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THE NEW Hervey Bay Nature Cruise

The Hervey Bay Nature Cruise, touring from mid-December to mid-May, offers a wonderful opportunity to experience the beautiful waters of Hervey Bay and the diverse array of wildlife that the area sustains.

From dugongs to turtles, sharks to rays and dolphins to birds of prey – there is so much wildlife to observe and appreciate on the Fraser Coast!

Ocean Defender, our 12m RIB vessel, is purpose-built for wildlife watching, offering water-level views and small group tours with a maximum of 38 passengers for an intimate experience.

Check-In is 30 minutes prior to departure at our Ocean Store at the Great Sandy Straits Marina in Urangan. At the Marina you will find free parking, a number of cafes and restaurants. Our Ocean Store stocks a range of eco-friendly, sustainable gifts and souvenirs.

Hervey Bay Nature Cruise and Hervey Bay's Ultimate Whale Watch

Pacific Whale Foundation Australia’s scientists are responsible for the South Pacific’s longest running photo-identification project – which includes populations of Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins and Australian Humpback Dolphins.

An Australian, wholly-owned social enterprise company, Pacific Whale Foundation Eco Adventures Australia runs eco tours and the Ocean Store merchandise shop to raise funds for education, conservation and research projects, with regular involvement in school visits, virtual classrooms, community forums and educational conferences, as well as coordinating and managing a series of Clean Up Events.

WHY HERVEY BAY?

Hervey Bay, part of the Great Sandy Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO-designated area recognised internationally for the diverse array of wildlife and habitat it supports.
Hervey Bay is more than a whale watching paradise, it’s also a dream destination for nature lovers.
Experience the awe of watching wildlife in the wild – enjoy observing the behaviours of ocean wildlife in their natural environment as we share the waters of the Great Sandy Marine Park with whales, dolphins, turtles and an ever-increasing diversity of marine life.

WHO WE ARE

Pacific Whale Foundation Australia and our ecotour operations, PWF Eco-Adventures Australia, are registered Australian charities set up to promote the mission and vision of our parent company Pacific Whale Foundation (PWF). PWF is an international Non-Government Organisation with a mission to protect the ocean through science and advocacy and inspire environmental stewardship. All profits from our ecotours and retail sales go towards supporting this mission here in Australia.

Early pioneers (1980’s) in non-invasive whale research, our scientists began offering educational whale watches on the weekends, after studying whales and their ocean environment during the week. The trips were a means to share our findings, educate the public about whales and our ocean environments, and raise the needed funds for our Research, Education and Conservation work. This model continues to this day, with expanded whale watch eco tours, nature tours and retail sales in our Ocean Store.

CHOOSING A RESPONSIBLE WHALE WATCHING TOUR

When you tour with us – you know that you are choosing a reputable organisation which values our beautiful wildlife and works to protect the marine environment. We are Advanced Eco Tourism certified and work towards determined sustainability goals.

We value our local environment and work towards helping everyone to understand the importance of healthy oceans and protecting our wildlife.

When you are travelling elsewhere in the world and want to tour with a whale watch company which also values cetaceans – here are some great tips to help you to choose where to spend your money to support best-practice sustainable tourism.

Selecting a whale watching tour from the plethora of options you are likely to discover online, or the brochures you find in your local hotel or tourist office, is not easy. Hopefully after visiting the International Whaling Commission’s online Whale Watching Handbook, you will also want to ensure that you choose a responsible whale watching experience. Here is a quick checklist that you can use to help you identify a responsible whale watch tour operator, and a handy acronym (SCORE) that will help you to remember the key attributes of a good tour. Look for an operator that prioritises:

SAFETY:

Choose an operator that provides life jackets, conforms with local permitting and licensing regulations, has good communications with shore, and conducts a safety briefing for passengers before departure.
CONSERVATION:

Choose an operator that contributes to the conservation of whales and dolphins in some demonstrable manner.
ON-BOARD EDUCATION:

Choose a tour that includes opportunities to learn about whales or dolphins from a guide or interpreter.
REGULATIONS:

Ensure that the operator follows local regulations in place to protect whales and dolphins.
ENVIRONMENT & COMMUNITY:

Choose an operator that demonstrates a commitment to the environment and the local community.

You can evaluate a tour operator’s SCORE by asking questions when you visit their office or phone to book a tour. But you can also use the SCORE acronym to evaluate and compare the information that operators present on their websites if you are booking a tour online. Look for signs of their commitment to these principles.

For more information consult the IWC/CMS online whale watching handbook.