What a wonderful day…!!! I’ve been whale watching many times and Freedom III has become my preferred tour. The whales did not disappoint. Catering was more than we could eat with sliced meats and chicken wings with salads for lunch and morning tea (scones, jam and cream) and afternoon tea (fresh fruits). I’ll go whale watching again. The bus pickup was an added bonus.
Thank you ‘Team Freedom III’. 🥰
@freedomwhalewatch
#freedomiii
@whalesherveybay

What an amazing day out yesterday 3rd August. We saw so many whales up close. Great crew and the skipper just kept moving around to find more whales.
We had 2 playing around the boat for an hour.
I wish I was able to give 10 stars 🌟

Amazing value for money Absolutely the best experience seeing all the different groups of whales close up.
We had 2 whales play around the boat for over 1 hour.
The skipper moved all over the place to make sure we had the best time.
I wish I could give them 10 stars

Fantastic day, great team on the freedom cruise, always available and eager to assist in any way. Took our three year old and it was a pleasure, with outside and inside activities that kept her amused, meeting all her needs.
Lots of whale information, Markv had done his research and knows the territory, always having a joke or two that keeps us smiling 😊
Nice selection of morning and afternoon nibbles, lunch is always a yummy experience with a good selection of non alcoholic and alcoholic drinks.
A full day adventure with time to relax and take in the beauty of wide bay. What every family needs in these busy times.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

On behalf of the team at Gympie Community Place, we can’t recommend Freedom Whale Watch highly enough!

What an absolutely exceptional day. We were completely blown away by how many whales we saw and just how close they came to the boat. It was one of those experiences that leaves you in awe of nature.

A huge thank you to our skipper, who went above and beyond to ensure we experienced as much as possible. Rather than staying in one spot, he took us to different areas so we could see a variety of whales and witness different behaviours. His knowledge, passion and respect for these incredible animals made the day even more memorable.

The crew were outstanding from start to finish. They made everyone feel welcome and looked after every detail. A special mention for the fantastic catering—our team members with dietary requirements were exceptionally well looked after, and several commented that it was some of the best food they’d ever had on a tour.

The boat was spotless, spacious and exceptionally well maintained, making for a comfortable and relaxing day on the water.

Whether you’re planning a team day, a family outing, a trip with friends or a romantic day out, Freedom Whale Watch delivers an unforgettable experience. We can’t thank the crew enough and will be recommending them to everyone. You won’t be disappointed!

⭐ Freedom Ecotours – Whale Watching Review (23 July 2026)

What an absolutely brilliant day out on the water with Freedom Ecotours. As locals, we’re spoiled for choice in Hervey Bay, but these guys truly stand out.

Mark, our skipper, is incredibly knowledgeable and has that calm, confident way of steering the boat that makes you feel you’re in safe hands from start to finish. And speaking of steering — at one point we passed under a cloud formation with a perfect round hole in it. I joked that Mark had just guided us safely through the Queensland Bermuda Triangle, and I’ve even got the photo to prove it.

The 9am departure time is perfect. It gives you plenty of time to enjoy breakfast at home without rushing, and you still get a full day on the water. Returning around 3:30–4pm is ideal — you’re back early enough to unwind, but late enough to feel like you’ve had a proper adventure.

The food onboard was great, the crew were friendly, and the whole day was just a pleasure from start to finish. We’ll definitely join them again another time — one of the perks of being lucky locals.

Again, thank you Mark for a lovely day.
Cheers,
Hennie & Deon

Excellent Tour The tour was excellent, seeing many whales. Staff were friendly & knowledgeable, and the lunch was plentiful. We even saw a dingo on K'gari beach.

Whale watching 🐳🐋 Hervey Bay, Queensland Had a wonderful day with Mark and his team. Very friendly and welcoming. Outstanding service all day, delicious food, too. Would recommend this to anyone. (Mobility issue with accessing downstairs toilets - but my friend and I were allowed to sit in the Captain's cabin. This was much appreciated and proof of their willingness to be helpful to keep the customers happy.)
We saw many whales and calves during the day, and the weather was perfect!
Great value and experience! ,

One of the best experiences I've ever had. We saw the whales very close, received invaluable information the entire time, and the entire staff was very friendly and helpful. The food was delicious. A great experience not to be missed. I highly recommend it. It's well worth it. Mark and Andrea are wonderful

We were lucky to see lots of Whales Amazing trip, highly recommended, crew very knowledgeable.Also the food was delicious. We were lucky to see lots of whales.

28-9-25- We had the best day out on the Freedom boat. It's the perfect size- not too small and not too big and crowded. We enjoyed delicious morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea with plenty of tea and coffee available. The crew were knowledgeable, enthusiastic and made sure we had as many whale sighting experiences as possible. We saw many mums and babies, tail slapping, fin flapping and multiple breaching- so blessed!

Fabulous day with Mark and the crew! They couldn’t do enough for us and were very welcoming. Great safety briefing and lots of funny announcements throughout the day. The food was sensational, I’m glad we’d already decided leave our diets at home as we would never have had enough willpower to resist all the yummy things they had on offer 🤣 The boat would have to be the most stable we’ve ever been on and being a lower boat meant we were so much closer to whales, my photos don’t do them justice. We had a fabulous day and it was the perfect way to spend my birthday (Lauren) 🎉

We had a perfect day with Toni, her crew and the whales! The whale sightings came early thanks to a couple of curious juveniles who swam around the boat not long after we launched. The day continued with more whale sightings, deliciously fresh and ample food, and calm seas. Definitely recommend this tour. We got lucky with the whale sightings, but you can definitely count on the professional and friendly service from the crew.

I know many people who have gone whale-watching, but somehow had managed to never make it myself. That was until our family planned a trip to Hervey Bay. My wife had heard lots of good things about Freedom Ecotours so she decided that we would give them a go. This was an excellent choice for everyone.

Check-in was simple with an arrival 20 minutes before departure and a sir name check. Once on the boat, there was a brief mustering for the safety check and a few jokes to get the show rolling. The wind forecast for our trip was windy, which made for a rocky trip out and especially back in, but we did our best to roll with the punches.

This being a whale tour of sorts, you must be wondering did we see any? YES! We saw heaps! There was breaching, and belly rolls. Dives, and much more. The boats need to stay about 100 yards away from the animals, but we were treated to some swimming very near our boat. Speaking of which, there boat has three viewing tiers in the front of the boat. This is prime seating major most of the tour. There were also three toilets on our boat. I didn't get a chance to see these.

Our package included morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea. The spreads were filling (but not overly). The food provided felt like just the right amount to keep us from getting too sleepy and maintain our interests in seeing more whales.

Taking photographs of video of them can be a bit tricky, since you don't know when or what they are going to do. It may be best to keep your phone at the ready and focus on your screen once whales have been spotted in a particular area. This way, you'll be able to quickly snap an image should something notable take place.

Everyone had a great time. I'll definitely be recommending Freedom to my friends.

Used to be good we did 3 trips before these new owners,rate 9 out of 10 with previous owner now about 1 out of 10 jammed in like We used to enjoy Freedom 111 cruises, the crew the boat leaves at a decent time, and used to have a small number of passengers on board so this makes the trip quite personal with heaps of laughs.

This was our third trip and we will be back again next July, thank you to Keith, Billy & Ivan .
NOW YOU ARE JAMMED IN LIKE SARDINES,NOT AS MANY WHALES,NOTHING LIKE BEFORE.
Go with any other whale watch,this one was good

Had an absolutely amazing day today with freedom whale tours. I had high expectations after seeing their website, and boy did they deliver. We got way more than we ever thought and were absolutely flawed at how good this day turned out. Mark the skipper knows where to go and how to do it to give you the best whale experience possible. Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea were great. Staff were awesome as well. One of the best days I've had seeing these amazing animals up close and interacting with us on the boat. Money well spent. Thank you guys.

Great Adventure 👍 👌 👍 👌 To the Crew and staff of Freedom Ecotours. Thank you for a fantastic adventure. It's a well organised tour. The staff are very friendly and helpful. The Captain is very knowledgeable and informative about the whales and surrounding areas. The boat is well maintained and very clean. The Staff are very friendly and supplied us with a delicious morning tea,lunch and afternoon tea. The boat caters for a small group of people which gives everyone on board a great view of the whales that it encounters and is not crowded.
Thanks to all the Crew and staff

A fantastic day on the water. The skipper was brilliant and clearly loved her job. All of the crew were great. The food was good and plentiful. The long format tour and limited passenger numbers made for a relaxed and enjoyable cruise.

Most of all the whales were spectacular. I've never seen so many whales so close for so long.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
It’s become a family tradition to go whale watching every year, and this was our second year with Freedom Whale Watch — it just keeps getting better! This year, we were privileged to get up close and personal with the whales, and what an unforgettable experience it was.
Skipper Toni is absolutely amazing — her wealth of knowledge and experience shines through, and she ensures you leave completely satisfied. Her crew are just as phenomenal, making the whole day seamless and so enjoyable.

Last year was fantastic, but this year has topped all our experiences. Thank you so much, Freedom Whale Watch — we absolutely loved today and can’t wait to see you all again next year!

A heartfelt thanks to the entire Freedom III crew 💙
What an unforgettable day on the water — your passion, knowledge and warmth made it so much more than “just” a whale watching tour.

From the first breach to the final rainbow blow, we were blown away (literally). Champagne, scones, whales all around… it was magic.

Special thanks to skipper Toni and her crew for the stories, the laughs, and showing us the beauty of these gentle giants up close.

We’ll be talking about this day for a very long time. 🐋✨

What an amazing trip we had on Friday with Toni, Charlie and Kieran! I have been on a lot of whale watching trips and can honestly say this was one of the best I’ve ever experienced!
We were so lucky to have one of the most special encounters with a group of super inquisitive whales. It was just incredible!

One of the things that made the difference to the experience was the brilliant team on board. Most of the operators do 2 trips a day and it can feel rushed and a bit like they’re just going through the motions to tick a box and say you saw a whale. But these guys do just one trip a day. It was much more relaxed and obvious that they are really passionate and enthusiastic about giving guests the best experience possible. I will definitely be booking with Freedom again the next time I come to Hervey Bay. Can’t recommend these guys highly enough! 👏

Fantastic day with Freedom Fantastic day with the Freedom tour. Experienced 2 whales breaching which was breathtaking! Crew couldn’t do enough for us and the food was great and plentiful.
Highly recommended.

Excellent experience, I couldn’t believe my eyes! The Freedom 3 whale watch was amazing!! We couldn’t of picked a better boat, our tour guides Tony and her crew were really nice, and the food was pretty good. I can’t think of anything more exciting than seeing three big humpback whales breach and mug the boat!! We also saw a few dolphins having fun in the water which was pretty cool too! This was a really good experience; I definitely recommend it!
- Abigail, 10 years old! 🐳🐋

Just got back from a full day tour with Freedom III. Captain Toni and staff were wonderful including our courtesy bus driver Lyle. Morning tea of scones and pastries; lunch of chicken and ham and salads; and afternoon tea of fruit, cheese and crackers kept us well fed but it was hard to pull ourselves away from watching the whales! We saw around twenty mum’s, bub’s and even some late in the season young males who kept us entertained with fin slaps and breaches. Thank you for an amazing day 👍🥇😁

A great day with the all girl crew! Toni the skipper. Bec and Liz the caterers and whale spotters. Food was excellent the crew were all fully engaged with all the passengers all the time. And all the information needed regarding what we were to look out for, what the whales were doing and bringing all the guests to help spot the whales really added to an already amazing, experience.
We will be back next season and only on the Freedom111. Thank you to the girls for an unforgettable experience.

We’ve been whale watching with Freedom each year for the last 3 years. We love the longer day - more time with the whales! The boat is great - plenty of viewing space up front and at the back. The crew are great - super friendly and lovely, respectful of the whales and are great at getting you as many sightings and experiences as possible. The food is good too. We have a 9 year old and she loves the longer day and loves going out on Freedom. We can’t wait to go again next year!

Although it was at the end of the season, we saw a few mums and their babies and a few large males that came close to the boat later in the afternoon. We had an awesome day whale watching. The boat had plenty of room and staff were fabulous. The captain was very informative and full of information. Our 2 granddaughters loved it very much. I will say the morning and afternoon tea was superb however the lunch was not great at all, very greasy chicken wings and honestly the worst potato salad and coleslaw - we could not eat it something was very wrong with them both vinegary PS and spicy coleslaw and we saw many guests scrape it into the bin. Anyway, it wasn’t a food tour , it was a whale watch tour and we had a great time. I’ve been in many many whale watching tours over the last 30 years and this would be my favourite boat due to the big rear back area under cover. Lots of room up front in the sun and a nice small lounge area where free tea and coffee can be had.

Wonderful day on the Freedom III We went whale watching on the Gold Coast and in Alaska previously and were disappointed that we only saw a few whales in the distance. This tour was completely different.
We had a very enthusiastic and knowledgeable captain. She was very tuned in to the behaviour of the whales and was careful to shut the engine off so that the animals were not disturbed. This also allowed the whales to come over to the boat to have a look if they wanted to. We could hear the whales calling to each other and moving about in the water.
We saw adults and juveniles, many whales that were breaching and fluking.
The boat was small enough so that it could be maneuvered easily to get a good view of what was happening.
It was good that the tour is 3/4 of a day so that if it is quiet in the morning you have the afternoon to catch the action. The captain was in radio contact with the other whale watching boats so that if something interesting was happening we were able to get to the spot very quickly.
We were treated to delicious food - morning and afternoon teas and lunch, by very friendly, helpful staff.
On the way back we passed by Fraser Island to see the coloured sands.
We would like to come back next year.
This tour is great value for money.

Whole day too long...not enough sheltered seating Nice crew, but a whole day trip was too long. There is very limited seating with shelter/sun protection and we got really burnt. Boat was hard to move around on due to narrow edges. Not a good one for older people.
Whales were there, but big boats seem to frighten them. Advise you to book a half day and check the boat has sheltered seats

Best whale watching experience Just brilliant!! The boat was fabulous and the crew superb. Great views of the whales, totally worth every cent. Can’t recommend enough.

Whales whales whales Absolutely loved it . If you’re ever in Hervey Bay this experience is not to be missed . The crew did a great job sharing information about the marine ecology of humpback whales and other denisons of K’gari . Food and catering are on par with land based fancy restaurants . I cannot believe what good value this trip is.

Paradise on water Everything was wonderful which includes the crew. Not too many people so lots of viewing space. Perfect day. Eould highly recommend it

Great Trip! I’ve been on many whale watching adventures and this was one of the top experiences. The crew was passionate and put a ton of energy in. The boat owner was onboard during our trip and he seems like a great person which is likely why he keeps a great crew. Our whale experience was a top especially for humpbacks. Highly recommend Freedom and the full day. The whales and crew will make it worth it.

This whale cruise was excellent. So much great food. Morning tea, lunch and even afternoon tea. The staff were very good especially Harrison and they knew where the whales were. To see the whales so close was a dream come true which I did not actually expect. Once we spotted the whales everyone stood up and there was plenty of room to stand at the rails and take amazing pictures.

The whale watching day was absolutely brilliant. The day started out pretty foggy but true to the captain’s word it cleared within the hour. Though the ocean was a little lumpy it didn’t cause us any concerns. The majestic whales approached our boat on numerous occasions. They were so close. We must have had about 5 different groups of two or three. It was just sensational. If we didn’t get enough of that, we also had numerous whales breaching which added to the thrill. We were also spoilt with delicious and plentiful morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea. As well the crew were super engaging and willingly chatted to all on board.

Amazong cruise. Worth every penny! We saw so many whales. The crew is amazing and extremely friendly! The food was amazing 😍 The day was amazing! Lunch with the whales is something I will never forget!! Totally worth it. Highly highly recommend!

Excellent value for money. Lovely morning tea, lunch AND afternoon tea. Friendly staff, great sense of humour and interesting to chat to. Not the biggest boat but I prefer less people to be honest. Free tea and coffee and they can cater to dietary needs. They have sunscreen and sanitisers too. I recommend wearing bright colours (and layers)as the whales really like that and will interact and are curious to check you out. They also have cool hats and stubby coolers are very reasonable prices. We went 9:30am-3:30 and they can do pick ups. We really had the best day. Ring them if you have any questions. I highly recommend. If you are local ask about local rates.

What a lovely day was had out on the water, with many whales seen. At first they were a little shy but then as the morning went on, the closer they came. All around the boat, so good to see. Lots of action, from juveniles and adults. Skipper and crew were all lovely, helpful and fun.
A tasty cold lunch buffet, plus morning and afternoon tea were provided.
Wine / soft drink etc at reasonable cost if you so choose.
Thanks Freedom 111 👏👏 a great experience.

Best whale watching boat tour in Hervey Bay. The crew was so friendly and you could tell they love and respect the whales. We saw so many whales breaching and spyhoping. I recommend Freedom Whale Watch 100%. The boat was well maintained and pristine. The food was tasty and abundant. I didn't get photos of the best interactions because I wanted to just take it all in. This was the best part of my trip to Australia

An incredible day out What a truly magnificent experience. Cannot thank Toni and her incredible crew enough. My 11 year old was the only child on the tour and was treated royally; she cannot stop talking about her experience. Everything from the food to the hospitality was spot on, especially the magnificent humpbacks that paid us a visit. We've been out in Australia for around a month now and this was one of the highlights of our trip so far. Thanks guys, you're awesome

Amazing experience for anyone! Amazing trip today. Everything was perfect. Skipper Toni along with Matt & Abby were really great hosts. Everyone was part of trip, searching for whales, asking questions, was really great.
A great selection of food was served.

Best day ever Was a bucket list trip and it was better than I dreamt about. Fantastic staff, plenty of lovely food and heaps of whales, lots of mums and bags.

Very enjoyable, loved it! Had a great day on the water with the whales. The catering was spot on and the crew were excellent, particularly Abby, an asset to your company!

we just had the most amazing day. We have done whale watching before, but nothing compares to today’s experience. Everything was perfect - the crew, the boat, the food, the experience and of course the whales (who kept us entertained for hours).

Highly recommended day

Not to be missed Can not thank Toni the Skipper and her wonderful crew, enough, for treating us so well. Been doing this every year since 1996 and this was the best experience ever. So many pods of whales to see due to Toni's ability to spot and approach with such great care. The respect for other boats was impressive. Good commentary, play list and food. Tried every tour operator, this was the best.

Amazing day out! We had an amazing day observing so many incredible whales. The staff were very attentive and we were told about the whales and their behaviour as we observed them. Food was delicious and it was good to be able to move around on the boat with the smaller group numbers in the tour. Will definitely do this trip again - next year hopefully.
Thank you to the staff of Freedom!

My wife and I celebrated our 25th Anniversary with a trip to see the whales in Hervey Bay. We were not disappointed. Freedom III was a nice small and stable boat and there were loads of areas to watch the whales from. We saw so many whales! The crew members were all great and the food was fresh and plentiful. Thanks so much Freedom III

Unbeatable whale watching experience What an amazing day!!! Toni and her crew were fantastic, very hospitable
and knowledgeable. As a bonus we got to see plenty of whales and never felt rushed or that our time with any particular pod was cut short. The food was plentiful and delicious. A truly unbeatable day!

Highly Recommend While the whales were plentiful and truly amazing, the staff made this an exceptional day. The weather was less than perfect but Skipper Toni, Abby and Matt went above and beyond to ensure we enjoyed the experience.

First class trip First class trip. Three quarter day gives at least twice as long at the whale bay than a half day trip. Staff were knowledgeable and friendly. Boat was comfortable, and they serve complementary tasty lunch and afternoon tea. A brilliant day out.

My third experience of whale watching, 2 in WA. This was the absolute best. Great vessel, the food was next level with an awesome skipper and crew. Great value. 7 hrs at sea. 10/10

Fabulous experience We had the best day. Expertly skippered (thank you Toni), we found lots of pods of whales. We even attracted a mother who felt comfortable enough to let her calf come right up to the starboard side. We watched mothers teaching their young to breach. It was fantastic.
Also many thanks to Liz who was the best whale spotter, and kept us well fed and looked after us throughout the day.
Love the fact that you can go into the wheelhouse to experience the skipper at work.

Loved the day, lived up to expectations Great staff, friendly efficient.
Whales behaved well and performed. Plenty to see.
Food very good.
Well run and professional experiece

We went on the boat for whale watching a few days ago. It was by far one of the best experiences of my life. The team was incredible, great knowledge of whales, very respectful of them. They love their work and the whales, so much so that a few whales came to meet us and stayed with us for a long time. Breach, tails, mom and her calf... Very special day, I recommend Freedom Whale Watch.

bucket list tick A bucket list tick for my wife, and it was a fantastic trip. The staff on board were excellent, the skipper very informative and knowledgeable. really good lunch and morning and afternoon teas. Just the right size boat, not overcrowded, and pretty comfortable. We saw about 28 Whales, some very friendly, overall it was just great.

Best Whale Watch cruise ever!! My wife and I had the most amazing day with Freedom 111 Whale Watch. It was certainly a bucket list experience for us. Not only did we get to see an incredible number of whales up close but we were also treated to a restaurant quality home made lunch, morning tea and afternoon tea, plus a glass of wine to boot. Toni is so passionate about the experience and Chris plus all the guys bent over backwards to ensure the best day possible. We highly recommend this cruise. It needs more than 5 stars.

Great value. Memorable experience. Great day out, great food, great crew, great boat with suitable numbers. Not crowded at all. We were able to move around the boat for the best views.

Awesome day whale watching with Freedom Excellent whale watching tour with Skipper Toni, Rhys and Adam they were all fantastic and make you feel welcome and at home on board Freedom 3 , great hospitality.

We had a great day and the skipper ensured the best opportunity for whale sightings working with all the other boats out on the water great communication and commentary shared throughout the tour wonderful show of respect for the majestic whales.
Lovely food and was plentiful, the music playing on the return journey and at lunch was great with seeing the whales interested in us and checking us out we were so fortunate to have lots of pods of whales throughout the day especially 2 inquisitive humpback whales that came to the bow of the boat to check us out and hang out for at least a good hour, we also had interactions with a large green turtle , dolphins and dugongs such an amazing day thank you Toni , Rhys and Adam - we will definitely be back and be recommending Freedom 3 whale watching to all of our friends as a must do trip with you’s.

Capt Toni, Rhys and Adam were fantastic on our voyage to see the whales. I couldn't fault them at all.
We had the perfect day, sunny with clear skies and seas. It was clear that all the boats out were working together to not only ensure the best opportunity for whale sightings, but taking the utmost care and precautions to prevent any harm to the whales - which was a wonderful show of respect for these gracious creatures.
The food was plentiful, the music was playing and its clear our crew love their work. I have never been more in awe than the moment 2 inquisitive humpback whales came to the bow of the boat to check we tiny humans out.

I felt transformed by meeting these gentle giants in such beautiful circumstances and I am grateful to the whole team for making this possible. Keep up the great work guys, our sea life needs more ambassadors like you. ❤️

Excellent in every way. Excellent in every way. Ten out of ten, or five star, whichever way you want to view it. The bus driver collected us from our accommodation and was very helpful and friendly. Three crew on the boat were very attentive at all times. Handing out sun screen and sea sick tablets to anyone needing assistance. Three meal times were very well catered for, and the whales were so close to the boat. A most enjoyable experience and so professional. Very highly recommended.