Premier Whale Watching Cruise from Ballina

This whale watching cruise heads out from Ballina’s Richmond River into Cape Byron Marine Park during humpback migration season, which runs from June to November. It’s a more guided wildlife trip than a basic boat ride, with a qualified marine biologist on board sharing commentary about the whales, the coastline and what you’re seeing out on the water. You’ll be looking for humpbacks as they pass the coast between Byron Bay and Ballina, with the chance to see breaching and other surface activity in their natural habitat.

The trip starts in Ballina before heading from the river out into open water in Cape Byron Marine Park. Once offshore, the focus is on tracking migrating humpback whales along this stretch of coast. Along the way, the marine biologist provides live commentary about whale behaviour, local marine life and points of interest around the park. One of the more distinctive parts of this cruise is the onboard hydrophone, which lets you listen to live humpback whale song underwater. Life jackets and waterproof ponchos are included, and free professional photos are uploaded to social media after the trip. The cruise runs for 2 hours 30 minutes.