Small Boat Whale Watching in Gold Coast: A Personalised Adventure Tour
4.8
40 Ratings
Southport
Embark on a personalised adventure with our Small Boat Whale Watching tour in Gold Coast. Get up close and personal with humpback whales on a smaller vessel for longer encounters and incredible underwater shots.
Duration: 3 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • 3F8F+RF South Stradbroke - We utilise a small vessel in small groups of upto 12 guests, providing an unparalleled, personal, and boutique whale watching experience. We closely work with researchers and encourage all our guests to become inspired by what we do.

Why a small vessel?

You can literally touch the ocean and feel the spray of whales blows in your face! That is how close you are to the water surface on our boat. When we say to get at eye level with our humpback whales, we really mean it. You can look forward to closer and longer encounters as humpback whales do not feel intimated by a smaller vessel! Due to its small size and quiet engine, whales love to check out our boat up close.

For your convenience, we provide courtesy spray jackets and inflatable life vests to keep you safe and dry.

We look forward to welcoming you on our small boat.

What's Included
  • Spray Jacket
  • Life Jacket
Additional Information

Our Small Boat Whale Watching tour is an absolutely personalised experience. This 2-3h Gold Coast Whale Watching adventure tour is on a smaller vessel with a maximum of 8 participants. Spectators can look forward to closer and longer encounters as humpback whales do not feel intimated by a smaller vessel. The outer tubes of our semi-inflatable vessel are only 50cm above the water surface. This even allows you to submerge your waterproof camera on passing whales for some great underwater shots for those lucky enough.

Whilst no vessel is allowed to approach whales closer than 100m, our experience shows that the whales are usually approaching us whilst our engines are turned off and the vessel drifts through the water. For this very reason, our vessel is frequently chartered by research groups to conduct field surveys and sampling.

  • Children MUST be minimum of 5years and require a booking/reservation
  • Children MUST be a minimum of 5years to join this experience and will require their own seat
Location
95 Marine Parade
Marine Parade
Please arrive at least 30mins prior to departure. Note - Our small boat does not have bathroom/toilet facilities so it will be important to ensure you are prepared before we leave.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(40 Ratings)
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X4774ejolegv
Feb 1, 2024
Snorkeling Unreal - Unreal underwater colours, fish, dolphins etc. Knowledgeable captain, willing to help. Planning to come back again.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
T8547qhanthonyl
Oct 1, 2023
Amazing Experience - Great trip. Saw lots of whales with many breaching. So much better in the smaller boat, the boat trip was as much fun for the kids. Very professional team. Highly recommended.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Erin_w
Sep 16, 2023
Great experience - Such a fun time! Incredible sightings. This is a must-do in the Gold Coast. I upgraded to swimming with the whales, which I highly recommend
Review provided by Viator
Catherineag1522wz
Sep 7, 2023
Incredible whale watching experience - Leon got us in the best position possible to see the whales up close and active on the surface. The team love what they do and make the experience exceptional.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Liv002
Aug 31, 2023
Would highly recommend over bigger tours!! - Great experience! Saw whales and dolphins. Knowledgeable staff and very speedy, comfortable boat which makes the travel easy. Would highly recommend this over the larger tours with other organisations
Review provided by Tripadvisor
In15ezoq
Aug 29, 2023
Unbelievable amazing trip - Unbelievable trip in aqua 100% recommendation!! Nice friends and cool man in aqua Next time chose aqua and find more whales
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Charles_t
Aug 20, 2023
Winter Whale Fun - Amazing time traveling out in the Pacific to look for whales. Not only was the weather beautiful during their “Winter” but we saw about 8 different whale pods. The crew did a great job keeping us engaged and spotting the whales for us
Review provided by Viator
Michelleds4671iu
Sep 2, 2023
Amazing experience!!! - Such an amazing experience!!!! The skipper and guide were super enthusiastic and professional. We were lucky enough to see whales, dolphins and even a flying fish. Highly recommend this experience to all.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mobile61524239068
Aug 27, 2023
Up close and personal with Whales - Great experience to be so close to the whales.exhilarating to see the majesty of the whales.The crew were very attentive and ensured our safety on this trip
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Yana_t
Aug 22, 2023
THE MOST HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFE - I do NOT recommend this company to anyone. Please, avoid it and book elsewhere if you want to save your nerves and money. My husband, our daughter, and I were supposed to go on a small boat watching whales on the 19/08/2023 at 8:30 a.m. We are very disappointed. On the 19/08 in the morning we were told that we should have paid for the third ticket for our 3-year-old daughter since the tour provider AquaAdventures doesn’t have the option of a free ticket for a 3-year-old child. Also, we should have booked three tickets instead of two since the boat is not allowed to take more than 12 people on each trip, and this itinerary small boat on 19/08/2023 at 8:30 a.m. was fully booked. In the morning on the 19/08 discussion between Mister Lean, Miss Fiona, and me I provided information taken from Viator that I was ensure that I don’t need to pay for our 3-year-old daughter and she still is able to go on a small boat watching whales. I twice asked for a refund, but this requirement was refused. Here is the part from a chat with confirmation that our 3-year-old daughter will be free. ( 6m 42s ) Florence: I see here that we just need to book for 2 adults since your daughter will be free. I'm just going to put a special requirements that you are with your 3 years old daughter. We paid for the booking via the link that agent Florence sent during this chat. Another chat was with agent Brian Joshua. He confirmed that the 3-year-old kid can go to the whale watching on the small boat. The part of the conversation [10:51:19 PM] Brian Joshua - Customer Service Agent: Yes. Your daughter can go. Also, in another chat with tour provider Ague Adventures the lady Kira Jarman sent the booking confirmation when in special requests there's information about a 3-year-old kid, and the booking was made for two adults. At the meet point on Saturday 19/08 miss Fiona said that they were not able to take 3-year-old kid on the boat but they could make an extension. BUT! If we wanted to go with a kid, we could not do it on Saturday since the boat was fully booked (are we supposed to leave our daughter on the land?). Miss Fiona said to me that she could reschedule our booking to another day with ONLY paying for third ticker for our daughter and she would send a confirmation booking in the Saturday morning. By the end of the Saturday, I didn't receive ANYTHING from them. I requested for a full refund. It was refused again reffering to we came with a reservation for 2 people but with 3-year-old kid which it was confirmed by THEM in a booking and chats. In totaly we paid 238 dollars, we didn't see the whales, we didn't get refund and we even didn't hear any SORRY for this. THE MOST HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFE.
Review provided by Viator
Select Date and Tickets
up to 8 guests
1 Adult
May 2024
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