Guaranteed rail-side view with our Whale Watching Trips on the Sunshine Coast!
Pre-Book your spot now!
The Sunshine Coast is rapidly gaining a reputation as one of the best places to go for whale watching on the East Coast of Australia. And for good reason. A large, natural bay is formed by the coastline itself together with Morton 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! And at just over an hour from Brisbane CBD, more and more people are considering Whale Watching from Mooloolaba! 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 referred to as snorkelling with the whales).
Of course traditionally Whale Watching, being a short season, has commonly been a busy time with packed vessels. It’s not uncommon for whale watching boats to have well over 100 people aboard! This is great for some people, but, as with everything times are changing. More and more we find that people are wanting a more intimate, personalised, even private experience. Crowded boats, trying to see the whales over the top of other people, or if you are 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!). Wouldn’t it be great if you ALWAYS have a railside view, regardless of which side the whales are showing themselves on? How about some light refreshments included in the trip as well. And a crew that is both extremely knowledgeable about the whale and takes the time to talk to you on a personal level.
Well, if this sounds like you then you have found your ideal Whale Watching trip and operator!!!
Our Vessel:
- Crusader 1 is a very large, Super safe, ex-commercial vessel, completely refit for quality charter operations with passenger comfort foremost in mind.
- Whale watching is conducted with a maximum of 23 passengers to ensure everyone always gets the perfect unobstructed 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 non whale watching obstructions to get in your way!
- Most of the seating is railside to get you close to the whales at every moment.
- The bow is accessible and available for those special moments when the whales (and dolphins) swim around the vessel.
- 2 toilets aboard means there is no waiting at all!
- A large 3m centre table with seating allows you to enjoy the included refreshments in comfort.
- And in 202 our new bar will allow you to buy drinks at very affordable prices.
- At 55 foot, every passenger can get a comfortable, uncrowded railside view, even along a single side! Never be blocked out again!
What to expect:
Sure, it’s always amazing when you get to see the whales. But if you want to be assured of more than just catching a glimpse over the top of 2 or more people in front of you then we are your solution! It’s often near impossible to get that rail-side position on many whale watching operations. And If you are on the wrong side of the boat when the whales show themselves you are often fighting over 100 other people to get to that side. If you can of course. It’s fully understandable that most boats are so heavily loaded with people. Most of these businesses make their living from that short 4 month period of time.
Sunshine Coast Afloat operates a very wide range of activities thus allowing us to keep passenger numbers to the bare minimum! Our entire focus and goal is to give our guests a truly intimate encounter with these gentle giants of the ocean. You will always able to take pictures or video without the heads of other people in the way. Even follow the whales around the boat as they swim around under under us! If that sounds like the experience you are after then this is the Sunshine Coast whale watching tour you are looking for! The luxury of no crowds. The ability to see the whales properly the way you imagined it should be!
It’s all about getting out on the water and seeing – It is called Whale Watching, not whale glimpsing! – regardless if the whales want to come really up close or decide to stay a bit further away, the astonishing marine wildlife 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!
A little about the whales:
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 display that will instantly last in
their memories forever. You know, 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. Local whale watching companies such a Whale One have long had this market almost exclusively to themselves, and have done an amazing job in promoting the Sunshine Coast, and Mooloolaba in particular as a whale watching destination hot spot.
With the growing number of visitors to the Sunshine Coast, the number of operators is now also beginning to increase. New vessels and offerings are becoming more prevalent, and this can be linked directly to the increased number of whales and whale encounters. Sunshine Coast Afloat has taken a more niche approach to this large and growing market, with very personal select tours that offer the perfect blend of privacy, safety and professional knowledge. In fact, until recently Sunshine Coast Afloat had the only “High Speed” or “Extreme” Whale watching tour on offer!
IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR SAFE, COMFORTABLE AND HIGH QUALITY WHALE WATCHING WITH A HIGHLY EXPERIENCED OPERATOR, THEN BOOK NOW. YOU WON’T BE DISAPPOINTED!
COVID Whale Watching – for detailed information on how we’ve adjusted our tour to be COVID Safe and for updated terms click here.
Please note- This tour operates from late June to Mid October only! This tour runs for 3 hours!
We include light refreshments and, if needed, use of binoculars as part of the tour.
Please note that no funds will be deducted until we have been able to also confirm the availability of the requested charter. This because 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.
The “BRIDGE SEAFOOD ” Pontoon (located at the rear of the restaurant),
209 Brisbane Road Mooloolaba Qld.
For a GPS use “Bridge Seafoods” or “209 Brisbane Road Mooloolaba Qld”. In iPhone Maps “Bridge Seafoods” 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.
FOR BOAT-BOOKINGS ONLY, ON SPECIAL REQUEST, THE FOLLOWING LOCATION CAN ALSO BE ARRANGED:
The “Coast Guard & Boat Ramp” Pontoon (located between the 2 boat ramps),
51 Parkyn Parade Mooloolaba Qld.
(Click on the RED 
icon on the above map for more information)
We depart from the “Coast Guard & Boat Ramp” Pontoon. (Pontoon is located between the 2 boat ramps).
For a GPS use 51 Parkyn Parade Mooloolaba Qld. These are the units across the road from the ramp.
Please DO NOT park your car in the Boat trailer areas here but rather find a park along Parkyn Parade where parking is free and unlimited in time. Cars parked incorrectly in the Boat ramp car park are likely to be towed.
Once parked please wait at the top of the ramp to the pontoon until instructed by the crew that it is safe to come down the ramp and board the vessel.
1
Departure
Please arrive 20 to 30 minutes PRIOR to your noted departure time. We would hate for the tour to depart on time should you be late and we have not heard from you! Depending on the departure time you may need to ensure you have enough time to find a car park.
Please do not wait on the pontoon itself as the crew will be mooring the vessel on its arrival and we safety is paramount for all.
Please do not wait on the pontoon itself as the crew will be mooring the vessel on its arrival and we safety is paramount for all.
2
Boarding
Once securely and safely moored, the crew will ask you to board the vessel. Make your way up towards the cabin, placing any bags in the locker seat that will be open and waiting.
3
Registering
We are heading out to sea so each and every person aboard must sign in on the ship register, and marked off by the crew. To this end see the skipper (at the cabin window) and he will indicate the passenger log for you to complete. Have a balance to pay for the day? This is where and when you do that part too.
4
Relax
Most tours have Coffee and tea provided aboard. Once the paperwork has been done for you, make yourself a coffee or tea (all waiting for you on the large table) and have a look about the boat to get comfortable. The Coffee and tea will be put away by the crew as we exit the river so make sure you have yours well before that!
5
Safety First
As required by maritime legislation, the crew will have to do a safety briefing before we hit the open ocean. Much like on a plane any time you fly, we do need your attention for the couple of minutes it takes. We all hope and expect the information we are providing never to be needed, but its always best to be forewarned and prepared.
6
Pushing off
One of the few times we need you to be seated, out of the way of lines and other items. Just until the crew have cleared them away and the skipper is heading forward.
7
Crossing the Bar
Recognised in maritime as one of the potentially more dangerous things that happens aboard a vessel, this is the 2nd time the crew will ask everyone to be seated. Once through (It only takes a minute or 2) the ocean conditions will take effect.
8
Searching for whales
We only really run our tours in the most active period of the whale season. Afterall we all want to be watching whales, not searching for them the entire time. Of course they are underwater for most of the time, and the Coral Sea is a large area. We ask all passengers to join in to keep an eye out for the distinctive “Blow” that is usually the first sign of whales.
9
First sighting!
The first of what will often be 2 or 3 different pods on the tour. The crew will provide information on the whale behavious and other relevant facts during the tour. We cannot get closer than 100m to the left or right of the pod, or 300m to the rear of front of them. Once we are in position the hope is that the animals natural curiosity will bring them to us!
10
Return
All good things must come to an end. We try to keep the return trip as short as possible to give us as much time with the whales as possible. On average the return trip takes about 30 minutes all up. Make yourself comfortable on the lounges ort seats, or ask the skipper if you can sit on the bow of the vessel. In the right conditions you will often see dolphins swimming along with Crusader 1 in the bow wake.
11
Back home
Of course as we re-enter the bar, and during the mooring of the vessel, the crew will ask all passengers to be seated again for safety. Once moored securely back on the pontoon the crew will assist you to disembark the vessel.
