Tips To Gold Coast Whale Watching Season

Humpback highways have their place, but they’re no match for what has essentially become one big Airbnb between late May and November for our favourite creatures.

Much has been made of the Gold Coast skyline over the years, and with good reason. Gleaming skyscrapers; a dazzling cityscape of outdoor pools and sunset reflections, interspersed with the odd swaying palm. But during Gold Coast whale watching season, this setting essentially becomes a glamorous backdrop for the greatest nature show on Earth when pods of humpback whales breach from the water – so much so that you can often see them from the window of your accommodation.

Whale in Migaloo, Boattime Luxury Whale Watching, Gold Coast, QLD Australia

There is a staggering number of whale-watching tour choices. (Image: Boattime Luxury Whale Watching)

It’s no surprise that our marine mates are just as keen on the Gold Coast as the rest of us, says Dr. Olaf Meynecke, a Research Fellow at Griffith University’s Coastal and Marine Research Centre.

“The Gold Coast bay is an open embayment providing shallow waters with sandy bottoms, and in particular, the southern part of the Gold Coast bay gives protection from the south-easterly trade winds," he explains. “It’s the perfect place for humpback whales to socialise, rest and even give birth."

Want to know more about why the Gold Coast is one of the best places to whale watch in Australia? Settle in and listen up.

Whale-watching season on the Gold Coast

What’s so special about whale watching on the Gold Coast? Unlike some of nature’s best phenomena, this isn’t a case of a two-week window that changes every year. On the Gold Coast, the humpback whales announce their arrival in late May and stick around until late October/early November. Not only does this give you plenty of notice to book a trip, but the whales’ generosity with their scheduling allows you to research the perfect whale-watching tour to see the magnificent creatures in action.

Whale watching, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

The Gold Coast is the perfect place for humpback whales to socialise, rest and even give birth. (Image: Sea World Cruises)

It’s also worth pointing out that the Gold Coast isn’t considered a ‘highway’ for whales on the move. Instead, they essentially treat the region like a resort for mammals, sticking around for a solid break before it’s time to move on again. And while adult whales frolicking before you is impressive enough, the warm waters there mean they also treat the joint like a nursery as the mums often bring their calves with them to prepare for their journey south in a few months.

“The Gold Coast bay is a mixing pot for humpbacks – all ages, genders, and attitudes can be found here," explains Dr. Meynecke. “Socialising is one of the most important activities, which means we see a lot of surface behaviours, from breaches to tail slaps to pectoral slaps and more."

Spirit Vessel, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

On a whale-watching tour, you’re going to be seeing whales up close and personal. (Image: Spirit of Gold Coast)

He’s not kidding. Last season, Dr. Meynecke witnessed the largest heat run he’s seen in over 10 years of his research. “About 16 whales followed a female. At some point, they were only a few kilometres off Surfers Paradise. [It was] an incredible sight to watch one of the largest animals on Earth steaming through the water, competing for a female."

An estimated 35,000 humpback whales visit the Gold Coast each year so the odds of seeing them are in your favour! Keep an eye out for bottlenose dolphins, minke whales, green sea turtles, and gigantic whale sharks too.

Best time of day to see whales on the Gold Coast

So, when is the ideal time of day to start looking out for whales? Honestly, these beautiful mammals come and go as they please, but if we had to pick a time, it’s recommended to look in the morning when the conditions are calm before any wind picks up and wave height increases. This also means you have the rest of the afternoon to explore other parts of the Gold Coast.

Whale watching, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia

On the Gold Coast, you’re in humpback whale heaven. (Image: Spirit of Gold Coast)

Whale-watching tours on the Gold Coast

From an intimate small group experience on a small boat to a more affordable option on a larger vessel with marine experts, or even a luxury whale-watching experience paired with a rotating viewing deck, there are more than enough tours to go around to suit all tastes and budgets.

Bring your binoculars along if you like, but rest assured knowing that on a whale-watching tour, you’re going to be seeing them up close and personal, as they like to hang out only 15 minutes from the shore. Here are some of the best whale-watching tours on the Gold Coast to choose from.

Sea World Whale Watching, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia

Calm days make for a relaxed tour; however, a slight breeze of 15 knots does tend to increase activity. (Image: Sea World Cruises)

1. Whales in Paradise

Setting sail from Surfers Paradise, ready yourself for an intimate whale encounter with the family-operated business Whales in Paradise. With guaranteed railside viewing, watch in awe as the whales curiously approach the purpose-built whale-watching vessel with expert commentary along the way.

Tours are limited to smaller numbers to avoid crowding and on the rare occasion the whales can’t be found, Whales in Paradise offers a free return cruise so you can see them on another day.

2. Sea World Cruises

The whales announce their arrival in late May and stick around until late October/early November. (Image: Sea World Cruises)

Departing from either the Surfers Paradise or Main Beach Terminal, join marine experts at Sea World Cruises for a wonderful family-friendly whale-watching tour. Marvel at their acrobatic aerial displays and see mother whales tenderly care for calves.

If your tour fails to see a whale, Sea World Cruises will provide you with a free return cruise.

3. Spirit of the Gold Coast

Whale watching in the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

See adult whales frolicking before you. (Image: Spirit of Gold Coast)

Get on board Spirit of Gold Coast and witness the majestic humpback whales in their natural habitat. Enjoy complimentary tea, coffee, and snacks on arrival.

Spirit of the Gold Coast has a 99 per cent success rate of finding whales but you’ll get a free return trip if no whales are sighted.

4. Boattime Yacht Charters

Boattime Luxury Whale Watching, Gold Coast, QLD Australia

The Gold Coast Bay is a mixing pot for humpbacks. (Image: Boattime Luxury Whale Watching)

Join Boattime Yacht Charters for their hit luxury whale-watching tour where you can experience the Humpback Highway in style on a 34-metre superyacht. From Main Beach, join the crew on board along with sensational commentary, a fully licensed bar, complimentary morning tea, and rotating viewing decks so everyone gets an amazing view!

If you don’t see whales on your tour, you’re invited to come back for a free return trip.

Swimming with whales on the Gold Coast

Did you know that you can swim with whales on the Gold Coast? Humpbacks have an incredible sense of their surroundings and never touch a person or vessel hence they are nicknamed ‘gentle giants’. Following the ‘soft in-water encounters’ approach —meaning you don’t swim with whales, the whales swim with you — it’s a proven method to achieve a successful and sustainable whale swim.

1. Cooley Eco Adventures

Join Cooley Eco Adventures (just over the NSW border in Chinderah) for an unforgettable eye-to-eye experience. The experienced crew will lead you and seven other swimmers into the water for whale swimming interactions as close as 30 metres – the rest is up to the whale. Snorkel training is offered to improve your current skill level

Price: $339pp

2. Sea the Gold Coast

Another bucket list whale adventure option is Sea The Gold Coast departing from Southport. Everything in this experience is at the whale’s discretion and whatever happens simply happens. You can join this tour as a whale swimmer or observer and watch from the deck.

Price: $249pp

What to bring to your whale-watching experience

If you’re hopping on board a whale-watching boat tour, don’t forget the necessities so you can enjoy the experience comfortably.

While the ocean breeze can feel invigorating, it can get chilly depending on the weather, so pack a jumper or windproof jacket to keep warm. The boat can also get quite rocky, so it’s best to wear flat, rubber shoes to ensure you don’t slip while moving around on the deck.

And of course, suncream and sunglasses are essential, and you may like to take a sea sickness tablet beforehand. Make sure to bring your phone or camera to get those epic whale breach shots.

Looking for more things to do on the Gold Coast? See our ultimate guide for tips and ideas.

The unique tranquillity of Japanese bathing culture can now be experienced in a Queensland rainforest.

I’m the first official guest at SOL Elements, an elemental bathhouse located in Mt Tamborine, roughly 50 minutes inland from the Gold Coast beaches. The town is already a calm-inducing hinterland heaven as birdsong echoes over rolling hills and roadside avocado shacks pop up around many corners. But with the arrival of SOL Elements, Mt Tamborine evolves into a wellness destination. Let me take you through the experience.

The new bathhouse is set in the calming hinterland. (Image: Timothy Birch)

First impressions

The exterior of the new SOL Elements Bathhouse in the Gold Coast hinterland

The setting delivers maximum serenity. (Image: Timothy Birch)

Given the jaw-dropping rendered photography released by the team in January 2025, I wondered if SOL Elements could meet the hype. Additionally, the location is at the end of a large car park at Tamborine Mountain Glades’ Thunderbird Park, an iconic kid-friendly hinterland attraction, so I was curious as to how they’d bring the Zen.

Surprisingly, no shrieking children are heard as I approach one architecturally magnificent facade. Positioned off a small lake dubbed Lotus Lake, swimming with turtles and ducks, it features thin timber boards that gradually fan out via meticulous three-millimetre increments. More than 2000 metres of hand-charred wood, burnt personally by Russ Raven, who founded SOL Elements with his wife Shae Raven, make up the entrance and much of the interior walls, channelling the ancient Japanese art of wood preservation, Yakisugi. It’s an aesthetic that pops amid bushland without ever jarring. It’s dramatic yet graceful, bold yet grounded – a lot like what’s going on inside, really…

Communal bathhouse

The communal bathhouse is circular with treatment rooms branching off from a garden. (Image: Timothy Birch)

Positioned to take in the entire breadth of that fairytale lake, three small outdoor thermal mineral pools are the cornerstone of SOL Elements’ communal bathhouse, which caters to just 30 people at a time. While the warm pools bubble at a toasty 38 degrees, the cold plunge drops to an icy 12 degrees.

There are two ways to soak up some hot and cold therapy. The first starts inside SOL’s Cedar Wood Sauna, fitted with bench seating and extensive windows that let in more Lotus Lake views, before I go 90 full seconds in the cold (I’m aiming for two minutes, but it’s still winter). The sauna is small, and I’m grateful to be in there alone, but six or so people could fit in here comfortably.

Sit around the sunken fire pit at SOL Elements Bathhouse

Sit around the sunken fire pit. (Image: Timothy Birch)

The second way to hop between hot and cold is via the showstopping submerged outdoor fire pit. I take a seat on its curved bench seating and watch the flames flicker against my serene view. Sitting in wet cozzies, I feel reinvigorated, ready to dip in and out all over again.

Then there’s the communal Earth Lab, a mind-blowing alchemy station. Before I hit the showers, I’m invited to spoon out two ingredients from a bar filled with salts, flowers and powders. Utterly delighted to personalise my sensory journey, I go for the ground coffee and hibiscus flower petals before pumping body wash into my palm and creating an exfoliating polish. It’s hard to ignore the likes of raw brown sugar, chamomile flowers, rose petals and spirulina powder (there are 10 options in total), but my blend is straight-up delicious.

The Earth Lab features an alchemy station for guests to create a personalised sensory journey that suits their mood. (Image: Kristie Lau-Adams)

Himalayan Salt Sanctuary

The Himalayan Salt Sanctuary at SOL Elements. (Image: Kristie Lau-Adams)

There’s one other communal element at SOL: the Himalayan Salt Sanctuary, featuring a gasp-worthy design (and gasps are welcomed, given the respiratory benefits salt therapy is famed for).

Built with illuminated salt bricks that morph between sunrise shades, pale pink and clear white, the room radiates as I breathe in negative ionised air. Bench seating wraps the entire space while three stunning pendant lights glisten, dialling up the drama. It feels as though I’m sitting inside a lantern, all while my lungs are high-fiving me as I attempt further breathwork.

Floatation caves

For the ultimate sensory deprivation experience, two Floatation Caves are calling. Located right next to the Himalayan Salt Sanctuary, the rooms open to beautiful all-black stone fit-outs. Magnesium salt water is heated to complement your unique body temperature. Epsom salt and Dead Sea salt are expertly utilised to create the most extensively filtered water in Queensland. This is magnesium magic on steroids.

Once the doors shut, it’s completely dark. I float blissfully unaware of my surroundings; waterproof headphones ensure total immersion.

Secluded Suites

an outdoor mineral plunge at SOL Elements

The onsite accommodation features a heated private mineral plunge. (Image: Kristie Lau-Adams)

I step up my SOL Elements visit by booking one of its two Secluded Suites, and the experience is end-to-end luxurious. Facility-wise, the suite (which caters for groups of up to five) gives me my own infrared sauna, single-person cold plunge, shower, private Earth lab with four ingredients, mini-bar with mocktails, tea station and clay mask, all while floor-to-ceiling glass windows throw up more of those soothing views.

The cherry on top? An outdoor private warm mineral plunge right by the lake. I sip on an organic, caffeine-free lemon myrtle and ginger root tea as the afternoon slips by. But before I go, there’s one more unmissable element to indulge in.

Massages and treatments

Inside the treatment rooms at SOL Elements Bathhouse

Up the ante with a rejuvenating massage at one of the two onsite treatment rooms. (Image: Timothy Birch)

I dress in a plush black waffle robe and stroll a couple of doors down to one of SOL Element’s two treatment rooms. I’m booked in for the Earthing Immersion as I love hot stone massages, and this features stones gathered with permission from Indigenous elders right around Australia. How special is that?

For so many reasons, but mainly the skills flexed by therapist Milena (who specialises in stretching), this is a massage like no other. I’m asked about my mood and lifestyle before Milena tells me she’s reading my energy. I’m not typically partial to energy readings, but I can’t deny that my limbs surrender under the hands of Milena, who uses Synthesis Organics’ essential oils that smell divine.

The stones differ in size and shape, heated and rolled across me like Café de Paris butter. 90 minutes later, I feel weightless as I return to my Secluded Suite to shower again and, begrudgingly, depart. I’m truly transformed into jelly. It took Shae and Russ four long years, but SOL Elements manages to live up to every expectation before soaring far beyond.

Details

Address: Cedar Creek Falls Rd and Tamborine Mountain Rd, Tamborine Mountain (within Tamborine Mountain Glades)

Opening hours: Monday to Thursday, 8 am to 8 pm, Friday to Sunday, 8 am to 10 pm

Prices:

Communal Bathhouse: $95 for 90 minutes
Floatation Cave: $90 per person for 60 minutes (2 guests maximum)
Secluded Suite: From $360 for two people, for 90 minutes
Earthing Immersion: $300 for 90 minutes
Other massages, facials and treatments: View the spa menu

Accessibility: SOL Elements welcomes guests with access needs. The building features wide pathways, accessible for wheelchairs, throughout. A pool hoist can also be arranged if requested in advance.

Please note: All guests must be over 18.

An expert’s guide to whale watching on the Gold Coast