Duration:
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WHALE WATCHING SEASON 2024
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.
What if your desired time or session is booked out?
Please join our waitlist (Online) if your desired date is booked out. We will call anyone on this list first if seats become available for your group size.
The system will ask for your credit card details, but you will not get charged unless we call and confirm that seats are available for you to join us.
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.
TIMES
Into The Blue Vessel: 7:30am, 10:00am, 12:30pm, 3:00pm
Out Of The Blue Vessel: 7:31am, 10:01am, 12:31pm, 3:01pm
Times are subject to change if ocean conditions require it.
Encounter astonishing Humpback Whales in their natural habitat as they migrate past the coastline between Ballina and Byron Bay. We depart from Ballina’s Richmond River and enter the pristine waters of Cape Byron Marine Park. Enjoy breathtaking coastal scenery while listening to live Humpback Whale song using our specialised underwater hydrophone. Our friendly Marine Biologist will share in-depth knowledge of the area & jaw-dropping encounters we experience within Byron’s Marine Park.
Each year, between May and November, southern hemisphere Humpback Whales travel north from their Antarctic summer feeding grounds, past Cape Byron headland, and on to their breeding and birthing grounds in the sub-tropics. At more than 2,500-kms, this is considered one of the longest migrations in the animal kingdom. Witnessing this stunning spectacular is easy from Australia’s most easterly point. We are so sure you’ll spot a whale from June 1st until the end of October that we offer a free trip if you don’t see one on your first whale watching adventure!
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
Please keep your phone close for any notifications prior to departure in regards to any time changes or cancellations due to ocean or weather conditions.
- 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.
- Gift Cards – Gift Cards are non-refundable under any circumstance and cannot be exchanged for cash. If you redeem a Gift Card on a booking that gets cancelled by us due to weather or minimum numbers not met, your Gift Card is still not refundable, they are valid for 3yrs and can be used on another date or transferred to someone else to use. If you purchase Gift Cards, they are open-dated and not a specific date (it won’t matter if you select a date before clicking ‘Gift Card’ – It will still be open-dated)
WHAT TO WEAR & BRING
· Beanie or Warm Hat · Warm 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 and a 15 minute drive from Lennox Head. If you do not have your own transport, please book a transfer through the Ballina Byron Airport Transfers website or call Tony on 0481553081. We board at Lance Ferris Wharf, 12 Fawcett St, Ballina. (In front of Wharf Bar and Restaurant)
PARKING
Cruise is 2hrs so choose parking accordingly. It is not paid parking in this area, only restricted by amount of hours. For an image of parking options and other boarding information, please CLICK HERE
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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.
We also saw beautiful dolphins. The trip was funny and interesting due to all the informations that our marine biologist told us and due to the funny but responsible driving of the captain!




































