Every winter the humpback whales migrate to the waters off the east coast of Australia.
No, they don’t come for the Ekka or the Medieval Festival – they come to breed and calve after spending their summers feeding in the Antarctic.
Luckily for us Queensland residents, this creates “humpback highway” up and down the coast. It’s the perfect time for whale watching on the Gold Coast.
And every winter the whale watching tours start up, taking visitors out on the water to see these incredible creatures up close.
This is also a great time of year to visit Straddie, or anywhere with a good ocean vantage point – you’ve got an excellent chance of spotting whales from shore. Their distinctive blows are a dead giveaway.
If you’d like to get a closer look, hop on a whale watching tour. From June to October is the best time to see the whales, and there are several companies offering tours from Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
This year we tried something a little different and went whale watching with Boattime Yacht Charters.
Here’s my full review of our experience.
The Whales
If you’re going whale-watching, the first thing you’ll want to know is: am I going to see any whales? The answer is a resounding YES. You’d be hard-pressed to find a tour at this time of year that doesn’t. The whales are plentiful, curious around the boats, and happy to put on a show.
During our Boattime tour this year, the whales were in fine form. We saw several breaches, fin waves, dives and tail slaps. Humpbacks really do seem to be the most playful of all whales. Last year, they swam right under the boat. But to see them jump out of the water this time was a real treat. Humpbacks are known for their acrobatic displays – and they didn’t disappoint.
We stayed with a mother whale and her calf for quite a while, watching them breach and frolic together.
The Tour
We chose Boattime Whale Watching Gold Coast because we wanted to try a smaller group and more luxurious experience on the water.
The water is calm to start, as you gently cruise through Broadwater, but it gets noticeably choppier once you head out to sea – especially crossing the seaway wall. Staff came round offering sick bags, but if you’re prone to seasickness, I’d recommend taking tablets beforehand. The return trip was much smoother.
On arrival, tea, coffee, hot chocolate and individual packets of biscuits are offered. Other refreshments can be purchased from the onboard bar.
The tour lasted around 2.5 hours. After 20 minutes of choppy seas, we spotted our first whales. and we stayed with them for quite some time as they were putting on such a fine show for us.
At one point, guests were invited in small groups to go up to the narrow deck on the bow of the yacht. You must be seated and holding on here as it’s bumpy, but you get a glorious view of the whales. Warning: it’s cold, windy and exposed up there, so bring layers even on a sunny day – a jumper or jacket is essential.
Towards the end of the tour, the onboard photographer came around offering a package of the photos taken that day for $30.
There was a small competition on the way back – to enter, you had to post a Google review right there and then. It’s a clever way to collect good reviews, though perhaps a little pushy.
The Boat
The yacht itself is beautiful – luxurious, spacious and far more upmarket than a typical whale watching vessel.
As well as the top deck there are other outside areas, and a couple of inside seating areas with large windows for whale watching in comfort (and warmth!).
The boat is really roomy, and never felt crowded, which is a huge plus. On many tours you’re packed in tightly – not the case here.
The boat is usually used for private charters and events, so it has more of a polished, high-end feel. The toilets are clean and luxurious too – rare for a boat!
The Staff
Most of the staff were friendly, especially the marine biologist who pointed out whale behaviour and provided interesting commentary (though we couldn’t hear her from all areas of the boat).
Unfortunately, not all the staff were quite as welcoming. A few of the male staff members – possibly even the captain – were quite brusque, even bordering on rude at times.
It gave the impression that they weren’t thrilled about hosting tourists, and that definitely affected the tone of the experience.
Boattime Whale Watching Gold Coast – Final Thoughts
The whales were the absolute stars of the show, and they didn’t disappoint. It was the best display of humpback behaviour I’ve ever seen, and probably my second favourite whale watching experience of all time (first place still goes to seeing Orcas in front of a glacier in Alaska).
The boat was spacious and comfortable, and the whales were spectacular – but the unfriendly staff did dampen the experience slightly.
We booked through Groupon, which made it excellent value, and there are often special offers on Boattime’s website too. It’s definitely one of the most affordable whale watching options on the Gold Coast. That said, it does feel like a luxury charter company offering whale watching as a seasonal filler, rather than a tour designed specifically for whale watching.
I wouldn’t recommend this tour for younger kids. There’s not much for them to do onboard, and they may get bored of the whales fairly quickly. The staff weren’t particularly warm with children – despite it being billed as “child-friendly”.
If you’re looking for a mid-range option or a yacht experience, Boattime Whale Watching Gold Coast is a solid choice, keeping in mind that this is not a dedicated whale watching tour.
Good to know
The Boattime whale watching tour departs from the Sea World Marina, Main Beach. There’s a large car park onsite (paid parking).
Tours run in the morning Thursday – Monday, plus additional afternoon sessions on weekends.
Tickets are $79 for adults and $69 for children. Family passes are available. Check Groupon or directly on the Boattime website for special offers.
Have a look at these alternative whale watching tours:
What Else to Do Nearby
You are very close to Sea World so this is an obvious choice for your next activity in the area.
You also have the endless attractions of the Gold Coast right on your doorstep.
Where to Stay for Whale Watching on the Gold Coast
The marina is right next to the Imperial Hotel – a beautiful hotel and very convenient for this tour and Sea World.
If you’re visiting, I highly recommend booking in for high tea at the Imperial – one of the best I’ve had in Australia.
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