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Be one of the few, not the many. Step aboard Hervey Bay’s longest-running and only award-winning sailing tour operator, where we pride ourselves on exceptional customer service and a deep passion for the marine environment.
An Unmatched Sailing Experience
Our beautifully presented 11.6-metre sailing catamaran, fully refitted in 2021, offers a stable and intimate journey. You will be in the expert hands of the region’s most experienced marine mammal skipper, bringing over 31 years of expertise, including 14 years with Sea World and a season with the Australian Antarctic Division.
Full Day Exclusive Whale Watch
Operating from mid-July to the end of October, our exclusive tour features low passenger numbers to guarantee spectacular, unobstructed viewing and photography opportunities. 🐋
Departing at 7:30 am and returning at 3:30 pm (or when everyone is completely satisfied), this full-day adventure is best suited for children aged 8 years and above. Enjoy a premium experience featuring:
- An in-water whale experience platform, hydrophone to hear the whales, viewing scopes, and reference material 🎧
- A modern sailing vessel designed to maximise your time with the whales, featuring full walk-around decks, solid handrails, and plenty of shaded seating ⛵
- A minimal carbon footprint for responsible, eco-friendly whale watching
Gourmet Dining & Onboard Comforts
Indulge in delicious morning tea, afternoon tea, and a quality buffet lunch served with a complimentary drink. We happily cater to dietary requirements and are fully licensed. Stay connected and comfortable with our premium onboard amenities:
- Free onboard Wi-Fi to share your incredible moments instantly 📱
- A full walk-in bathroom
- Complimentary courtesy transfers from your accommodation
- EFTPOS facilities available on board
Please do NOT join one of our tours if:
- You feel at all unwell or present with any symptoms of any illness.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Cancellation Policy
In the event the clients cancel inside of 24 hours of the departure time a 100% fee is incurred.
24 to 48 hours notice a 50% fee is incurred. More than 48 hours notice full refund less agents commission.
Child Policy
Child Policy – Age 1 to 16 (Though for whale watch season we can be flexible- Family ticket might be 2 adults and 2 depended children (school))
This tour is best suited to children who can be on the water all day as it is a longer tour.
Weather Policy
Tours operate according to weather conditions. We reserve the right to cancel the tour in the case of adverse weather.
SUITS
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Jodie organised a pickup from our accomodation doorstep and was so pleasant to chat with! Cannot fault them, if you're after doing whale watching 🌊💙
The whales made themselves known which is always exciting - we never get tired of just sitting quietly and watch them. We also like the way the day is never rushed and if the whales are active there's no rush to get back to the marina
Thanks again
Every day was a different experience.. We were treated to muggings, tails, spy hops and breaches to playful baby whales jumping and showing off right beside us!
The day was perfectly paced, with a delicious lunch and plenty of food to keep everyone going. Lunch was late on a couple of the days - hard to get people to come and eat when the humpbacks are nosing around the boat!! Cruising the bay on a catamaran was such a highlight — sails up, just enjoying the peace and quiet while watching the whales.
The best part... passing the boats finishing their half-day trips, knowing we still had hours left on the water to hang out with the whales!
Amazing crew, incredible whales, plenty of space, great food and unforgettable whale encounters. Couldn’t recommend the Blue Dolphin highly enough!
Not every whale trip is this magical. We had wonderfully engaged whales, dolphins drop in and a rainbow to cap it off. Definitely recommend Blue Dolphin for a smaller boat/less people/more intimate experience with the whales. Skipper Pete and Silky were wonderful hosts, food was great and it was a fabulous day out.
The morning tea, buffet lunch and afternoon tea hit the spot, just right for a day out on the ocean.
The boat was clean and well kept.
Will do this again next year for sure.
Thanks Peter and crew for such a great outing.
What an absolutely incredible experience with Blue Dolphin Whale Watching in Hervey Bay! From start to finish, the entire day was exceptional. The crew were welcoming, knowledgeable and genuinely passionate about the whales and making sure everyone onboard had the best possible experience.
And the whales absolutely delivered! 🐋 We had unbelievably close encounters, with curious humpbacks spending so much time around the boat, swimming underneath us, looking directly at passengers and putting on an incredible show. It felt less like we were watching the whales and more like they were watching us!
The boat is fantastic, with plenty of space and great viewing angles, and the whole experience felt relaxed rather than rushed.
Hervey Bay certainly deserves its reputation as one of the world's great whale watching destinations, and Blue Dolphin made this a day I will genuinely never forget.
Best day ever. If you're coming to Hervey Bay during whale season, put this experience at the top of your list! 🐋💙🌊
We were treated to the most incredible whale encounters, one after another Peter expertly guided us to pod after pod for a day that will last in our memories for a very long time.
The food was plentiful and delicious, the boat was so tidy, safe and roomy, access and views from every angle and had smaller numbers meaning we could all get such good views and up close to the beautiful whales!
We will be back next year! Thank you for a wonderful day out! Nichole and Ross
Simply Superb!
Would recommend
We saw a number of dolphins as well as a dingo and stingray. And although the dolphins were feeding we were still able to see them jump and entertain us.
The Mate was fun with a great sense of humour. The Captain not so much. He was very serious and appeared to be without a sense of humour. As well, repeating yourself again and again is for children, not adults.
Would have liked to be able to sit on the seats out the front but there wasn't enough room unfortunately. Otherwise a really lovely evening.
Beautiful swimming stop at Pelican island. Thoroughly recommended to anyone visiting Hervey Bay. 👌
The champers kept flowing, the finger food was great, the hosts were amazing ..and it was a fabulous sunset enjoyed by all!
Thank you, guys, for making it so special for us.
I Will & Have recommended The Blue Dolphin to family & friends 🧡 thanks Pete & Co
The service was made very special with Peter, Cassie and Jodi. They were outstanding, friendly, attentive, and made everyone feel relaxed and welcome. They went above and beyond to ensure everyone had a great time.
This was a perfect way to enjoy the sunset and I was able to soak it all in with my family. I would highly recommend this experience to anyone looking for a memorable and well organised cruise.
We will definitely be returning, the price was great for what we received.
I highly recommend taking this sunset sail ♥️
Even if there are not as many whales at this time of the year, we managed to see a fair few really up-close, who were really playful. I absolutely loved being in a catamaran vs a bigger boat. This gives you the best view from anywhere, it’s very stable (great option for people with motion sickness), and you are much more connected to the ocean and what’s happening rather than a bigger touristy boat (as I have done before).
And I can’t rave enough about the crew! So friendly, caring, funny, nice… they truly go above and beyond. And they provided snacks and beverages during the whole trip, which was really nice. To be honest, I can’t believe how little you pay for what you get - between the whole day on the catamaran, the crew’s extensive knowledge and service, the food, the drinks, pick up & drop off from your accommodation… I’d do it again in a heartbeat and couldn’t recommend the tour more. Thanks Peter & crew, we’ll be back!
Please note my photos are not representative whatsoever - if only I could upload videos, you’d see how sensational it was and how close we were!
It’s a family-run company that truly stands out from the big tour operators and their massive boats packed with tourists.
The boat is clean, comfortable, and feels very intimate, with a maximum of around 20 people on board, it’s almost like going on a private cruise.
The crew is absolutely outstanding: the captain knows everything about his field, is super approachable, and takes the time to answer all your questions.
The rest of the staff are just as amazing — friendly, caring, and always making sure everyone feels looked after.
Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and snacks are served throughout the day, along with coffee, tea, and other drinks. You literally have nothing to do except relax and watch the whales.
You’re not just going on a tour, you’re living a truly special and unforgettable experience. Don’t miss it!
Speaking of whales, the team shows great respect for the animals: the boat slows down as soon as one is spotted, and thanks to the catamaran, you can get quite close without disturbing them.
A nice bonus: they pick you up directly from your accommodation and drop you back after the trip.
The quality of the service is well worth the price.
Don’t hesitate for a second, choose this small, professional, and genuinely caring company.
Trip on October 14th, 2025. the French
With a maximum of 24 passengers on board, there is plenty of room to move around and find a great spot to watch these beautiful creatures.
Peter’s passion and knowledge, along with Cassie’s friendliness, endless food and snacks, and a full day on the water makes this a great value trip.
I hope to come back one day, earlier in the season, to catch the "muggings", when pods of curious ‘adolescent’ whales apparently swim in close for a look!
Highly recommended (and there were lots of repeat visitors).

























































