Two hours on the water off Ballina and Byron Bay during the humpback migration, on a small eco-vessel with a marine biologist and an underwater microphone to hear the whales sing. Professional photos and a waterproof poncho are included, and if you see no whales you sail again free.
Days
- 2 hours
Age
- 5 years and over
Group size
- Shared cruise
Start / finish
- Ballina / Cape Byron Marine Park / Ballina
Return
- See itinerary for details
Transport
- Purpose-built eco-vessel from Lance Ferris Wharf, Ballina
Meals
- No meals are listed as included
Route
Included experiences
- Cape Byron Marine Park — humpback whales on their migration
- Hydrophone — listen to whale song live
- Marine biologist talk — whale behaviour and the migration
- Professional photos — your trip captured, free
Pictures / Videos
Reviews
5.0
Based on 33 reviews
Verified from
Real reviews from travellers who've done this tour, gathered from around the web and paraphrased.
AI summary of 33 reviews
Travellers consistently praise the knowledgeable marine biologists and skilled skippers who provide both safety and educational value throughout the tour, with visitors noting they felt secure even in choppy conditions and learnt extensively about whale behaviour and local marine species. What stands out most often is the frequency and quality of whale sightings, with guests repeatedly witnessing humpbacks breaching, tail slapping, competing males courting females, and mothers with calves, alongside occasional sightings of dolphins and sea turtles. The crew's ability to position the boat to observe whales at close range whilst respecting their space is frequently highlighted as exceptional. The most common caveat is that the ride can be breezy and bumpy, with some travellers experiencing seasickness, though this is noted as a minor drawback relative to the overall quality of the experience and the crew's attentiveness to passenger comfort.
How we collect and publish reviews
Where they come from. Our reviews are gathered from independent review sites and from guests who share feedback with us directly after their trip. They come from people who have actually travelled on the tour. Some longer trips are made up of shorter tours we also sell, run back to back — where a review was written about one of those legs, the review says so.
Why some are edited. Many of our guests travel in their second or third language. Where a review is hard to read, we lightly edit spelling, grammar and punctuation, or paraphrase a sentence for clarity. We never change the rating, the meaning or the sentiment, and we never write a review on a guest's behalf.
Reading the originals. Reviews sourced from public review sites appear there in their original form, and can be read in full at their original source at any time.
We saw some rare behaviour, with at least five males competing intensely over one female. Recommended if you don't mind a breezy, bumpy ride.
The staff were well informed and helpful and took us to just the right spot, where the whales came close to us. A lifetime experience.
A beautiful experience. Our guide and skipper got us to the perfect spot where whales were courting, and we saw three up close blowing, slapping tails and waving fins without feeling we were intruding.
We were mugged by a pair of humpbacks, one almost bumping the boat. A good boat and crew, I liked hearing the live whale song, and the kids loved it.
We were mugged by two relaxed, happy whales. The marine biologist's commentary was fascinating, the staff were warm, and the kids couldn't wait to tell their friends.
As a local I've done many whale watching trips here and these are by far the best. Their qualified marine biologists share fascinating information, and they get close enough to see the whales well while giving them space, especially mothers with calves.
