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Hervey Bay: Half Day Whale Watching & Island Stop Tour
5.0
10 Ratings
Urangan
Embark on the ultimate adventure in Hervey Bay and the Great Sandy Straits with our action-packed half-day whale watching and island stop tour. Get up close to majestic humpback whales and enjoy beach activities for the whole family.
Embark on the ultimate adventure in Hervey Bay and the Great Sandy Straits with our action-packed half-day whale watching and island stop tour. Get up close to majestic humpback whales and enjoy beach activities for the whole family.
Duration:
4 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Platypus Bay - Platypus Bay is a delightful spot where whales love to frolic! The whale watching segment of the tour will occur in this marine paradise.
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K’gari (Fraser Island) - Sail through the world heritage waters on the western side of K’gari as the journey leads to and from the whale sanctuary. Ideal for capturing stunning photos!
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- Platypus Bay - Platypus Bay is a delightful spot where whales love to frolic! The whale watching segment of the tour will occur in this marine paradise.
- K’gari (Fraser Island) - Sail through the world heritage waters on the western side of K’gari as the journey leads to and from the whale sanctuary. Ideal for capturing stunning photos!
- Great Sandy National Park - Guests will witness one of Australia’s most varied coastlines, with Fraser Island providing a stunning backdrop.
What's Included
- Bottled water included
- Access to Stand Up Paddle Boards
- Beach Games provided
- Snorkeling equipment available
- Opportunity to swim with whales (conditions apply)
- Lunch provided
- Bottled water included
- Access to Stand Up Paddle Boards
- Beach Games provided
- Snorkeling equipment available
- Opportunity to swim with whales (conditions apply)
- Lunch provided
What's Not Included
- Alcoholic beverages
- Alcoholic beverages
Additional Information
Embark on the ultimate adventure in Hervey Bay & The Great Sandy Straits with our thrilling half-day tour aboard ‘Wipe Out’! From the moment you board, prepare for a journey of a lifetime filled with excitement at every turn. Cruise through the pristine waters along Western K’gari (Fraser Island) and enter Platypus Bay, a sanctuary for Humpback Whales….
Embark on the ultimate adventure in Hervey Bay & The Great Sandy Straits with our thrilling half-day tour aboard ‘Wipe Out’! From the moment you board, prepare for a journey of a lifetime filled with excitement at every turn. Cruise through the pristine waters along Western K’gari (Fraser Island) and enter Platypus Bay, a sanctuary for Humpback Whales. Get up close to these magnificent creatures on the closest waterline vessel, and even swim with the whales (conditions apply). Continue along the coastline and conclude your tour by anchoring at a secluded beach spot for cold drinks, beach cricket, stand-up paddleboarding, or simply relax, as our bays are safe and enjoyable for the entire family.
This is truly a whale watching experience and tour like no other!
Location
Great Sandy Straits Marina Urangan Hervey Bay
Buccaneer Drive
Look for our K’gari Salty Safari flag at the Great Sandy Straits Marina in Urangan, Hervey Bay
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(10 Ratings)
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Gercov2022
Sep 28, 2025
Amazing - Really good experience, very very close up encounters with the whales and super friendly and helpfull crew. Everything from check in to leaving the boat were very smooth and easy. Would highly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Olive80
Sep 4, 2025
Swimming with the whales - one of the best days of my life! - I went on a half day whale watching trip with Salty Safaris in late August 2025. We were super lucky and were able to swim with the whales - we had two adult humpbacks that came within a metre of us and circled the boat for over an hour. There were ten of us in the water at a time, wearing weatsuits, and you have to hang on to the rope and flotation devices at the back of the boat. Swimming so close to the whales was absolutely incredible and without a doubt one of the best things I have ever, ever done. Bruce and Annika were very fun and knowledgable and Bruce was very skilled at finding "playful" whales that would come and swim with us. I cannot recommend these guys highly enough - I went back on the boat for the afternoon boat trip, and have booked in to go with them again in two weeks. I've done about 15 whale watching trips over the years and this one is undoubtedly the best. A small boat so only 18 passengers and close to the water and all the action. Note that if you want to swim with the whales this is not guaranteed and only runs til about 14 September as after this date there are too many calves, and you are not permitted in the water when there are calves nearby. The swimming is also of course dependant on weather and wind and the whales cooperating. But even if we hadn't been able to swim, this was still a fabulous experience. Highly recommended!!!!!!!!!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Vivienne
Aug 30, 2025
Absolute must do - Wow oh wow what a morning we had. Multiple whale pods playing and we were absolutely honoured to swim beside these majestic creatures. The crew were so enthusiastic and really looked after us. Highly recommended
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Hongyu_z
Aug 20, 2025
Small group experience - Small group. Personalised experience. Great crew members. I not only watched the whales but also snorkeled with them. One 9 metre long whole hang around the boat for 40 minutes, putting up a spectacular display. The best experience so far.
Review provided by Viator
Natalie_m
Aug 19, 2025
BOOK IT! You won’t regret it. - Amazing!! So intimate being on a smaller boat, incredible viewing and such a vibey crew!! Thanks guys.
Review provided by Viator
O7342wdjordann
Aug 19, 2025
Closest Whale encounters you'll get! Phenomenal experience with a great team! - Salty Safaris was a phenomenal experience! Don't let the small boat put you off. It's as close as you can possibly get to the whales. If you're looking for a truely intimate and close to the action experience then this is the tour for you. The team were really friendly and did everything they could to make it a trip to remember. It was lovely to see how excited and passionate they were about the Whales too. They checked in on each group individually and took time to talk to us all, get photos and generally just make it a fun trip especially with the reggae music! We couldn't recommend it enough and already want to come again!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
K8649kukerryh
Aug 16, 2025
Best whale experience - An amazing day with the whales and the best whale experience I have enjoyed. The whales came so close to the boat and it didn’t matter if you were in the water on hanging over the side, it was pure joy. Getting into the water was fairly easy and there were wetsuits on the boat for swimmers. The island stop was a pleasant break and the finale as we arrived back at the harbour was priceless. A great day out and highly recommended.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Markus
Jul 26, 2025
Breathtaking tour away from the crowds - Wow, what a great tour! We booked the half-day excursion WHALES & BEACHES in the morning as a family with two children (7 and 11). It was a unique experience that we will always remember. We saw a group of 7 large humpback whales and they swam around our boat for over 90 minutes. It was a deeply impressive encounter. The whales hit with the flukes, turned and jumped. Absolutely breathtaking! In the first hour we were alone with the whales, no other boat nearby. Thanks to Bruce and Anika we had a great tour and we really enjoyed being on a small boat with a group of less than 20 people.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bluegt2015
Aug 20, 2024
Unforgettable Experience - Absolutely amazing experience. Seeing the whales up close from the boat was great, but to be able to swim with these giants was simply bucket list stuff. These amazing creatures were barely centimetres away from us while they inquisitively swam around. Highly recommend K'gari Salty Safaris. Thanks Mark and Liberty for an unforgettable day.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
T7701okpaulam
Oct 1, 2023
Whale and island tour - My partner and I went on the half day tour! We weren’t expecting to see many whales however we saw so many and I couldn’t help my excited self! There was a pod of 9 whales at one point. We also saw some dolphins and a turtle. The food pack was yum and the crew was amazing at educating us on facts about the islands and the sea life. I would highly recommend doing a tour with the Salty crew!
Review provided by Tripadvisor