Gold Coast Whale Watching Cruise

Main Beach and the departure jetty on The Spit

The cruise leaves from a jetty on Seaworld Drive at Main Beach, on the narrow sand spit that separates the Gold Coast Broadwater from the surf beaches of the Pacific. The Spit is the quietest end of Surfers Paradise's shoreline, with parkland, the marine park, a marina and a surf beach all within a few hundred metres, and it is about a 10-minute drive or a short bus ride north of Cavill Avenue. Anyone searching for whale watching near Surfers Paradise will find this is the closest departure point to the city's hotels.

Check-in opens 30 minutes before each departure at 09:00, 12:00 and 15:00. Boarding is by ramp onto a wide, stable deck, which is why the vessel is suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs, and the crew gives the safety briefing while you find a seat inside or on the open upper deck.

The Broadwater and the Gold Coast Seaway

The first 20 minutes are spent in the sheltered water of the Broadwater, the estuary between The Spit and the mainland suburbs of Southport and Labrador. The vessel passes the marinas and the rock training walls that lead to the Gold Coast Seaway, the engineered channel opened in the 1980s to give boats a permanent, safe passage between the Broadwater and the ocean. The Seaway walls are a favourite fishing spot and a reliable place to see bottlenose dolphins, which often ride the bow wave as the boat heads out.

Beyond the walls lies the sand island of South Stradbroke to the north and the open Pacific ahead. The marine experts use this stretch to explain how the whales navigate the coast and what to look for on the horizon: a blow, a dark back or the splash of a breach.

The open ocean and the humpback whale migration

The humpback whales that pass the Gold Coast belong to the east Australian population, which spends the southern summer feeding in Antarctic waters and then migrates north each winter to breed in the warm seas off the Great Barrier Reef. The route hugs the coast, and off the Gold Coast the whales often travel within a few kilometres of the beaches, which is why whale watching on the Gold Coast is so reliable from June to November. Northbound animals pass from June to August; from September to November mothers return south with calves and rest in the shallows.

Once a whale is sighted the captain slows and lets the boat drift at a respectful distance. Breaches, tail slaps, pectoral waves and spy-hops are common, and the underwater cameras and hydrophones add the sound of whale song to the view from the deck. The best time to visit for calves is early spring.

On board: cameras, hydrophones and the photographer

The vessel was built for whale watching rather than adapted from a ferry, with viewing areas on both decks, wide walkways, stabilisers for comfort and an indoor lounge with screens. Live underwater video, subject to conditions, shows the whales beneath the surface, and underwater microphones pick up the calls of the males, which can carry for many kilometres. Exhibits and audio-visual presentations between sightings explain whale biology, the migration and the dolphins and turtles of the Gold Coast.

A professional photographer travels on every cruise, so you can watch rather than worry about your own camera; the best shots are shown after the trip and can be bought separately. Marine experts answer questions throughout, which makes this a strong choice for families with curious children.

The marine park beside the jetty

The departure jetty sits next to the long-established marine park on The Spit, a theme park built around marine animals with dolphin and seal presentations, polar bear and penguin habitats, rides and a monorail. Because it is right beside the jetty, many guests combine the two: our second option on this page pairs the whale watching cruise with a full day of entry to the park, so you can take the 09:00 or 12:00 cruise and spend the rest of the day inside.

If you book the cruise only, the park's car park and the bus stop on Seaworld Drive are still the easiest way to arrive, and the beach on the ocean side of The Spit is a few minutes' walk for a swim after the cruise.