Sailing
5 hours
Free cancellation
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Recommended by 97% of travellers
97% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
AU$150
per adult
Brisbane Whale Watching
Brisbane Whale Watching
5
Eco ToursSightseeing ToursDolphin & Whale WatchingNature & Wildlife ToursDay Trips
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Full view
About
Brisbane Whale Watching invites you to come on board the magnificent Eye-Spy for an encounter with the whales. There’s no better place to observe the mighty Humpback than Brisbane’s Moreton Bay.
Redcliffe, Queensland, Australia
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
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5.0
1,195 reviews
Excellent
1,053
Very good
100
Average
24
Poor
10
Terrible
8
fycfan
Redcliffe, Australia11 contributions
Aug 2015 • Couples
Beautiful clean boat, fantastic staff and great food combined with a sunny day and plenty of whales to entertain us. The commentary was excellent and the genuine interest and excitement shown by the Captain and crew was infectious. Can't recommend this trip highly enough.
Written 18 August 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Beimo
Brisbane, Australia12 contributions
Oct 2014 • Family
I was lucky enough to win a family pass on a local radio station for this wonderful day out. We went on a Monday, so the boat wasn't packed and there were plenty of seats and areas to view the whales. Once out into Moreton bay, we saw whales for the whole 2 hours. It was just amazing - nature at its best.!! Captain Kerry is so extremely knowledgeable, and the staff on the boat are very friendly and helpful. They certainly love their jobs and it's obvious. The lunch was great and plentiful. We came away with some amazing memories of a fabulous day out on Eye Spy. Thanks to Brisbane Whale Watching - a very professional company.
Written 20 October 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WatertownSDTraveler
Watertown, SD20 contributions
Sept 2014 • Family
We were aboard the Eye Spy with Captain Kerry on Monday September 15th. The weather was perfect, not to much wind and calm seas. We crossed moreton bay quickly and began seeing whales within minutes of going around the tip of moreton island. Many many pods were seen and the whales were up close as many as 12 at a time, some even going under the catamaran. The morning tea and buffet lunch were great and the afternoon tea as well. Hope to do the trip again.
Written 15 September 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
muffinBungendore_
Brisbane, Australia33 contributions
July 2014 • Friends
My grand-daughter and I took this trip last weekend and it was really a great experience. The crew on EyeSpy looked after the crowd on board with professional ease. We enjoyed tea/coffee and fruit before heading out into Moreton Bay and beyond, found the whales and bobbed around for an hour or more watching them frolic around our boat. The cold buffet lunch was delicious. More tea/coffee and cake on the trip back to the jetty. Thoroughly recommendable!
Written 12 July 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
OceanDreamer976
Brisbane, Australia22 contributions
Sept 2012 • Family
Beautiful creatures encountered in such numbers and so close! We saw numerous pods (groups) of whales and they came so close we could almost touch them. It was a magical experience, thoroughly enjoyed by young and old. The boat is large with ample room to move freely around to get the best vantage point. Delicious lunch enjoyed right next to the whales. Captain Kerry and her crew are very helpful, nothing was too much trouble. Thank you, we can't wait to come again next season!!
Written 29 July 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chesham1234
London, UK74 contributions
July 2013 • Family
we went on the Sunday morning, the first weekend of July. Only booked the day before, in the information office in Brisbane. We liked the idea of the hotel pickup - we were in central Brisbane. Arrived in Redcliffe with time to wander round the local market, which was a very pleasant surprise. Then out to sea... The boat was large; not at all over-crowded, with lots of space for watching whatever - even small children can find a place to view. The whale watching was spectacular - the commentary was great, and we saw several pods, some of which came very near to us... scarily close on one occasion. Food was good - the queue can be long so go for it as soon as it's called. Thoroughly recommeded.
Written 23 July 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KJR1980
Mudgee, Australia5 contributions
Oct 2012 • Solo
The good;
The Staff - they were excellent, enthusiastic & professional and everything ran very smoothly.
The Boat - the MV Eye Spy is perfectly setup for whale watching, there seemed to be enough space on the various decks for all on-board to view, it was stable, and it was able to get quite close to the whales.
The not so good -
The food & drinks - The food wasn't in any way terrible, but it was quite simple and just didn't seem particularly abundant.
I was very suprised by the lack of drinks provided - with the exception of tea or coffee only one small cup of cordial was offered with afternoon tea. I think this is something they really need to reconsider, as it's almost a given that one will experience some level of dehydration given the likely combination of travel sickness medication and a warm day out in the sun. Water should be freely available at all times, especially in these conditions.
Sure there are snacks and drinks available for purchase on-board but at $165 per person for the tour the offerings just seemed a bit weak.
The whales - this is obviously outside the control of Brisbane Whale Watching, although we saw two sets of mothers with calves in close proximity we didn't get so much as a tail slap, they were basically just swimming along so that was a little disappointing.
Recommendations - Take water, sunscreen and (if you're able to) travel sickness medication before you board - they have Kwell's for purchase on-board but I personally find Travacalm works MUCH better, especially when taken before boarding, it may be too late once you're already on the boat.
The Staff - they were excellent, enthusiastic & professional and everything ran very smoothly.
The Boat - the MV Eye Spy is perfectly setup for whale watching, there seemed to be enough space on the various decks for all on-board to view, it was stable, and it was able to get quite close to the whales.
The not so good -
The food & drinks - The food wasn't in any way terrible, but it was quite simple and just didn't seem particularly abundant.
I was very suprised by the lack of drinks provided - with the exception of tea or coffee only one small cup of cordial was offered with afternoon tea. I think this is something they really need to reconsider, as it's almost a given that one will experience some level of dehydration given the likely combination of travel sickness medication and a warm day out in the sun. Water should be freely available at all times, especially in these conditions.
Sure there are snacks and drinks available for purchase on-board but at $165 per person for the tour the offerings just seemed a bit weak.
The whales - this is obviously outside the control of Brisbane Whale Watching, although we saw two sets of mothers with calves in close proximity we didn't get so much as a tail slap, they were basically just swimming along so that was a little disappointing.
Recommendations - Take water, sunscreen and (if you're able to) travel sickness medication before you board - they have Kwell's for purchase on-board but I personally find Travacalm works MUCH better, especially when taken before boarding, it may be too late once you're already on the boat.
Written 21 October 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Xuan D
Mount Gravatt, Australia1 contribution
Oct 2019 • Family
The whole trip was good, so close to the whales and the baby whale.
The only complaint is about the crew. There were two young male crew were so rude, lack of sympathy and probably, racists. One occasion happened at the front deck. My kid who is only three, was vomiting when we were on the front deck, enjoying the whale. A male crew came, giving us a bag and asking us to go to the back of the ship, right away. He kept saying that while my kid was vomiting. I said we would go there later after he vomited and could you please pass me some tissue first? He did not help at all. He kept saying the tissue was inside and we needed to follow their rules to go to the back right away. I am wandering do you have the rules that if you vomit, even during you vomiting, you still had to walk to the back, vomiting and walking at the same time? Could you please give the person who is uncomfortable a little time to settle? Not mention to a little kid who is only three years old! That is ridiculous.
The other occasion happened at the back of the ship when I held my kid resting there. There were other people who felt sick resting there as well. Another male crew came and asked all the people resting there did they need help or need some water, just ignoring US! That made me feel not good. However, I thought maybe I am a Asian while others are Caucasian, and he thought I couldn’t understand him. However, when I heard it is our turn for lunch, and then tried to go inside to inform my parents, who couldn’t understand English, he talked to me. He didn’t want us to go inside. He said we need to keep stay outside due to my kid’s sea sick. Then I said it was too windy there and we still need to have lunch. He kept saying we need to stay outside, indifferently. It seemed like he really disliked us and hoped we could stay outside forever. I was irritated by his attitude. Then he said if we went inside, my kid would feel worse. Now he played as he did so just was for our benefit. If really like that, why didn’t he bother to ask did we feel better or need some water at first time?
The only complaint is about the crew. There were two young male crew were so rude, lack of sympathy and probably, racists. One occasion happened at the front deck. My kid who is only three, was vomiting when we were on the front deck, enjoying the whale. A male crew came, giving us a bag and asking us to go to the back of the ship, right away. He kept saying that while my kid was vomiting. I said we would go there later after he vomited and could you please pass me some tissue first? He did not help at all. He kept saying the tissue was inside and we needed to follow their rules to go to the back right away. I am wandering do you have the rules that if you vomit, even during you vomiting, you still had to walk to the back, vomiting and walking at the same time? Could you please give the person who is uncomfortable a little time to settle? Not mention to a little kid who is only three years old! That is ridiculous.
The other occasion happened at the back of the ship when I held my kid resting there. There were other people who felt sick resting there as well. Another male crew came and asked all the people resting there did they need help or need some water, just ignoring US! That made me feel not good. However, I thought maybe I am a Asian while others are Caucasian, and he thought I couldn’t understand him. However, when I heard it is our turn for lunch, and then tried to go inside to inform my parents, who couldn’t understand English, he talked to me. He didn’t want us to go inside. He said we need to keep stay outside due to my kid’s sea sick. Then I said it was too windy there and we still need to have lunch. He kept saying we need to stay outside, indifferently. It seemed like he really disliked us and hoped we could stay outside forever. I was irritated by his attitude. Then he said if we went inside, my kid would feel worse. Now he played as he did so just was for our benefit. If really like that, why didn’t he bother to ask did we feel better or need some water at first time?
Written 13 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tom W
Medway, UK54 contributions
At 4pm the day before, we got a phone call and when I answered no-one said anything. I had to call them back (expensive from an international line) to find out they had decided to go an hour earlier on our tour which was the following day with no explanation as to why (also not much notice). Anyway off we went, we had booked the VIP experience but the member of staff working this area on that particular day (17/08/19) was very rude and incredibly patronising. She also offered everyone coffee in the morning expect our table. Overall the VIP experience was not worth it whatsoever and I recommend that future travelers don't bother. Essentially all you get is a drink and early access to the food... Which was pretty basic, we did a snorkel/dive cruise on a far smaller boat in Cairns and the food was 10x better. That being said the whales and dolphins were amazing and I loved every second of that. The captain is very knowledgeable and passionate. Overall I'd say 5* for the whales, dolphins and the captain but 1* for the VIP experience (and in particular the member of staff working that day) and 1* for the change of time the day before.
Written 17 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kenneth T
Sainte-Maxime, France19 contributions
Aug 2019
The whale watching tour was an excellent experience. The ship was open for check in as from 09.00, we departed 10.00 and returned just after 14.30.
We chose the VIP tickets (165 aud). This gave us seats on the mid deck behind the captains steering hut where the friendly stewardess Shelly took excellent care of us. The other 2 options (135 and 150 aud) included seats on the lower deck. In the end this didn’t matter much since we were always outside during the whale watching where everyone had equal access to the different decks. As VIP guests we got access to the lunch buffet first + a complimentary drink. Was it worth the extra 30 aud? Well if you like being pampered (we do) it was, but it is not a must.
The cold buffet was first class. On the way home Shellly served us fresh fruit left over from the buffet, a nice gesture.
We saw at least 50 whales, some of them just beside the ship swimming under it. Kerry, the captain, gave us explanations and commentary all through the experience.
The boat was tip top, including the 5 toilets.
Staff sold seasickness pills for one dollar which is a good idea for anyone who wants to be on the safe side since despite a calm day it gets at bit rolling outside the bay.
On our first trip we had to turn around and return after one hour due to an issue with one of the engines. Shelly checked with us individually for a rebooking to another day, or if we preferred a refund. We rebooked 2 days later. Everyone in the crew was very apologetic and we didn’t even arrive back to the hotel before their office called us on our Belgian gsm number to once again confirm the rebooking and apologise. A confirmation email was also sent at the same time. Incident well managed I thought.
The crew was very friendly and accessible through out the tour.
All in all well worth the rather expensive ticket price of 165 aud, just above 100 euros. Me and my wife can highly recommend this trip.
We chose the VIP tickets (165 aud). This gave us seats on the mid deck behind the captains steering hut where the friendly stewardess Shelly took excellent care of us. The other 2 options (135 and 150 aud) included seats on the lower deck. In the end this didn’t matter much since we were always outside during the whale watching where everyone had equal access to the different decks. As VIP guests we got access to the lunch buffet first + a complimentary drink. Was it worth the extra 30 aud? Well if you like being pampered (we do) it was, but it is not a must.
The cold buffet was first class. On the way home Shellly served us fresh fruit left over from the buffet, a nice gesture.
We saw at least 50 whales, some of them just beside the ship swimming under it. Kerry, the captain, gave us explanations and commentary all through the experience.
The boat was tip top, including the 5 toilets.
Staff sold seasickness pills for one dollar which is a good idea for anyone who wants to be on the safe side since despite a calm day it gets at bit rolling outside the bay.
On our first trip we had to turn around and return after one hour due to an issue with one of the engines. Shelly checked with us individually for a rebooking to another day, or if we preferred a refund. We rebooked 2 days later. Everyone in the crew was very apologetic and we didn’t even arrive back to the hotel before their office called us on our Belgian gsm number to once again confirm the rebooking and apologise. A confirmation email was also sent at the same time. Incident well managed I thought.
The crew was very friendly and accessible through out the tour.
All in all well worth the rather expensive ticket price of 165 aud, just above 100 euros. Me and my wife can highly recommend this trip.
Written 15 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Are there special offers on at the moment due to the coronoviruse
Written 4 July 2020
Are we guaranteed to see whales? Do we get a refund if we don’t? And what happens if the weather forecast shows rain?
Written 13 June 2019
I’ve checked their website and they “offer a complimentary cruise for you on the next available departure if you don’t sight any whales on your day of travel. If it is cancelled due to tide and / or weather conditions, a seat on the next available cruise will be offered or a full refund will be given”
Written 15 June 2019
We went last Saturday 18th August. There were a number of pods just off the end of Moreton Island. It was a great day, very informative with lots of whales to be seen. Eye Spy the custom built catamaran is very stable with easy viewing decks and windows.
Written 28 August 2018
Good Morning!
Thank you so much for your enquiry and I am most happy to confirm that our 2018 Whale Watching Season will be commencing on Saturday the 2nd of June.
If you are available to join us on board on or after this date, we would love the opportunity to show you these magnificent mammals.
Kindest Regards,
Brisbane Whale Watching
Written 2 May 2018
If you get the bus transfer from Brisbane CBD does anyone know what sort of time it picks up?
Written 26 April 2018
Kerry L
Brisbane, Australia
Hello there, pickup times can range between 7.50 and 8.45.
Times and hotel locations can also be found at our website when you place your booking :)
Written 28 April 2018
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