Duration:
Operated By:
EXPERIENCE UP-CLOSE HUMPBACK WHALE ENCOUNTERS
AVAILABLE FROM 1st JULY 2026 – OCTOBER 2026
Whale watching tours commence July 2026 running each Tues, Thurs and Sunday through to October 2026. Please check with bookings office as days of operation may vary due to weather or itinerary restrictions
Half day whale watch tours departs Bundaberg Port Marina, 15-17 Marina Drive, Burnett Heads. Boarding at 9.45 am for a 10.00 am departure returning at 2.00 pm. Enjoy 4 hours onboard the luxury catamaran “Reef Empress or “Main Event” with spectacular views of Humpback whales as they play along the Humpback Highway.
Australia Whale Experience has 100% sighting rate over the past 8 years on our whale watching tour along the coastline of Bundaberg. Light lunch included.
Please call 07 4151 5225 for further information, some terms & conditions apply.
* List prices exclude FUEL LEVY $20 per person added at checkout
INFORMATION FOR DAY OF TRAVEL:
- Plan to arrive early (9:30am recommended) for a 9:45am boarding
- If you are experiencing difficulties on the morning of your travel call the bookings office after 8:30am on (07) 41515225.
- Tours depart from 15-17 Marina Drive, Burnett Heads, which is approximately a 20-25 minute drive from Bundaberg CBD. Please familiarise yourself with the area prior to tour date to ensure you arrive on time.
- Beverages, snacks, sea-sickness tablets & merchandise are available for purchase on board. Filtered water is available throughout the day so please bring a water bottle for top ups (refillable bottles are sold on the boat if required).
- Please wait on the grass area next to the boarding gates marina side of the carpark for our check-in crew to begin boarding
- No shoes to be worn whilst on the vessel for safety reasons . If you need to wear shoes for medical reasons, please ensure they are flat with non-marking soles and advise the crew at check-in and boarding.
- Included in your 1/2 day tour is a light lunch of wraps.
- Arrival back to Bundaberg Port Marina is approximately 2:00pm depending on weather and tour numbers on the day.
- If we have to cancel/change our tours for any reason, we will contact you the day before to discuss options via email and/or via phone. Please refer to our terms and conditions for further information.
- Whilst onboard please follow ALL directions provided by our crew as they are given to ensure your safety and comfort at all times.
SEASICKNESS PREVENTION AND ADVICE:
- Take Phenergan (seasickness medication) the night prior to travel
- Stay well hydrated
- Avoid alcohol the night prior to travel
- Get a good nights rest before travelling
- Avoid milky drinks, coffee and tea the morning of travel
- Eat before taking seasickness medication
- Take seasickness medication 40 minutes prior to boarding
DON’T FORGET TO BRING THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:
- Physical Credit/debit card or cash for onboard purchases as we operate outside of mobile data reception we cannot accept contactless payments from devices onboard using smart phones or apple watches during our travel. You will need to provide a credit card to start an onboard tab at our kiosk to be settled when back in mobile data reception or pay with cash for purchases.
- Spray jacket or jumper
- Cameras
- Drink bottle
- Any required medications including epi pen and seasickness medication for the return journey if required
- Physical Credit/debit card or cash for onboard purchases as we operate outside of mobile data reception we cannot accept contactless payments from devices onboard using smart phones or apple watches during our travel. You will need to provide a credit card to start an onboard tab at our kiosk to be settled when back in mobile data reception or pay with cash for purchases.
- Spray jacket or jumper
- Cameras
- Drink bottle
- Any required medications including epi pen and seasickness medication for the return journey if required
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
SUITS
Categories:
Interests:
Skill Level:
Suitability:
Accessibility:
Share:
Well done guys
The boat was clean and well looked after, as was the pontoon and amenities. While we have done better glass bottom boat tours before, the commentary and interaction from Hunter was great.
As for the snorkelling, the visibility on our visit was far superior to other tours we had done from further up on the reef. The equipment provided was well kept and very organised and easy to borrow. It was also very easy access from the pontoon to the water for myself and 2 children.
We snorkelled alongside turtles, enormous coral gardens and a beautiful array of fish species. It felt safe with children given the provision of pool noodles and life jackets and having staff in the water checking in on people too. Today, Sydney spent quite a bit of time assisting my daughter when she was out snorkelling. This wasn’t expected, but was truly appreciated!!!
Well done Lady Musgrave Experience, on employing the right employees and training them well. Customer service made this experience better than other tours we had been on.
The crew were AAA+ they honestly enhanced the experience so much, pointing out whale positions in relation to the boat so we could all view and capature the whales. The whole crew on our particular day helped us to relax and not worry about a single thing. Made sure we we're comfortable and well fed at lunch time, yummy wraps.
Perfect all round!
On the day we went, there was probably 80-90 people. We were split into groups so the activities could be coordinated and not too crowded. Worked really well.
The pontoon was great. There was plenty of places to sit and take in the views if you weren't snorkelling. The lunch was great and the snorkelling equipment & wetsuits were in excellent condition.
The snorkelling area was really well protected even though it was quite windy that day. We saw so many different reef fish and turtles. It was awesome.
Whilst there are no age restrictions, I wouldn't recommend taking young children. There isn't a lot to do once they are done snorkelling and it is a long day in and out.
We thoroughly recommend this trip experience.
Crew very experienced. Equipment provided.
Nothing prepares you for the turquoise waters and snoring experience - we saw turtles, star fish and many others.
While there were warnings, sea sickness is a thing. We were ok but over half the boat were unwell, especially on the sail to the island. It’s a quick transition to the first activity when you land at the pontoon and after two hours of sea sickness, it can be a little overwhelming.
That said, it was seriously one of the best days of my life and a must do for any family.
The crew/staff are top notch, friendly and efficient. So glad we decided to go with your company. Saw and did everything promised. Well done guys!
But regarding the trip, the ride out to the island was rather bumpy and quite a few people had to take motion sickness tablets and sit outside. But the crew was awesome and helped the best they could when people weren’t feeling well. The boat itself is very spacious and has very comfortable inside seats, some light snacks, and a coffee bar for purchase along with souvenirs. They also play various nature/ocean videos on the TVs which is a nice way to pass the time.
Once out there, the whole experience was very well organized and I felt like we had plenty of time to snorkel, relax, and do the island tour and glass bottom boat. Tons of turtles when we went in early April and a small manta ray even swam by once. The pontoon is also very spacious and lunch wasn’t actually pretty good in my opinion, even if it was simple. They had make-your-own Mediterranean wraps/sandwiches, and on the pontoon boat coffee and tea were complimentary.
So overall, we had an amazing time. The island and surrounding reef are very beautiful and teeming with life. You get this feeling that you never know what will show up - a turtle, a ray, a shark…could be a surprise! And the cost for all of this was a great deal in my opinion!
The staff treated us so well, and kept us comfortable (even with unusually rough seas for our journey to the reef). The equipment is fantastic, modern & comfy.
The snorkelling was awesome with great equipment for us to use. They made sure we were safe every single step. We easily saw turtles, sea snakes, many fish (large & small) and the southern Great Barrier Reef coral. Wow. Now I want to do their scuba experience as well.
The glass bottom was fantastic as was the island tour. Staff were knowledgeable a kept us comfortable every moment.
They provided lunch, morning and afternoon tea and coffee, and we could purchase other things on board and on the pontoon at the reef. Thanks all for a beautiful experience. DO NOT MISS THIS EXEPRIENCE
A huge shoutout to the amazing crew—Jade, Emma, and Benji—who truly made the day extra special. Their warmth, professionalism, and genuine care for everyone on board didn’t go unnoticed. They went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable, informed, and having the best possible experience.
If you’re thinking about exploring the Great Barrier Reef, I can’t recommend this experience enough. It’s one of those days you’ll be talking about long after it’s over 🌊🐠
A huge shoutout to the amazing crew—Jade, Emma, and Benji—who truly made the day extra special. Their warmth, professionalism, and genuine care for everyone on board didn’t go unnoticed. They went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable, informed, and having the best possible experience.
If you’re thinking about exploring the Great Barrier Reef, I can’t recommend this experience enough. It’s one of those days you’ll be talking about long after it’s over
Before heading out to Lady Musgrave our group of 13 thought the highlight was going to be snorkelling with turtles, Nemo the clownish, manta rays and oodles of other tropical fish in a stunning location. What we did not envisage was the exemplary service, sublime chef-prepared meals and commradery created through sharing this experience with others.
A three-course meal of beef rainbow summer rolls, confit duck with smashed pototoes and veges, and berry pannacotta topped with freshly baked brownies all served with a smile topped off a terrific first day.
The glamping beds on Lady Musgrave HQ are surprisingly comfy, and our every whim was catered to where possible.
Waking in the morning to a view of the lagoon with the island in the distance was an incredible way to kickstart our second day.
None of this would have been possible without the Lady Musgrave Experience team. A huge thank you to Emma, Mats, Xante, Jack, Callam, Benji, Alessia, Matt the skipper, Chef Eamenn, and, in the galley, Savanna, Suz, and Makayla. They made this a lifetime memory bar none.
The only suggestion we’d make is that the guides made zero reference at any point to the indigenous heritage of the island. This is very strange as the same company runs a dedicated tour in collaboration with a local indigenous group. It’s really important to acknowledge that not everything began with Captain Cook.
Amazing the birds and fish were not afraid of people. My favourite part was snorkling with a school of purple iridescent fish. My suggestions are: Have afternoon tea on pontoon prior leaving as it became very choppy on way back. Also have a wall showing different fish and coral with names on the pontoon so you can identify what you saw snorkling.
Thankyou to all the amazing staff for such a wonderful experience
Paul and Penny Johnson
The catamaran transport was about two hours each direction. Pretty comfortable overall, felt safe and had a snack and enjoyed the breeze and views.
Once there, the group was divided up and then had a schedule for things like snorkeling, lunch, glass bottom boat and island walk. Overall it worked well. We felt lucky to see two types of sea turtles, remoras, reef sharks, dolphins, octopus, many species of fish and then countless birds on the island walk. We were hoping to see turtle hatchlings which were in season, but no luck (it sounds like this mostly occurs at night). Some unforgettable memories and photos.
My only complaint was the food. As we were out for about 8-9 hours overall this was a necessary part of the experience, and unfortunately the food and food service just wasn’t very good overall. Edible but not enjoyable.
Overall we enjoyed it very much and I would give it 5 stars other than the food aspect, thus the rating of 4.
( Dive master plus 3 divers in total). The island is fascinating, it is a bird nesting sanctuary, birds everywhere. In the water heaps of fish, turtles, rays and living coral. Good visibility. Great boat and pontoon. Lots of room for everyone. Totally great day!
Although the morning was "a little bumpy"🤪🤣 and with people lining up to be sick and some throwing up everywhere, the professional crew showed genuine care and did an amazing job looking after everyone.
All the activities were fantastic, including the glass-bottom boat, the island tour, and of course the highlight: snorkelling! I saw so much marine life and was lucky enough to see many turtles thanks to it being hatching season.
The food throughout the day really helped keep our energy up. Morning tea (bread and fruit), lunch (salad, prawns, chicken and soup), and afternoon tea (celery, hummus and cake) weren’t fancy, but they were nutritious and tasty.
The views were absolutely worth it, and the crew truly showed how caring and friendly they were, always there to help with anything they could.
Special thanks to Belly, Grace and Yuka. You made my trip beyond wonderful!
I will definitely come back again.🥰
Gluten free was catered in terms of fruit salad, meat, and lunch salads.
Little over 2 hours each way (bring cards and a book). Sea sick tablets if you need that too as some choppy waves. Great crew. Highly recommend
Snorkelling over the reef edge and getting to see a wild sea turtle on the reef was unforgettable.
It was a wonderful day. The food and comfort on the boat and pontoon were fantastic also.
The tour has everything. We got to snorkel, enjoy the glass-bottom boat and walk around Lady Musgrave Island while learning about the environment and how the whole ecosystem works. Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea were all really nice too.
This was my second time doing the day tour and it was just as amazing as the first. I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to see the best of the Great Barrier Reef. Truly an unforgettable day.
Overall a lovely time, definitely worth doing! (I want to go back already!)
Check in was smooth and the boat is pretty nice. Takes over 2 hours to get to the island, and it will be sloshing and jumping for most of it. We took travacalm on the way out but not the way back and did not get sick.
They gave us a brief rundown of sea critters in the reef before we showed up; saw maybe half those in the water.
Our group did snorkeling first, then lunch, then island tour/glass bottom boat, and more snorkeling. Their snorkle gear is pretty good but I prefer the full face masks from Amazon if you have one. The snorkeling was amazing! So many reef fish, sea turtles, and beautiful coral. The weather was nice and bright and the water is super clear.
The lunch was okay, but I felt we didn't have enough time to eat it.
The island tour was fun, lots of weird birds, and we saw some reef sharks near the shore.
The glass bottom boat was good, though I felt the snorkeling was better.
The pontoon that you do all of this from is pretty nice as well; good layout, shade, seating, beers, etc.
My only qualm is that you spend 4+ hours at sea to get about the same amount of time in the reef.
We went in November, the weather was pretty great, but we missed rain by 1 day.
Hafeez, Pakistan
Island with the LMI Experience team. Check in was smooth, the swell a bit choppy but everyone was made to feel comfortable (crew were great with dealing with a few people suffering from sea sickness). When we arrived at the Island time flew by in the best way - an informative and excellent island tour, a cool glass-bottom boat tour where we spotted turtles, then snorkelling and a scuba dive after lunch - both were amazing, there's so much to see in the lagoon, especially The Aquarium section!
Special thanks for Alex for an awesome dive and a great chat on the way home - must do trip!


















































