What to do and see in Hervey Bay, Queensland: The Best Boat Tours & Water Sports

Tasman Venture offers Hervey Bay's premier whale watching and Fraser Island experience, departing from Hervey Bay on Queensland's Fraser Coast. On Hervey Bay's ultimate whale watching experience, let the humpbacks amaze you with their close encounters and spectacular breaching. Travelling with Tasman Venture guarantees you a fast, comfortable journey, giving you more time with the whales. Be one of the few to see the untouched and unique side of the stunning World Heritage listed Fraser Island, on Tasman Venture's Remote Fraser Island tour. This is no ordinary Fraser Island tour - get away from the chaos and the crowds, forget the rigid timetables and rushing from place to place. With Tasman Venture you can experience the hidden and most remote parts of Fraser Island in a comfortable and relaxing way. Explore the island while bush walking, snorkelling, fishing, stand up paddle boarding, kayaking and swimming. The luxurious 20m catamaran offers clear viewing decks, underwater viewing windows and a unique water level viewing platform for the ultimate up close and personal experience. Our friendly, experienced and accredited staff will ensure you have an amazing experience you will never forget.

Whales, Dolphins and Champagne! Be one of the few, not the many to experience our Exclusive Full Day Whale Watching Tours. For an up close and personal experience that you will never forget, see the magnificent humpback whale from the uncrowded deck of Blue Dolphin. As one of the smallest vessels and a luxury sailing catamaran, you will experience the trip of a lifetime. See the whales eye to eye and listen as your skipper shares his 30+ years experience working with marine mammals.

Freedom III is a comfortable 58ft power catamaran which operates ¾ day whale watch cruises from the Great Sandy Straits Marina in Urangan Harbour. Departing at 9:30 and returning after 4:00pm allows you plenty of time with the awe-inspiring humpback whales in Platypus Bay. The cruise along pristine Fraser Island’s western beaches can offer sightings of dingoes, schooling fish and numerous sea birds. Expert commentary by our knowledgeable skipper will keep you entertained as well as DVD’s on the plasma TV. Colouring activities and soft toys will keep the children amused and if they are tired we have 3 double beds. Home-baked morning tea, tropical buffet lunch as well as fruit and cheese platters for the return trip are all included as well as tea, coffee, water and soft drinks all day. With maximum passenger numbers of 45 and three levels of viewing your whale watch experience will be memorable, informative and uncrowded. Outside of whale season Freedom III is available for Mother shipping charters. These trips are usually for 3 days and 2 nights and fish the abundant waters of Fraser Island. Get a group together for some great fishing action with experienced guides in smaller boats. The month of November is great for sportsfishing in Hervey Bay with the migrating juvenile black marlin visiting these waters. We work in Conjunction with Hervey Bay Fly and Sportfishing to provide Mothershipping for his groups of guests. Freedom III can also be hired for private day charters or overnight trips on the Great Sandy Strait. Your choice of activities: crabbing, boom-netting, swimming, sight-seeing and cruising the sheltered waterways between Fraser Island and the Mainland.

The Spirit of Hervey Bay is a luxurious, fast power catamaran that gets you to the whales playground in minimal time for maximum time spent interacting with the whales. The speed allows the team to cruise from pod to pod (group of whales) and view the most active whales in the Bay. The Spirit also has heaps of room to keep you warm inside whilst we travel to and from the whales, but still allows for spectacular views of our lovely bay through the large windows.With five levels of viewing decks, including our fantastic underwater viewing rooms which place you below the waterline to view the whales in their underwater playground and the amazing waterline viewing platform for those extra close encounters. The Spirit offers the most viewing area of any boat with no crowding and everyone has a front row seat.Our best value cruise also includes a morning or afternoon tea of cakes, cinnamon buns, biscuits, tea, coffee, hot chocolate and juice and on our 3/4 day cruise you also receive a cold buffet lunch with cold meats and fresh salads. Other freebies include a souvenir whale DVD, free wifi and courtesy pickups from touristaccommodation. You can’t get better than that.The Spirit is a locally-owned company operating in Hervey Bay waters for the past 26 years. Our expert commentary of the whales and Fraser Island offers a unique insight into the whales antics and migration pattern with a bit of Aussie larrikin thrown in. The crew are all locals who have lived in the area for more than 15 years which gives them vast knowledge of not only the whales, but also Hervey Bay and surrounding areas.So do not miss out on seeing these gentle giants in the “best place in the world” to view humpback whales aboard the “best value cruise in the bay. See you aboard the Spirit.

Hervey Bay’s premium mid-sized whale watching and charter boat, with a strong focus on ecological practices, sustainability, education and enjoyment! Whalesong Cruises offers cruises all year round on a modern, luxury and environmentally friendly boat. Experience a taste of Fraser Island on our Fraser Island Beach + BBQ Cruise or enjoy fresh local seafood & variety of non seafood items as the sun sets on our Hervey Bay Sunset Cruise. Then from late-June join us for a Whale Search Cruise or guaranteed Whale Watch experience from mid-July in the waters between K'gari (Fraser Island) and the mainland - the best place in the world to view Humpback Whales. Whalesong has a water level viewing area, enclosed luxurious cabin, open air viewing on two levels with extra wide decks and wheelchair friendly access. The entire Whalesong team is dedicated to providing an exceptional customer experience. Viewing and seating available so everyone is right where the action is. Small passenger numbers.

Hervey Bay's Ultimate Whalewatch. Cruise with the experts at Pacific Whale Foundation on the only whalewatch based on over 30 years of whale research in Hervey Bay. 3 departures daily at 7:00am, 11:00am and 2:30pm. Your Ultimate Whalewatch Includes: Expert commentary from Certified Marine Naturalists, underwater hydrophones to listen to live whale songs, small-group experience with excellent photo opps, sightings guaranteed or get a free return ticket, drinks, snacks and souvenirs available onboard, and a FREE Pacific Whale Foundation full colour Whalewatch Guide.

Horse Riding like no other Enjoy country life on the coast. Is there anywhere else that you can experience the horse rides like Susan River Homestead offers? Walk, trot or canter through the property for 2 1/2 hours, enjoy refreshments at the picnic area on the banks of the lazy Susan River. If you are an experienced rider or purely a beginner, the resort has a dependable horse for you. Treat yourself and family to an adventure you will always remember. Family home of World Renowned Horseman & Entertainer Guy McLean, where he started to hone his skills.

Adrenaline pumping Jetski Tours of the Great Sandy Straits and the Fraser Island Coastline. Enjoy the action of jetskiing while taking in some of the most breathtaking scenery you have ever seen. See the amazing marine life such as turtles, dolphins, dugongs, fish, rays, whales and much more!

Hervey Bay Fly and Sportfishing Charters operates in one of the most unique fisheries on the East coast, which is one of very few places in Australia that has an overlap of southern and northern species. Snapper, Barramundi, flathead, threadfin salmon,longtail tuna, GT’s, queenfish, juvenile black marlin, golden trevally and more can all be caught when fishing in this unique location.

Adventure Cruises' purpose built vessel is a large, fast, comfortable and 20 metre InCat designed alloy catamaran. Extremely stable and spacious with three different viewing decks means you are assured of an unobstructed, 360 degree view of all marine life allowing you to enjoy your day whale watching or adventure cruising. The friendly, highly trained professional crew will provide personalised and safe service so you can sit back, relax and take in the breathtaking scenery of Fraser Island as you cruise into Platypus Bay in search of adventure, while their tour host provides you with an informative commentary of your total marine experience - whales, dolphins, turtles and sea birds in the wild.