Humpback Whale Encounter Tour from Newcastle
Overview
Available languages
2 hours
Mobile ticket
Prebook to save time and see humpback whales in their natural habitat on this whale-spotting cruise from Newcastle. Board an eco-tourism boat and hit the open waters to observe humpbacks in the wild, learning about their natural behaviors via the commentary as the boat maintains a respectful distance. Plus, watch for dolphins and seals, and admire the coastal scenery as you hear details on local landmarks, culture, and history.
- See humpback whales in the wild on a whale watching cruise from Newcastle
- Prebook to secure a place at a time and day that fits your vacation schedule
- View humpbacks and learn about them, and the coastal scenery, from a guide
- Includes wet-weather gear and choice of departures for flexibility
- CoastXP is an Accredited quality and sustainable tourism business
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Children under 3 not allowed
What To Expect
Enjoy close encounters with Humpback Whales along the Hunter Coast. The tour showcases the stunning Newcastle and Lake Macquarie coastline from the water with an added focus on searching for whales, dolphins and seals! Departing from Newcastle Harbour, visit some of the key landmarks along the Hunter Coastline, before heading offshore on an adventure boat ride in search of migrating humpback whales. Annually, humpback whales pass the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie coastline in strong numbers (up to 35,000 individuals). Keep a close eye out for some of their fascinating behaviours including pectoral fin slapping on the surface of the water, fluke or tail slapping and of course breaching!! As humpback whales are wild mammals, should you not encounter a whale on your tour, the CoastXP team will welcome you back on board free of charge (within the same season).
Options
Regular Pricing
What‘s Included
Marine Toilet Onboard
Premium weatherproof jackets provided
Professional wildlife guide
Safe and comfortable eco-tourism vessel
Two-hour whale watching tour
Small group experience (max 20 guests at a time)
Any parking or transport fees
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
160 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
A must do in whale watching season
heidi s,Jun 13, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Fabulous with fantastic host!!$
Outstanding opportunity to remember
B4204WDdannyh,Jun 8, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The day we booked and service around booking was excellent . The small group I was in had high expectations. The loan wind cheater option felt worth the price. A deep historical context of landmarks both colonial and indigenous was incredibly well delivered. The views back towards the city superb. Then we lucked in for an hour long whale breaching humpback performance words do not succinctly describe . Veteran guides with faces bathed in gratitude and childish glee. Respectful of the animals yet appreciative of the shared special experience. The return trip after showing of the southern beaches was so bliss filled with the water , sun and wind . This tour only has a low on board capacity so it felt so intimate and personalised as well
Great morning on the water
McTravel777,Oct 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Great morning on the water. Great bits of commentary along the way. Even learnt some of our local history that I didn’t know!
Wonderful trip
Climber62307895102,Sep 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The experience with CoastXP was wonderful. There was nice music, a good tour guide who had an ocean of knowledge. Ranging from types of whales, where they come from, how they live, how to spot them and much more. The boat trip itself was worth the money and more so. Will go again and I highly recommend
Fantastic experience
Toni N,Jul 29, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Brilliant morning!! Worried we wouldn’t see any whales as swells were quite high, but we did. And it was amazingly beautiful & all I hoped for. Incredibly lucky to see a whale breach too. Awesome
X3134SScarolf,Jul 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Absolutely excellent. Saw very rare sighting of Southern Right and calf then a super encounter with a humpback mumma and calf. Our captain was brilliant, she was very knowledgeable and kind. Highly recommend.
R7078VDjanem,Jul 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00What a great time we had today on CoastXP’s whale watching boat trip. It was exciting, informative and interactive with some terrific close encounters with the humpbacks. I would thoroughly recommend this tour.
Stay17364248032,Jul 19, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00WOW!! the experience was fantastic. Very experienced drivers of boat and managed the swells . We did see a cluster of whales. A CLUSTER of 4 Whales. to see them real close you could see their faces.
Very experienced...
Stuart W,Jul 13, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Very experienced operator, with years of experience. Great knowledge and information about the whales and their environment. Great day
Whale watching and wildlife
234jenniw,Jul 8, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Scott is a fabulous captain- explains the morning and knows a lot about the wildlife- we saw whales , dolphins and seals, no guarantees the whales will breach - be prepared to get damp from the spray , wear warm clothing- a great experience
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Operated by CoastXP