Sunshine Coast Whale Watching

Sunshine Coast Whale Watching with Australia Zoo Whale Tour on Steve Irwin's Whale One

Noosa River on Sunshine Coast

Staying on the Sunshine Coast is a bit more quiet than the Gold Coast and there are less options.

For whale watching you can drive to Mooloolaba and take the Australia Zoo Whale Encounters cruise.

Like all things Australia Zoo this is very well done and you will be aboard the iconic vessel Steve Irwin's Whale One. That alone has to be worth it!

Sunshine Coast Whale Watching Quick Links

Quick Facts about Sunshine Coast Whale Watching

There is only one main operator for whale watching on the Sunshine Coast and I think it would hard to go past them! Australia Zoo's very own Whale Encounters Day cruise which leaves from Mooloolaba at the southern end of the Sunshine Coast.

Steve's Whale One is a 30m Catamaran with 360 degree viewing and can carry about 115 passengers.

Tours depart daily at 10am returning 2.30pm from mid June to November depending upon whale activity and weather.

The boat is moored at The Wharf in Mooloolaba, which is also home to Underwater World.

The main tour at 10am includes lunch and other refreshments. There is a souvenir shop on board.

Boat is designed for good viewing of whales and the crew are well versed about the whales. They use videos to show more footage and information about the whales and hydrophones to listen to the whale song!

Booking is essential for these tours. Get in early to avoid disappointment, especially during school holidays as whale watching tours fill up quickly. Sunrise cruises are available during some Queensland school holidays as an additional option. They leave at 5.30am returning at 9.00am and include a buffet continental breakfast.

About This Sunshine Coast Whale Watching Tour Operator

Australia Zoo runs these whale watching tours. They are probably the most reputable tourist attraction in the Sunshine Coast! They have a strong brand and work hard to preserve their reputation.

You can expect high quality and good information, delivered with passion.

If you are staying in the Gold Coast, I have to admit I cannot see a compelling reason to drive to Sunshine Coast for this tour from a whale watching perspective and would suggest you consider one of the local Gold Coast whale watching tours.

This Sunshine Coast whale watching tour is better suited to those staying in the Sunshine Coast or northern Brisbane.

Australia Zoo Whale Watching Cruise.

Where To Find The Wharf Mooloolaba

The map below will help you find where they are located. Switch to satellite view (Sat) for more details and an aerial view. You can get directions on the map too.

Parking is easy at The Wharf which also shares parking for the Underwater World attraction.

Don't forget to explore this map or use the functions to get directions.

Review Of Australia Zoo Whale Watching

Australia Zoo Whale Encounters is the only Sunshine Coast whale watching operation. Even though it has this monopoly, you can expect a high quality tour on a good boat. The tour itself is virtually a whole day tour, from 10am to 2.30pm and includes a buffet lunch.

If you are staying in the Gold Coast, personally, I don't consider this worth the drive to see the whales unless you have your heart set on going on Steve's Whale One boat which was commissioned in 2007. The whale watching here will be similar to what you will see from Brisbane or the Gold Coast.

If you are staying in the Sunshine Coast, beware of travel times. Mooloolaba is at the other end of the Sunshine Coast from Noosa, so make sure you leave an hour to get from Noosa if that is where you are staying! The coast road is notoriously slow going, so make sure you leave plenty of time not to get flustered. Pick ups can be arranged from Sunshine Coast accommodation.

Steve's Whale One is located at The Wharf Marina in Mooloolaba, see the map below. If you are driving up from the Gold Coast for this trip, you will need to factor in at least two hours drive. From the marina it is a short trip out of Mooloolaba seaway to the ocean and the whale watching! Like the Gold Coast you will have to go out to about 3 miles offshore before you can stop to whale watch.

Some of the things I like particularly about this operation is that it is:

• Part of Australia Zoo therefore a high quality tour with high quality educational value. They do it very well..
• Steve's Whale One is a 71ft catamaran that takes about 115 passengers.
• 360 degree viewing from this specially designed boat.

Whale Watching Cruise on Steve's Whale One.

Whale Watching Hints and Tips

In response to some questions I have received I have written a couple of articles giving hints and tips for a great whale watching experience.

• What to wear on a whale watching trip

• Whale Watching Cruise - Tips for a comfortable day

• Land Based Whale Watching Tips

If Australia Zoo Whale Watching is not what you are looking for, don't forget to check out the other tour operators in the Gold Coast or Brisbane to find something to suit your needs.

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