Brisbane Whale Watching Cruise Moreton Bay & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.84 (1,076 reviews) 89% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/11

Duration5h

GroupUp to 150

PickupAt your hotel

What does it feel like when a humpback whale surfaces ten meters away?

You board a catamaran in Moreton Bay and spend hours watching humpback whales breach and play within meters of the boat. You get a gourmet lunch, live commentary from a professional guide, and a guaranteed sighting—if whales don't appear, you return free. Optional pickup from Brisbane or the Sunshine Coast means you don't arrange transport yourself. The whole day runs June through November, when humpbacks migrate through the bay.

Step-by-step itinerary

Whale watching cruise in Moreton Bay

Board the ‘Eye Spy’ catamaran
Enjoy whale watching in Moreton Bay
Listen to informative commentary
Have a gourmet picnic lunchbox
Visit licensed bar and souvenir counter

The Experience

That's the question that gets answered on the Eye Spy, a high-speed catamaran that leaves from Redcliffe Jetty or Brisbane City and heads into Moreton Bay during humpback migration season—June through November. The whales are moving between Antarctic feeding grounds and tropical breeding waters, and they're active. You'll see them breach, tail slap, and play in water so clear you can track their movement below the surface. The boat holds enough people to feel like a real departure, but not so many that you're crammed against strangers. A professional guide narrates what's happening as it happens, so you're not just watching—you're learning why the humpbacks do what they do.

The cruise includes a gourmet picnic lunchbox, which lands somewhere between "better than I expected" and genuinely good. Vegetarian and vegan options are available if you request them when you book. There's a licensed bar on board, a snack counter, and a souvenir shop if you want to take something home. The operator guarantees whale sightings, which means if the humpbacks don't show, you get a return trip free. That's not a small promise in wildlife watching. A portion of every ticket goes to whale charities, so the money isn't just paying for your seat—it's funding conservation work in the bay.

If you're coming from Brisbane or the Sunshine Coast, you can add round-trip coach transport to your booking instead of driving to Redcliffe yourself. The operator asks for your hotel information when you book the pickup option, so they know where to collect you. The whole experience runs in most weather, though you'll want to dress for the ocean—wind, salt spray, and the chance of rain are real. Infants sit on an adult's lap, and children need to be accompanied. The boat is wheelchair accessible, and public transport stops are nearby if you're making your own way to the jetty.

What’s included

Your day includes professional guide commentary throughout the cruise, a gourmet picnic lunchbox with vegetarian and vegan options available on request, access to the licensed bar and snack counter, a souvenir shop, and guaranteed whale sightings.
If you select the transport option, round-trip coach pickup from your Brisbane or Sunshine Coast hotel is included.
A portion of every ticket supports whale conservation charities.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessiblePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Brisbane Whale Watching

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see humpback whales without arranging your own transport or worrying whether you'll actually spot them—the guarantee and optional pickup mean you show up and the logistics are handled.