Brisbane Whale Watching Cruises

Whale Watching In Moreton Bay From Brisbane

The magnificent Moreton Bay area is a playground for returning whales and calves from the breeding grounds further north.

You can enjoy whale watching on Moreton Bay departing from a location such as Redcliffe in the northern suburbs of Brisbane (see below for more details).

A second option is to head over to Tangalooma on Moreton Island (departs Brisbane Holt Street Wharf at 7am or 10am daily) and enjoy some of the island resort facilities and then hop on a whale watching cruise departing from the resort around midday for 3 hours of whale spotting. If you have more time why not add in a dolphin adventure including the nightly dolphin feeding to make it a really amazing memory.

Self Drive Option From Gold Coast Information

If you plan to self drive to either Brisbane Whale watching (Redcliffe Jetty) or Tangalooma (Holt Street Wharf) you will need to make your way to the jetty in time for boarding.

Whilst self-drive is a great money saving option, especially for families, there are some things to consider.

Allow at least 2 hour to get to Redcliffe Jetty (in the morning the traffic can be slow on the way into Brisbane and there are roadworks north of the airport).

Allow at least 1½ hours to get to Holt Street Wharf, which is at Pinkemba, close to Brisbane Airport. It shouldn't take quite as long to get back in the afternoon or evening as the traffic is usually not so bad.

Both Options require you to use the toll ways on the Gateway Motorway. If you have hired a car, it is important to check with your hire car company to see how they handle tolls or if you need to organise payment directly with the toll company. We only have electronic tolling, so it isn't simply a case of paying cash when you use the tollway.

If you don't pay the tolls, the hire cars and toll company usually follow you up with HEFTY toll fines and administration charges! Not a great thing to come home to after your holiday! Spend you holiday dollars on more fun activities!

* If you read all the information or you get lost in it, you can always ask me directly anything I haven't covered. The easiest way is to email me through my contact form.

Quick Facts about Brisbane Whale Watching On MV Eye Spy

Brisbane Whale Watching is a big operation!

Captain Kerry Lopez is the only female owner operator of a whale watching operation the South Pacific Rim.

MV Eye Spy is a 30m catamaran that can take a whopping 320 passengers!

It is a custom built whale watching boat with 6 viewing platforms.

It is designed with viewing in mind, so even with a full complement of passengers there should be good viewing.

Brisbane Whale Watching is located at Redcliffe a northern bayside suburb of Brisbane. The boat departs from Redcliffe Jetty which is found on Redcliffe Parade (see map below). Free parking is just 100m north of the jetty opposite Redcliffe Police Station.

Cruises depart at 10am daily during whale watching season and return between 2.30 and 3.00pm. This whale watching cruise is a longer cruise than the Gold Coast cruises which tend to be only for 2 to 3 hours.

The cruise includes morning and afternoon tea plus a buffet lunch, so expect to pay more for this cruise than the shorter versions on the Gold Coast.

If you are staying in Brisbane for a couple of days, there is a transfer service to the main hotels.

From the Gold Coast self drive is the best option, but leave plenty of time as you will have to negotiate the Gateway Bridge which gets quite busy during peak hour. I would personally leave at least 2 hours to drive from the Gold Coast to Redcliffe at this time of the day, as Redcliffe is north of Brisbane Airport.

Cruises are subject to weather conditions and it is recommended that you book a cruise early in your holiday to allow for changes. Should the cruise be cancelled due to bad weather they will try to accommodate you on the next available cruise or refund.

Booking is essential for these tours. Get in early to avoid disappointment, especially during school holidays as whale watching tours fill up quickly.

About Brisbane Whale Watching Tour Operator

Brisbane Whale Watching Cruises are one of only two operators allowed to view whales within the Moreton Bay Marine Park.

The boat MV Eye Spy was commissioned in 2002 and custom built for whale watching incorporating many whale and eco-friendly features.

Owned and operated by skipper Captain Kerry this is a very popular day trip from Brisbane.

This cruise is suited to those who prefer the bigger tours, are looking for a whole day outing or who are staying for a few days in Brisbane. The boat can cater for some visitors with disabilities and has wheel chair access.

Book your Whale Watching Tour With Captain Kerry.