By Experience Oz travel writer, Lauren Coulter
You and your family can experience the most magnificent display of marine mammals up close and very personal on Queensland’s Gold Coast! Whether you are a local, a domestic visitor or an international traveler, Gold Coast whale watching is a must see and do! Our waters are home to thousands of whales during June to November as they breed, socialise and rest during their northward migration. During this period, these charismatic creatures have been known to put on quite the show for their ocean guests, often slapping their tails and torsos in response to the passing vessels.
With the 2011 season just around the corner, the Gold Coast whale watching industry is busy preparing itself for the thousands of visitors flocking to the coast to see these great creatures up close. Having to choose from the selection of incredibly experienced tour operators may seem like a confusing task. Each company, however, offers a different but equally satisfying experience so no matter whom you choose, rest assured you are in great hands!
If you are looking for a touch of luxury on your adventure, then Sea World Whale Watch is for you! With three levels of viewing platforms, ‘Spirit of Migloo’ is the newest vessel to hit Gold Coast waters. The tour departs from the Sea World Cruise Terminal at 10.00am and 2.00pm, seven days a week and lasts for two and a half hours. It seats 125 passengers and is equipped with wheel chair access. Due to safety regulations, children under three are unfortunately not permitted onboard. A café is situated at the terminal so be sure to fill up on yummy snacks and beverages before and after your trip. 
General Manager of Sea World Whale Watch, David Robertson, is certain voyagers on the ‘Spirit of Migloo’ will be wowed by its modern design and exclusive features.
“Our boat is air-conditioned with premium leather seating and a one-of-a-kind $1.5million onboard whale theatre. We are also the only vessel in the area with a hydrophone!”
With five expert marine tour guides onboard you can guarantee your experience will not only be entertaining but educational too.
Sea World Whale Watch tour prices start at $77.00 for children and seniors while adult tickets are $99.00. There are also options available to upgrade your ticket to include a Sea World Day Pass. You will be offered a 100% refund if there are no whale sightings or bad. So why not “go whale watching with the experts”?
Perhaps you are looking for a more intimate experience? Then why not come aboard ‘Whale Watcher’, Coolangatta’s very own 50ft whale watching catamaran! This family owned and operated business offers the personal touch, with passengers limited to 46 per trip and four crew members to make sure customers are looked after.
Departing from the Coolangatta & Tweed Heads Golf Club, Coolangatta Whale Watch offers tours at 9.00am, seven days a week and an afternoon session at 1.30pm on weekends and school holidays. Each trip lasts three hours. This experience is perfect for families with small children as there is an upstairs and inside viewing area and the entire vessel is fully railed. The boat also features an undercover rear deck, upper deck with shade and seating and a full walk-around lower deck, so you can be sure to see our playful ocean friends at any angle! Food and beverages are also available on board.
The crew at Coolangatta Whale Watch pride themselves on their ability to go the extra mile to find the whales – they haven’t missed since 2005! Should this luck run out, however, they are certainly happy to exchange your ticket for another day.
Part-owner and operator of the company, Carol Hunt, expects a dramatic increase in whale numbers this season. “We are looking forward to seeing a beautiful selection of our lovely whale friends this year. They just have the ability of making people happy! We also expect Migaloo to make an appearance in our shores in late July.”
Family packages are available for $270.00 (two adults, two children) or individual tickets start at $65.00 for children and $90.00 for adults so get in early to secure your seat.
If whale watching on its own just doesn’t seem like enough, then why not also experience the beautiful and fascinating architecture the Gold Coast waterways have to offer? Whales in Paradise are the only whale watching operator in the region to combine the two experiences and offer a bonus scenic canal cruise (valued at $45.00) at the beginning of each tour, taking guests on an exciting journey past the homes of the ‘rich and famous’. 
As the Gold Coast’s original whale watching company, Whales in Paradise are unquestionably experts in the field! Their newest vessel, ‘Mahi Mahi’, was purposely designed and built in 2008 to give voyagers the ultimate experience. Equipped with three large viewing decks and a one of a kind water level viewing deck, this 65 person vessel is not only whale and dolphin friendly, but also guarantees guests a rail side position so to ensure you won’t miss a thing!
This tour departs from the Surfers Paradise Wharf (located behind Titanium Bar and Vibe Hotel) seven days a week and both morning (9.00am) and sunset (2.00pm) tours are available, depending on the type of experience you are after. Each tour lasts three and a half hours. A complimentary morning and afternoon tea is part of the package, and a licensed bar is onboard for those desiring something a little stronger.
Adult tickets are priced at $95.00, children’s tickets are $60.00, while family passes (two adults, two children) are available for $250.00. So go alone, take a friend, or bring along the whole family – just make sure you pack a camera… and spare batteries!
Lastly, visit our friends at Whale Watching Gold Coast by Tall Ship! Their 32 meter high-speed catamaran provides seating up to 200 passengers. Designated VIP areas also ensure smooth sailing for guests.
This tour departs at 8.30am, seven days a week from the Mariners Cove Marina, making it the shortest distance from the ocean and therefore giving guests maximum viewing time. Also a family owned and operated business, Tall Ships features a no whale sighting and poor weather policy where you will be issued with an open-dated voucher to use at your leisure.
This beautiful vessel is child-friendly, has five elevated viewing decks, and provides voyagers with a complimentary morning tea. Various other snacks and beverages are also available to purchase. The onboard eco-team also presents an informative commentary throughout the duration of the trip, educating travelers about their experience.
The crew at Tall Ships is also anticipating a ‘booming year ahead’ and welcomes you to join them on this enlightening journey. Tickets are available from $69.00 for children and $109.00 for adults.
So what are you waiting for? Choose your experience and book your tickets today for the upcoming Gold Coast whale watching season! Guaranteed you will have a whale of a time!
Wow, your blog looks very impressive. Watching whales is really one of the most unforgettable experience in life. I have also experienced touching whales in the sea. From most whale watching places i found Coolangatta whale watch as one of the adventurous and exciting whale watching Queensland place. They also offer customized tour to suits our needs.
[...] available to answer any questions and to share their whale knowledge. For example, we learned that Southern Humpback Whales grow to 18m in length and weigh approximately 36,000kgs—the size of 11 African [...]