Duration:
Operated By:
*Departing from Ballina*
Available limited dates only.
The Byron Bay coast plays host to resident pods of bottle nose dolphins all year round. They number between 80 and 120, depending on the time of year, but they always provide our passengers of all ages a thrill, an experience to remember; something that always brings a smile to everyone’s face.
Bottlenose Dolphins are spotted in their natural habitat as they play and swim along the coastline between Ballina and Byron Bay on our incredible Dolphin Cruise. We depart from the Richmond River and enter the pristine waters of Cape Byron Marine Park. Our friendly Marine Biologist will share in-depth knowledge of the area & marine creature encounters we experience within Byron’s Marine Park. Learn about our local pods of dolphins, their habits and behaviours. We are so sure you’ll spot a dolphin that we offer a free return trip if you don’t see one on your first Dolphin Cruise!
We are proud sponsors of Dolphin Research Australia and the Healthy Waterways—Healthy Dolphins Project! These research and conservation projects work to protect vulnerable communities impacted by human activities and habitat destruction. We also provide our vessel for monthly surveys and participate in the Dolphin Watcher’s Program that monitors dolphins in the region. We have witnessed and documented the arrival of numerous babies over the last few years and we continue to be amazed at the population growth of the pods along the Ballina & Byron Bay coast.
Come and see our beautiful dolphins as they swim and play off the bow of our vessel ‘Out Of The Blue’.
RESTRICTIONS
All children must be accompanied by an adult. Minimum age is 5yrs for any cruise on the ocean. Not suitable for pregnant woman or anyone with a back injury. Anyone with cold & flu symptoms will not be allowed to board the vessel.
Attention Groups: Please book all in one order or add to your notes that you are with another group, so we can try our best to sit you together.
STEPS AFTER BOOKING:
Receive your Confirmation Email & Pre-Arrival Waiver
Your confirmation email with have all the details you need for the day including what to wear and where to park, so please read carefully. We require you to complete a quick and easy Pre-Arrival Waiver before the day of your cruise. You will be unable to board the vessel if you have not completed the Pre-Arrival Waiver
- NON-REFUNDABLE TICKETS (Cancellation & Refund Policy). All tickets purchased will be non-refundable, unless Out Of The Blue Adventures cancels the cruise due to weather/ocean conditions. If you need to cancel your cruise, you must provide 48hrs notice via phone (in opening hours) and your ticket will become a Gift Card credit valid for a period of three years. If you give less than 48hrs notice before cruise departure, you will forfeit your money and not receive a credit. Please read full Cancellation Policy before purchasing your cruise.
WHAT TO WEAR & BRING
- Hat
- Jumper or Jacket
- Sunglasses
- Drinking Water
- Camera/Phone for photos
- Sunscreen
- Seasick tablets if needed (some require you to take them 30mins prior to departure) For an image of attire guidance, please CLICK HERE
HOW TO GET HERE
The boarding wharf is in Ballina, which is a 30 minute drive south of Byron Bay. We board at the Lance Ferris Wharf, 12 Fawcett Street, Ballina.
PARKING
Cruise is 1.5hrs so choose parking accordingly. It is free parking in this area. For an image of parking options and other boarding information, please CLICK HERE
TIMING
Important: Please arrive 20minutes prior to your departure time. A safety briefing will be done, any passenger not present for the briefing will forfeit their ticket and will not be able to join the cruise. The boat cannot wait for late passengers. Please ensure you check NSW daylight savings time in advance if you are planning your journey from Queensland.
WEATHER & OCEAN DEPENDENT
Please keep in mind that all cruises are dependent on ocean and weather conditions. If conditions where to change and become unsafe or unsuitable to operate, we will try our very best to notify you 1.5hrs + before cruise departure, but keep in mind that this is not guaranteed and cruises can be cancelled at any time (even at the wharf or during the cruise) if conditions are deemed unsuitable or unsafe.
Important: To ensure we can contact you promptly if there is a necessary time change or cancellation, keep your phone on and close. Our primary way of communication is SMS & email. If there is a time change we will SMS then call if we do not receive a response. If we cannot reach you, we will also send an email. Check your phone number and email are correct on your booking details to avoid missing notifications.
SUITS
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The team was knowledgeable, passionate and clearly cares deeply about the marine environment. If you're visiting Byron or Ballina, put this on your list. A truly memorable experience.
Guides were friendly, helpful and would point out animals for us.
We were so lucky to have amazing conditions and see manta rays, leopard sharks and other big beauties.
The staff were so friendly, helpful and knowledgeable of all the awesome sea life we saw.
Would definitely do again!
Well organised and safe trip
She also took the time to point out differ ent marine life, including wobbegong sharks, green turtles and many different species of fish. it was a really enjoyable, well-run trip that I would recommend.
From trip advisor that we had to sign a pre wavier before being allowed on the dock! The link to the wavier didn’t work went to the actual tour company they didn’t have any wavier online and emailed trip advisor they didn’t respond. On the morning we had no idea if we were even allowed on the dock without this wavier called the tour company and they had an emergency number that they didn’t answer it and you couldn’t leave a message either so had to wait till trip advisor was opened and by then we were running about 10 mins late and the email said they will wait for no one so by the time trip advisor finically sent us a useable link the tour had begun and they offered no refunds for there error and either did the tour company bother companies were in the wrong and no one cared we were out over 500 and a family experience!! Don’t book with either company
On our way back we even saw some whales (probably humpback), although it was not the season for whales anymore. Very lucky!
Plenty of whale sightings with informative commentry by the guide. High safety standard practist by the onboard crew.
Highly recommended for visitors and locals a like.
Hazel was really nice and knowledgeable and we got to see SO MANY whales..and dolphins! So lucky!
Highly recommend, small boat (not touristy at all!l
Thank you very much!
Our guide was excellent. Knowledgeable, informative and enthusiastic.
Definitely recommend.
Appreciate that where the whales appear is random, but the boat can easily be turned to give everyone a chance at closer views/photos.
Those on the right would be delighted with the trip.
But! If you are sitting anywhere close to the front of the boat. Wear swimmers and nothing else. I wore shorts, t shirt, trainers w socks. And EVERYTHING got drenched. And I mean Drenched you couldn’t have got us more wet if you tried. The ponchos are useless all they do is pool up water and make your clothes more wet.
Other than me being a bit precious about my good clobber getting ruined I don’t have a bad word to say. Guides were great, we saw whales about 30m from the boat jumping straight out the water it was surreal.
Happy Trails,
Ben
The marine biologist was so knowledgeable & bery happy to share that knowledge. She was above excellent. We enjoyed it so much. Jenny Willis
Thank you Angus for welcoming us aboard and for for sailing us safely.
The adventure of getting out into the choppy waters was handled by an expert skipper who those us to the open waters. There we were blessed to see the majestic Humpbacks and the calf breaching, giving us an unforgettable show.
The marine biologist gave us precious information about their migrating routes, behaviours, mating rituals and we even got to listen to some of the males singing.
Thank you for such an amazing time 🐋🙏
Definitely do again.
I had no idea about some of the stuff!
Brilliant trip great boat
Great vibe
Skipper knew just where to go
Legend
Angus Steele and his crew were amazing .
I was quite anxious about going out to sea but the crew made me feel so at ease .
Angus is a very competent and skilled Skipper
and the lady Biologist was a wealth of information and knowledge. It was so educational. We highly recommend having this incredible experience.
What a day, incredible experience seeing the whales up close.
A great boat with fantastic skipper Angus that gets you up close to the whales along with a very knowledgeable guide (sorry I can’t remember her name) makes this a must do at Cape Byron.
Photographs just don’t do the experience justice.
In the area get this booked, 2 hours of non stop whale watching.
Massive thank you to Gabby and Dean
Big thanks to both of you.


































