For our four-year anniversary (awww), our gift to each other was a whale watching tour off the coast of Australia. I don’t think we’ll ever top that.
Key points at a glance:
- Wildlife Coast Cruises
- Depart from Port Welshpool, Victoria, Australia
- 2.5 – 3 hour drive from Melbourne (a car is required to get here)
- 6 hour boat trip around islands off Wilson’s Prom
- 90% chance of whale sightings
- May also see fur seals, cormorants, seabirds, and or dolphins.
- Open waters may be choppy – be aware if you get motion sickness.
- Afternoon tea and lunch provided
- Operates seasonally between August until early November.
My favourite photos of the Humpback Whales
The details
Seasonal whale watching tours
We went with a company called Wildlife Coast Cruises. They offer two main whale watching cruises: one from Phillip Island, and one further down the coast at Wilson’s Prom.
The dates for the cruises are seasonal, based on the whales migration between Queensland and the Antarctic waters.
The Wilson’s Prom one is a bit pricier, at $235 per adult for a 6 hour trip. The Phillip Island tour costs $130 per person, but has a shorter time of 4 hours.
We decided to go to for the one closer to Wilson’s Prom, as we had been to Phillip Island more recently.
The logistics
The cruise was a 6 hour round boat trip from Port Welshpool, which is around 2.5 – 3 hours drive from Melbourne. Unfortunately it would be difficult to get here via public transport, so you need to drive, or rent a car for the day. There is plenty of free parking for the day right beside the jetty the boat departs from.
Safety & science lessons
After a safety demonstration, the tour guides gave us lots of info through the speakers of the boat. We learnt about the whales biology, migration patterns, and how to spot them. As a biology graduate myself, I loved refreshing my memory of all the marine biology modules I took just a few years ago (I also miss science and research so I enjoyed this even more)!
The tour takes you along the coast and past islands just off Wilson’s Prom. The views were stunning, and the islands were home to plenty of wildlife including cormorants and fur seals. Our first sighting was two seals sleeping on the surface of the ocean, but of course I was in the toilet (classic!!).
Food & drinks
Food was included in the ticket, and we had full access to complimentary teas and coffees. Muffins, lunch, and fruit, were all handed out by the staff at regular intervals. The muffins were fresh out of the oven, and the perfect snack to warm us up as the coastal winds were chilly! I actually ate the majority of the food provided, which as a picky eater, and type 1 diabetic, was a big win. There was a licensed bar on board, but as a sober curious girly with a mildly seasick bf, that was the last thing on our mind.
Now on to the important bit: whale watching!
We were on the boat for around an hour before we spotted any whales. Somehow the guides managed to spot them far in the distance, I was very impressed at their eagle eye!
As we got a bit closer, the humpback whales came to the boat, mainly out of curiosity. There were some amazing breaches, spy hops, and muggings. I was in awe at their sheer size and beauty as they splashed about and sprayed water.
At one point, the whales came so close to the boat, we got sprayed by their blow holes! I was in shock, but one of the tour guides said it was good luck, so I’ll take that.
Be aware the whales can contribute to the rockiness of the boat – hold on to the railings at all times!
My blood sugars amazingly stayed stable the whole time, even with the random food and adrenaline. I reckon it was the whale spray sprinkling good luck on my glucose levels.
Overall
It was such an amazing day. The whales were so curious, and despite being scared every time they went under the boat, I think they just wanted to play. Being able to witness their fascinating behaviours was an incredible experience. I fully recommend this to anyone interested in seeing the annual whale migration across Australia if you have the chance.
Thank you for reading! ❤
Love, Lydia x
I am a fully paying customer, and this blog is not endorsed by the tour company. This post does contain affiliate links, which at no extra cost to you, may support me if you book through the link. ❤
Book the Wilson’s Prom Whale Watching Tour here
Book the Phillip Island Whale Watching Tour here
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LYD1A KERR 
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