A fantastic experience .. thanks Lachie and Cass.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear you had such an amazing day on the water and got to experience the humpback whales, rare False Killer Whales, and the incredible diversity around you. It’s great to hear that the smaller boat gave everyone a close-up view and that Lachy and Cass could share their knowledge to make the experience even more memorable. We truly appreciate you joining us and hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable day on the water!
Absolutely amazing experience! The small boat is incredible! Corey and Cassie were great tour leaders and knew so much about the whales! We must’ve seen 10 different whales pretty consistently the whole time we were out!
Thanks so much for the amazing review! We are thrilled to hear your enjoyed the tour, its so incredible spedning time with the humpback whales :)
We got to see whales one of them breached. We saw 3 up close and we saw a baby whale and its mamma not to mention extra bonus of dolphins sighted too. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable. Great experience
Thank you for sharing your experience! 🐋 We’re so glad you had the chance to see a breach, a mother and calf, plus the bonus dolphins. Our crew loved having you onboard and we’re thrilled you enjoyed the trip!
Second time out with Cooly Eco and was a great experience. Saw plenty of whales, even a mother and calf. Great and informative n interactive trip. Be back when my family come over next year. Get on it , it's fast, fun and fascinating.
Thanks so much for joining us again! 🐋 We’re thrilled you had another great trip and got to see a mother and calf. Can’t wait to welcome you and your family onboard next year!
We had the most spectacular day out on the ocean with Cooly Eco Adventures, stunning weather, Whales galore, great hosts and a comfortable boat made for a spectacular day. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone wanting some up close and personal whale encounters!
Thanks for your 5 star review! We love to hear that you had an amazing time on board with us. The eye-level viewing definitely makes the adventure way more special! :)
Unforgettable Whale Watching Experience! This small, locally run tour was one of the highlights of my trip. I loved how personal and relaxed the whole vibe was- no crowds, no rush, just genuine excitement and awe. We were only minutes off the coast near the Cooly Bar when we spotted our first whale. Within moments, we were watching these incredible creatures— surfacing and gliding through the water. It was amazing to be so close and hear all their noises. Everyone was friendly, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about marine life, sharing fun facts about the whales and the local area throughout the tour. It felt safe, easy, and truly special. I loved that it’s a small, local business — you can really feel the heart behind what they do. If you're after a unique, up-close whale experience without the big crowds, this is the tour to book!
Thankyou so much for such a thoughtful review Sally - it really means the world to us! We're so pleased you could see the crews passion and enthusiasm shine through - we really love what we do! We hope to see you back onboard in the future for another magical experience.
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whale Watching Gold Coast | 2h 30min | 4.9 (68) | $107 | |
 Whale Watching Tour with Spirit of Gold Coast | 2h 50min | 4.6 (919) | $53 | View |
 Gold Coast Whale Watching Cruise | 2h 30min | 4.9 (381) | $63 | View |
 Whale Watching by Sea World Cruises | 2h 30min | 4.8 (359) | $64 | View |
 Swim with Whales in Gold Coast | 4 hours | 4.2 (5) | $250 | View |
 Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary General Entry Ticket | 2–6 hours | 4.3 (559) | $50 | View |
 Gold Coast Tandem Skydive | 2h 30min | 4.9 (481) | $375 | View |