Please note that other impacts such as phone and agent bookings, weather and other unforeseen things could impact on the availability at the same time as you are requesting the charter online. Our Terms and conditions are available on this webpage ( Click here to view them now ) and will also be emailed to you as part of the booking confirmation.

Sunshine Coast Afloat (Now Cavalier Cruises) is located within Tank Bathhouse, and operates from the Pontoon located at the rear of the premises at 209 Brisbane Road Mooloolaba Qld.

For a GPS use “Sunshine Coast Afloat” or “209 Brisbane Road Mooloolaba Qld”.    In iPhone Maps “Sunshine Coast Afloat” is far more accurate.

Please DO NOT park your car here on the service Road, but rather in the FREE public car-park next to the BP service station across the road. 

The location is the corner of Incana Court and Brisbane Road. This parking is free and unlimited in time, and only a 2 minute stroll (100m) from the departure point.

Once parked please wait near the top of the ramp until instructed by the skipper that it is safe to come down the ramp and board the vessel.

Whale Watching without the crowds Tours

Key Details:

DEPARTURE/RETURN LOCATION	The Pontoon at Bridge Seafoods, 209 Brisbane Road (Service Road), Mooloolaba( Sunshine Coast), Queensland. Australia
DEPARTURE AND RETURN TIMES	July And Early August (Early Season) MAY be extended to a 4 hour trip due to the greater distance that may be required to be travelled to have the best chance of seeing whales early in the season. The departure times are 8:30AM, with a return at 11:30AM possibly 12:30PM. And afternoon departure time of 1PM, returning at 4PM possibly 5PM Mid August through till Late October (Peak Season) will be a 3 hour trip. The departure times then are Morning 9AM with a return at 12PM  And and afternoon Departure time of 1PM returning at 4PM
DEPARTURE NOTE	Please arrive 30 minutes prior for a prompt departure.Please ensure you have checked in via the Covid Safe link sent with your confirmation or with the QR code at the departure location. We cannot depart until EVERYONE has properly checked in.
WHAT TO WEAR & BRING	Comfortable clothing, enclosed shoes (NO BLACK SOLES & NO STILETTO HEELS PLEASE!), hat and sunglasses. Bring a rain jacket just in case. Drinks can be purchased aboard. NO BYO DRINKS! We reserve the right to check bags and other items to ensure drinks are not brought aboard. You are welcome to bring your own food with you or have it catered as we do not supply food this year! (Some light snacks will be supplied) Please note that Crusader 1 is a NON-SMOKING vessel.
INCLUDED	Professional and experienced crew. Self serve Iced water on arrival. Self Serve Iced Water aboard. Bar available for purchases. Light snacks Absolute Railside viewing positions at all times!
NOT INCLUDED	FOOD                            BYO DRINKS
	DRINKS                        PRIVATE BOOKING

SMALL PASSENGERS NUMBERS. WHY WE CAN DO IT AND WHY WE FEEL IT”S IMPORTANT TO DO IT THIS WAY.

Over the past decade, the Sunshine Coast has established a reputation as THE location to go for fantastic whale watching on the East Coast of Australia. No doubt aided by it stunning coastline, it’s continued focus on natural clean environments and it’s location just over an hour North from the Brisbane CBD. Local operators have noticed more and more people are going Whale Watching from Mooloolaba! A large, natural bay is formed by the coastline itself together with Moreton Island and Fraser Island. It creates an ideal place for mother to care for and teach their calves in water that is generally much deeper that the shallower waters further North. Add in the fact that Mooloolaba has long been recognised as one of, if not the safest Bar crossings, and you have a perfect combination for awesome, fun and safe time out on the water watching the humpback whales play! All these factors together with great tours on offer see the Sunshine Coast now offering some of the best Whale Watching opportunities in Australia! So perfect a setting and location is the Sunshine Coast for whale watching overall, Mooloolaba is now one of the few places in Australia, even the world, which offers swimming with the whales ( also often referred to as snorkelling with the whales).

This growing popularity has over time seen the number of operators trying to enter the Sunshine Coast Market increase quite dramatically at times. Unfortunately many have not been able to provide the experience customers expect as their focus was often more on packing people in on their boats over the relatively short season. It’s certainly not uncommon for whale watching boats to have well over 100 people aboard with operators trying to make the most of the short season. On these crowded boats we would see most people trying to look over the shoulders of other people. Or if they were lucky enough to finally get to the rail, have the whales on the opposite side of the boat instead! (Murphy and his law in action!).

Of course the world changed quite dramatically in 2020 with the Covid-19 pandemic, and many of us are now far less comfortable in crowded situations. This has really impacted a lot of operators. And the traditional packed-to-the-rafters approach is now often being viewed as something to avoid.

Interestingly this fact has actually just proven what we at Sunshine Coast had already been trying to do for about 8 years. This almost traditional crowded approach was clearly great for many people, but, as with everything times are always changing. It had became apparent to us at Sunshine Coast Afloat that people were wanting a more intimate, personalised, private-feeling experience. Our customers were making it very clear to us that the biggest thing they were after was to be able to ENJOY SEEING the whales. What good is glimpsing the whales from between others. Every time they would head out with us, the fact that they were always able to have an unobstructed railside view was they said the absolute best part of the trip. And of course if the whales swam around or under the boat they were able to walk to the other side and again have a railside position! That’s right, ALL passengers can stand on just one side and still have room on our boat! 

We are often asked by customers how we can head out with so few people when other companies are clearly needing to have a lost more people on their vessels to make it viable. Whale watching for us is certainly a key part of our company income. But it’s not the only thing we do. We run many other types of cruises and activities during other times of the year, which means we are able to work with much less people than we would be able to if we had to rely on the short whale watching season alone.

Sure, we do charge a little more than some other operators. And no, we cannot run half price specials (Luckily we have never had to do that either) as small passengers just does not give us that sort of flexibility. But we are always extremely conscious of making sure we offer fantastic value for money! Add in the fact that we include some light refreshments as well. And of course a crew that is both extremely knowledgeable about the whales and takes the time to talk to you on a personal level. It all makes for a trip that our customers clearly feel is the best trip they have had! That’s our reward as it makes us both incredibly happy and proud to get that feedback from our customer in reviews and in person!

OUR VESSEL:

• Crusader 1 is a very large, ex-commercial (so super safe for ocean activities) vessel, completely refit across 2020 and early 2021 for high quality charter operations, all with passenger comfort foremost in mind.  At 55 foot in length, every passenger is assured of a comfortable, uncrowded railside view, even along a single side! Never be blocked out again from seeing what you paid to see!
• Whale watching tours are conducted with a maximum of 23 passengers, to ensure beyond doubt that everyone always gets the perfect unobstructed railside view!
• The vessel is completely setup up for whale watching operations with double the amount of seating needed for the passengers.
  • Set up for whale watching means zero obstructions to get in your way! No side walls or windows or posts.
  • Most of the seating is railside to get you as close as possible to the whales at all times.
  • The bow is accessible and available for those special moments when the whales (and dolphins) swim around the vessel there.
  • 2 toilets aboard (both in the centre of the main deck) means there is no waiting at all!
  • A large 3m centre table with seating allows you to enjoy any food you might bring with you in comfort.
  • And our new bar allows you to buy drinks at very affordable prices.

WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT WHEN YOU HEAD OUT WITH US?:

It’s all about getting out on the water and SEEING – It is called Whale Watching, not whale glimpsing! – the whales. Regardless if the whales want to come really up close or decide to stay a bit further away. When you see them you will agree that being able to see this astonishing marine wildlife, completely in it’s natural environment, is something that makes this planet truly wondrous!

Some of our most amazing moments, when time seemed like it stood still, were when something amazing was happening a couple of hundred meters from the boat. A mother calling her calf with massive tail slaps on the water. The calf totally oblivious, playing and learning to breach ahead of our vessel in Mooloolaba Bay. Truly a moment that was so spectacular, so emotional or so unexpected, that everyone aboard felt extremely privileged to be in the area! Every year whale watching creates new magic moments. Moments we would love to share with you!

Our crew will take the time to talk to you about what to expect on the day and answer any questions you may have. We often have whale researchers aboard as well who are more than happy to share their knowledge with our customers. They will also be operating the drinks bar so that you can enjoy the tour with your favorite drink in hand (and we are proud of the fact that our prices are almost always below that of land based venues!).

Humpback whales are not only beautiful but also playful and curious creatures. You will be in awe of the spectacular breaching, close encounters, magical songs and tail slapping. Seeing whales in the wild is always an amazing, awe-inspiring experience. We are all hoping for one of those “Super amazing” trips where the whales “Mug” the boat and often make it difficult for the boat to even leave the area. Our customers are, understandably, always waiting in anticipation for that something extra special. That moment or whale display that will instantly be forever in their memories.

Many people do a whale watching tour as a so-called ‘bucket-list’ experience. And, more often than you would think, that’s exactly what happens. But, those amazing moments are so special for a reason. They don’t happen ALL the time. But whale watching is not just about the close-up special or magic moments.

Each year more and more whales take part in the annual Whale migration up the East Coast of Australia. (to be fair they do travel up the West Coast also!). The numbers are now reaching levels where amazing whale encounters are becoming far more common place when compared with only a few years ago. 

Everyone at Sunshine Coast Afloat prides themself on being extremely dedicated and  responsible to our guests (and the whales!). Not only will we always provide you with an extremely safe, clean and well appointed vessel, we will, on all whale watching trips, limit vessel capacity to ta maximum of 23 people to ensure that you have a safe, comfortable and memorable experience as well as a guaranteed rail-side position at all times.

Our highly qualified and trained crew are on board to assist in making sure every aspect of your cruise is executed with your enjoyment and safety the absolute focus at all times. From the moment you step aboard they will ensure you have nothing more to do than to sit back and enjoy yourself.

No doubt this is why we have, for the last 9 years won the top Tripadvisor awards each year!

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR SAFE, COMFORTABLE AND HIGH QUALITY WHALE WATCHING WITH A HIGHLY EXPERIENCED OPERATOR, BOOK NOW. YOU WON’T BE DISAPPOINTED!

Please note- This tour operates from late June to Mid October only! This tour runs for 3 hours during the main part of the season, 4 hours in the early season!

We include light refreshments and, if needed, use of binoculars as part of the tour.

COVID Whale Watching – for detailed information on how we’ve adjusted our tour to be COVID Safe and for updated terms click here.

PLEASE ALSO CHECK OUT THE FAQ’S PAGE TO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT OTHER CONDITIONS MAY APPLY TO THIS OR ANY OF OUR TOURS.

Wondering what the weather might be like? A great place to get an idea up to 7 days out is Seabreeze! or BOM or Willy Weather. Of course please remember that these sites are generalised and focused on the Beach conditions, and as such may not accurately reflect what is happening further out to sea or in the river and canals.