The Sunshine Coast is building on its popularity for whale and marine experiences by adding an additional vessel to the fleet for the 2026 season.
Whales Sunshine Coast launches this season with Whale Explorer, the largest jet-powered whale watching boat in Australia.
The new vessel provides faster access to whale activity zones and more time with whales, while jet propulsion means no exposed propellers and lower impact on marine life.
Whale Explorer is offering a premium three-hour offshore whale watching cruise, departing from Kawana throughout the migration season, with an introductory rate of $99 per adult and $75 for children aged from 5-16 years.
Up to 40,000 humpback whales migrate past the Sunshine Coast each year. Travelling from the icy waters of Antarctica to the warm breeding grounds of Tropical North Queensland, they journey north between June and August and return south with their newborn calves from mid-August to November.
Whale Sunshine Coast joins established cruise operators Sunreef, Adventure Rafting and Sunshine Coast Afloat, which operate out of Mooloolaba.
Visitors to the Sunshine Coast can also join sightseeing cruises out of Noosa with operators including Noosa Ocean Adventures and Noosa Oceanrider. There is also the option of seeing these gentle giants on the Noosa Whale Watching Ocean Kayaking tour offered by Epic Ocean Adventures.
The Sunshine Coast is in a prime spot to offer some of the best whale watching in Australia – from a wide range of boats, vantage points on the coast, and even underwater.
Swimming with whales
The Sunshine Coast was the first destination in Australia to offer swimming with humpback whale experiences. Pioneered by Sunreef, guided experiences are now also being offered by The Pressure Project and Noosa Wave Boating Adventures.
Spotting whales from the shore
If you’d rather stay on dry land, there are plenty of opportunities to witness these graceful giants on their migration, especially on their return journeys, when they tend to swim closer to the shore. Favourite local spots include Point Perry in Coolum, Point Cartwright, Moffat Headland, Dolphin Point Lookout (Noosa), and Alexandra Headland.
