• Witness intimate whale behaviour, including mothers and calves resting and socialising in the sheltered waters of Hervey Bay, the world’s first Whale Heritage Site.
• Stay overnight aboard your private yacht and enjoy sunset anchorages, calm waters and the chance to wake to whales surfacing nearby at first light.
• Explore the UNESCO-listed Great Sandy Strait with an expert skipper, offering close wildlife encounters and a personalised marine experience.

Experience Australia’s only overnight humpback whale tour in Hervey Bay. Stay aboard a private skippered yacht, explore the Great Sandy Strait and enjoy rare, unhurried encounters with whales during the peak migration season.

What to Expect

Start your exclusive whale-watching escape with Australia’s only overnight humpback whale tour, a private charter designed for travellers who want deeper, more meaningful encounters with whales on the Fraser Coast. Your journey takes place aboard K’gari Breeze, with a highly experienced skipper guiding you through the calm, protected waters of the UNESCO Great Sandy Strait.

Choose a 2-day/1-night or 3-day/2-night charter and spend unhurried time observing humpback whales resting, nurturing calves and socialising during their northern migration. Enjoy peaceful evenings at anchor with sweeping winter sunsets and mornings where whales may surface only metres from your yacht. This immersive wildlife experience suits nature lovers, families, photographers and travellers seeking a more intimate alternative to traditional whale-watching tours.

Features and Highlights

• Private yacht experience with an expert skipper
• Witness mothers and calves resting and bonding in Hervey Bay
• Hervey Bay recognised as the world’s first Whale Heritage Site
• Sunset anchorage and relaxed evenings onboard
• Close encounters with whales, dolphins, turtles and birdlife
• Two itinerary options: 2-day/1-night or 3-day/2-night
• Accommodates up to 6 overnight guests 
• Whale season: July to October

Sample Itinerary

2 Day / 1 Night Itinerary

Day 1

12pm – Depart the Hervey Bay Marina on your private, skippered sailing catamaran and cruise north into the sheltered waters of the Great Sandy Strait. Enjoy panoramic views of K’gari (Fraser Island) while keeping an eye out for dolphins, turtles, whales and even the occasional dingo along the shoreline.

Arriving in Platypus Bay, settle into one of Australia’s most reliable whale-watching locations. Spend your afternoon observing humpback whales as they approach, interact and display their natural behaviours in calm, protected waters.

As the day winds down, your skipper will secure a peaceful anchorage for the night. Relax on deck as the sun sets over the ocean and dinner is prepared for you onboard.

Day 2

Wake to the sound of humpback whales vocalising beneath the hull and enjoy a fresh breakfast as the morning unfolds. Continue your journey south along K’gari with more unhurried whale encounters and opportunities to step ashore to explore the Fraser Coast’s quiet beaches and hidden pockets.

Cruise back toward Hervey Bay, passing the historic pier and coastline as you reflect on your overnight adventure.
Arrive back at the Boat Club Marina at 12pm.

3 Day / 2 Night Itinerary

Day 1

12pm – Depart the Hervey Bay Marina and begin your journey north toward Platypus Bay aboard your private catamaran. Take in the sweeping views of K’gari and the Great Sandy Strait while watching for dolphins, turtles, whales and the occasional dingo along the shoreline.

Enter Platypus Bay, known for its calm conditions and exceptional whale activity, and enjoy an afternoon immersed in close, natural encounters with humpback whales.

As evening approaches, your skipper will select a calm anchorage for your first night onboard. Settle back, relax on deck and enjoy a winter sunset while dinner is prepared for you.

Day 2

Wake to whales singing through the hull and enjoy a freshly prepared breakfast. Spend the morning with more intimate whale encounters before cruising south along the island.

Your skipper will tailor the day to suit your preferences, with the option to visit Coongul Creek, Moon Point or Pelican Bank (weather and tide permitting) for beach walks, relaxation or land-based exploration.

Return to the yacht for a peaceful afternoon onboard as your skipper chooses a new anchorage for the night. Enjoy an uninterrupted sunset over the Great Sandy Strait before dinner.

Day 3

Begin your final morning with a wholesome breakfast before setting out to explore more of the Fraser Coast’s quiet bays and hidden gems. Cruise back toward Hervey Bay, taking in views of the coastline and pier as your multi-day whale adventure comes to an end.

Arrive back at the Boat Club Marina at 12pm.

Activities & Inclusions

• Swim With Whales Experience – Conditions permitting, guests may enter the water on a mermaid line, allowing safe surface swimming while humpback whales pass nearby and beneath them.
• Beach Access – Guests may swim from approved beaches during island stopovers.
• Equipment – Wetsuits and snorkelling gear are not supplied; guests are encouraged to bring their own suitable in-water equipment.

Your Vessel: K’gari Breeze

K’gari Breeze is a 12-metre (39-foot) Seawind 1200 sailing catamaran designed for intimate small-group charters. The vessel includes three private double cabins for up to six guests, with the fourth cabin reserved for the skipper. Two bathrooms are available onboard, with the skipper sharing access to one.

The catamaran features a bright, open saloon with kitchen facilities, fridge and freezer, as well as generous indoor and outdoor living spaces for relaxation between marine encounters. The wide front deck offers excellent vantage points for whale watching and taking in the sweeping views of K’gari and the Great Sandy Strait.

A motorised tender provides easy access to secluded beaches and remote anchorages accessible only by boat.

Sample Catering (dietary adjustments available)

Breakfast: Assorted muesli, yoghurt, fruit, tea, coffee and juice
Morning Tea: Fruit and light snacks
Lunch: Roast chicken or ham rolls with assorted salads
Afternoon Tea: Savoury platter with meats, cheeses, crackers and dip
Dinner: BBQ meats, prawns or seasonal seafood with fresh salads

Tour Languages Offered

• English

Departs From

Hervey Bay

Departure Time

12pm

Departure Instructions

Check in on the boat 30 minutes prior to departure at Boat Club Marina Hervey Bay

Destinations

• Moon Point
• Conngul Creek
• Kingfisher Bay
• Pelican Bank
• Big Woody Island

Months of Operation

July - October

Days of Operation

Daily

Duration

2 Day 1 Night or 3 Day 2 Night

Fitness Level Required

Low

• Swimwear
• Comfortable clothes
• Beach Towels
• Medications
• Hat & Sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Snorkel equipment if you want to snorkel
• Wetsuits if you would like to wear them (water temp can be cold during winter)
• Any alcohol you would like to enjoy during charter

Child must be under parent supervision at all times.