How whale watching in Hervey Bay guarantees humpback sighting

Knowing when and where to look, plus which tours to book, with our tried-and-tested guide to whale watching in Hervey Bay.

As an East Coast local, spotting a whale cruising along Australia’s Humpback Highway isn’t all that unusual. Placed front row as they migrate annually from Antarctica to breed and birth, I’m on the Gold Coast where sudden leaps and misty blows are visible just beyond your morning cuppa.

Whale watching in Hervey Bay, however, sits in a league of its own. Crowned the world’s first Whale Heritage Site in 2019 by the World Cetacean Alliance, the coastal town in Queensland’s Fraser Coast is filled with such toasty waters that whales linger for up to 10 days to flex and flip with ease. It dials up sighting chances exponentially while offering some of the most breathtaking acrobatic displays on earth. Here, how to navigate your next adventure.

Best time of year to see whales in Hervey Bay

There’s a specific window for whale watching in Hervey Bay as predictable seasons draw humpbacks to Australia’s warm waters annually. June to November is the official window but when you start chatting to local tour operators, you’ll quickly learn that pods start heading home in November. Our tip? Cut your plans by the end of October to be safe.

Jazz up your experience a step further by visiting during the annual Hervey Bay Whale Festival which typically runs over two weekends during the early stages of whale watching season. You’ll get swept up in activities like an after-dark parade of marine animal lanterns, fireworks, local gallery talks and the standout ‘Blessing of the Fleet’ which sees a trail of boaties create a fleet to receive good will from the local minister.

The 2025 festival is done and dusted but stay across the event’s website for future scheduling.

What types of whales can you spot in Hervey Bay

It’s humpback central every year as the medium-sized whale species kick-start one of the longest migratory expeditions taken by any mammal. But while there’s just one species to snoop for, a smorgasbord of humpback sizes is known to drop in come whale watching season in Hervey Bay.

Male humpbacks tend to lead the charge with the younger guys right up front. At the back of the queue, pregnant humpbacks and little calves hang, while the middle is filled with frisky males and females looking to breed.

In Hervey Bay at the beginning of 2025, I chatted to a tour operator who told me that the mamas spend good quality time with their calves as they bask in Hervey Bay’s ideal waters. What that means is mums flaunt their breaching techniques to encourage youngsters to develop their own gymnastic skills. I didn’t catch such a spectacular show in person, but keep your eyes peeled during your visit and get more information on specific sightings from locals who are all so passionate about accommodating their magnificent aquatic neighbours.

Top whale watching tours in Hervey Bay

Unsurprisingly, there’s no shortage of excellent whale watching tours in Hervey Bay, and many offer up-close-and-personal encounters with pods of humpbacks (think just metres away, with spritzes delightfully unavoidable).

I set sail out of the bay with Blue Dolphin Marine Tours in 2025 and adored every inch of my experience aboard the team’s low-carbon-footprint catamaran. Peter Lynch runs the show, a skipper with more than 40 years of international experience in rescuing and rehabilitating marine mammals, so while you’re enjoying the pristine blue waters out yonder, he’s right on hand to alert you to animals of all shapes and sizes. During my tour, Peter pointed out dolphins and turtles before we even left the marina.

The company’s full-day Whale Watching Encounter offers the ultimate whale watching in Hervey Bay experience, complete with a buffet lunch, morning and afternoon tea, a drink, and pick-up and drop-off transfers from your Hervey Bay accommodation. Prices start from $195 per adult.

We also love these whale watching tours in Hervey Bay:

K’gari Salty Safaris

Choose from a morning or afternoon tour that runs for roughly four hours. Your K’gari Salty Safaris ride is an 11-metre inflatable vessel that slices and dices the water for an added adrenaline rush. The team allow you to swim (safely) and snorkel around popular whale locations as they journey to beautiful K’gari and the northern Great Sandy Strait and back. Prices start from $165 per adult.

Spirit of Hervey Bay

If you’re looking to share your whale watching experience with a large group, Spirit of Hervey Bay is a popular pick. Half day tours invite guests to take a load off over five levels and six viewing decks with air conditioning and multiple bathrooms ensuring everyone’s comfortable. Morning or afternoon tea is also thrown in depending on when you head out. Prices start from $145 per adult.

Whalesong Cruises

The team at Whalesong Cruises take guests out for whale watching in Hervey Bay twice daily for about five hours each spin. The afternoon option runs over sunset so factor that into your happy snapping hopes. What we love about this tour is that it’s highly accessible to guests with access needs — think wheelchair ramps and accessible toilets — which isn’t always the case. Prices start from $160 per adult.

Tasman Venture

A half-day Tasman Venture Whale Watching Encounter gives guests awesome water-level and underwater viewing platforms, so watching the big fellas dance weightlessly before they breach is often on the cards. Morning or afternoon tea is also included, as is an antipasto platter that’s rolled out on the trip back in. Prices start from $155 per adult.