Merimbula Whale Watching Adventure

Encounter the incredible

Embark on an exhilarating whale watching adventure that will bring you eye to eye with whales in the wild. With waterline viewing, be amazed at their size and learn about how incredible these creatures are.

The Sapphire Coast is known as one of the best whale watching locations in the world. Approximately 45,000 humpback whales visit us each year to rest, feed and nurse their young as they migrate to Antarctica.

Our expert crew are passionate about whales, dolphins and all things ocean and love sharing their knowledge with you.

About this tour

Our Merimbula Whale Watching Adventure departs on selected days during the northern migration (May to July) and southern migration (August to early November). This is an adventure tour and you may get wet – so bring a wet weather jacket and a sense of fun!

Location

Merimbula is a wonderful place to view whales from and whales can be sighted within minutes of departure. It is not uncommon to find mothers and calves in Merimbula Bay.

Depending on where the best whale action is, we may travel north to the waters off Tura Headland and Bournda National Park, or head south past beautiful Pambula River Mouth, Haycock Point and Beowa National Park. The entire Merimbula coastline is spectacular and a treat for photographers.

Tours departing from Merimbula operate over a sandbar. At times this sandbar may become shallow which may cause departure times to vary. You will be notified if there are any changes to your trip departure time.

What will we see?

Each year, approximately 45,000 humpback whales migrate along the Sapphire Coast. Other species of whales often sighted include southern right, minke, Brydes, orcas and blue whales.

From mid-May to the end of July, the humpback whales are travelling north and are fat and full of energy from their summer feeding upon krill down in Antarctica. During this time they can be out a little wider but we have noticed over the years that as the whale population has increased we are seeing an ever increasing number of whales in closer.

From August through to late November, large numbers of humpback whales travel past the Sapphire Coast, often with calves in tow.

In the waters of the Sapphire Coast, humpback whales can be seen lateral lunge feeding, one of the few places in the world where they can be observed doing this. A sight not to be missed! In late September to late November, mothers and their young calves provide hours of entertainment as baby whales learn how to breach, tail slap and dive.

Many other sea creatures are seen on our cruises, including common and bottlenose dolphins, Australian fur seals, penguins, flying fish, sunfish, turtles and many species of sea birds.

Vessel

This tour is on our 50pax, 14-metre aluminium tourist vessel, 'Sensational II'. When whale watching we reduce these numbers to 40pax to allow more room for everyone! Sensational II is a shallow draft tourist vessel and perfect for crossing the Merimbula sandbar. With three 425hp Yamaha engines she is fast, comfortable and fun!

With waterline viewing, Sensational is ideal for whale watching and the whales and dolphins love her! You will love her too – she helps you to get up close and personal with the ocean and its amazing wildlife.

She does have an onboard toilet and a canopy to keep the sun off. But you may get wet from salt spray and a warm and weatherproof jacket is important to keep warm in the wind. Rest assured you will have a smile on your face – it is invigorating!

We are committed to minimising our impact upon the environment, our engine emissions are extremely low and our fuel burn is also very efficient.

Morning vs. afternoon

The morning is usually the calmest time on the ocean so we recommend it is the best time for first time sailors. We often see some fantastic action from whales in the afternoons, however it is usually windier! If booking an afternoon cruise please dress warmly, take seasickness prevention and bring your sense of adventure!

Roger the whale spotting dog

Please be advised that on most of our tours, Roger our whale spotting kelpie will be on board. If you have an allergy or this poses a problem for you, please contact us.

What to bring

Whale Sighting Guarantee*

Joining a wildlife tour never has any guarantees, however you can trust our expert crew to do their best to find whales on all of our whale watching tours. The following applies to all whale watching tickets purchased directly from Sapphire Coastal Adventures.

If whales are not sighted on your whale watching tour, you will be offered a free return whale watching cruise. This offer is valid for the current and following season.

If your booking is made through a third-party agent then the terms of the ticket apply.

Meet your crew

Our mission is to help you connect with the ocean. Our experienced and dedicated team are here to ensure you safely enjoy every minute of your journey and see our beautiful coastline and marine life from the best possible perspective.

More whale watching tours

We also operate daily whale watching tours from Eden and Bermagui. If there is no Merimbula tour available on the day of your preference, please check our other locations.

Eden

We operate whale watching cruises from Eden Wharf on our larger vessel Bubbles (23.5-metre large, comfortable powered catamaran). This vessel is much more suitable for families with young children. Eden is an easy 20-minute drive south of Merimbula.

Bermagui

During the southern migration, we operate whale watching adventure tours from the beautiful seaside village of Bermagui. The town is full of delicious cafes and interesting specialty shops and is perfect for a day trip. Bermagui is a 1-hour drive north of Merimbula.