✅ What’s Included

• Free hotel pickup and drop-off at select Hervey Bay accommodations
• Two light meal services (tea + antipasto platter)
• Expert naturalist guide commentary
• Guaranteed whale sightings (or open-dated return ticket)
• Fast catamaran with spacious decks and water-level platform
• Onboard hydrophone and underwater viewing window

🚫 What’s Not Included

• Dinner on return (own arrangements)
• Breakfast before tour
• Personal items and souvenirs
• Travel insurance (strongly recommended)

Tours run from early July to late October during humpback whale migration.
Winter / Peak Whale Season (Jul–Oct) • Typical daytime: 18–24 °C • Conditions: mild with sea breezes • Practical note: pack layers for the boat and reef-safe sunscreen

Documents & Essentials
• Photo ID and booking confirmation
• Travel insurance documents

Clothing (layered for coastal conditions)
• Swimwear, quick-dry clothes and comfortable walking shoes
• Light jacket or windbreaker for the boat
• Hat, sunglasses and reef-safe sunscreen

Toiletries & First Aid
• Personal toiletries, towel and any medication
• Insect repellent

Electronics
• Charged phone and camera (waterproof case recommended)
• Portable power bank

Accessories & Nice-to-Haves
• Small daypack
• Reusable water bottle

Hervey Bay is world-renowned as a resting ground for humpback whales on their southern migration.

K’gari (Fraser Island) lies just across the water and its western side provides the calm, sheltered waters the whales love.

Humpback whales often stay several days in the bay to rest, play and bond with calves before continuing their journey.

Naturalist guides share knowledge about individual whales they have followed for years.

The Whale Warrior Program offers free educational content and an optional kids’ activity pack that supports marine conservation.

Tours operate rain or shine – only extreme weather cancels departures.

Peak season is August to September when sightings are most consistent.

Guaranteed sightings policy means you receive an open-dated return ticket if no whales are seen (very uncommon).

The fast catamaran gets you to the whales quickly while maximising time on the water.

Local marine life sightings can include dolphins, turtles and seabirds alongside the humpbacks.

Carbon Footprint & Offset Report: Hervey Bay Half Day Whale Watching Tour

Quick Snapshot

Estimated CO₂e footprint per participant: 145 kg CO₂e
(higher-end conservative estimate – covers all on-tour impacts plus average local travel to/from Hervey Bay pickup points)

Our 200% offset commitment per booking: 290 kg CO₂e
Funded through genuine landscape restoration in climate-vulnerable developing regions (reforestation, mangroves, soil regeneration, etc.). This creates real net-positive impact beyond neutrality.

Tour summary

• 4-hour guided catamaran cruise (morning or afternoon departures)
• Comfortable groups (max ~85 passengers)
• Starts and ends at Great Sandy Straits Marina, Hervey Bay (free hotel transfers from select Hervey Bay accommodations)
• No accommodation included
• Meals: Two light meal services (morning or afternoon tea outbound and antipasto-style platter on return)
• Highlights: Close humpback whale encounters (breaching, tail slapping, spy hopping), water-level viewing platform, expert naturalist guide, underwater hydrophone for whale song, potential dolphins and turtles

Overview

This report estimates the carbon footprint for one individual participant on this tour using higher-end data from trusted sources. We intentionally choose upper-range figures to fully cover every impact – including hard-to-measure parts like supply chains and indirect effects.

We then double it (200%) and fund genuine landscape restoration projects in developing and climate-affected regions worldwide. This goes beyond standard offsetting to deliver real, lasting benefits for ecosystems and communities.

All figures in kg CO₂e (carbon dioxide equivalent – the standard measure that includes all greenhouse gases).

Tour Details

• Duration: 4 hours
• Key locations: Hervey Bay Marina start/end, sheltered waters along western side of K’gari (Fraser Island)
• Travel style: Guided eco catamaran whale watching cruise
• Assumptions: Average participant, standard behaviours, higher-impact choices where uncertain. Local travel to Hervey Bay pickup points is factored into the higher-end footprint for completeness. Operates during humpback migration (July–late October).

Calculation Approach

• Sources: UK DEFRA 2025 conversion factors, Australian National Greenhouse Accounts 2024, UNWTO tourism data, IPCC guidelines, and peer-reviewed studies.
• Higher-end scale: Upper-range emission factors everywhere, plus well-to-tank fuel effects, +20% uncertainty buffer, and conservative assumptions for short marine catamaran operations.
• Per person, full tour experience.
• Excludes only purely personal extras (e.g. souvenirs or additional purchases).

Detailed Emissions Breakdown (per participant)

Transportation – 80 kg CO₂e

• Average local travel to/from Hervey Bay pickup points (higher-end mix of car, taxi or short transfers): 25 kg
• All on-tour fast catamaran cruise (shared group): 55 kg – higher-end marine diesel factor

Accommodation – 0 kg CO₂e

• Day tour only – no overnight stay

Meals & Food – 40 kg CO₂e

• Two light meal services (tea + antipasto platter) (tourism-level portions and waste): 40 kg

Activities & Excursions – 25 kg CO₂e

• Guided whale watching, naturalist commentary, hydrophone use and wildlife viewing

TOTAL ESTIMATED FOOTPRINT PER PERSON: 145 kg CO₂e

Our 200% Offset Commitment

• Amount we will offset: 2 × 145 kg = 290 kg CO₂e per individual booking
• How: Direct funding of landscape restoration projects – reforestation, mangrove protection, regenerative agriculture, wetland and soil carbon restoration
• Where: Developing countries and regions most affected by climate change (e.g. Pacific Islands, Southeast Asia, Africa, Latin America) for maximum global benefit and community co-benefits
• Why 200% and higher-end estimates: To guarantee coverage despite any measurement discrepancies and to create genuine extra positive impact

Important Notes

• Numbers are deliberately conservative (higher) so we over-deliver on restoration – real footprint may be lower
• The tour already has strong sustainability practices (eco vessel, naturalist guide, respectful whale viewing); our independent higher-end analysis adds extra certainty
• Carbon accounting has natural uncertainties – doubling it is the responsible way
• This directly supports long-term carbon-sequestering landscapes and local communities

What time do the tours depart?
Morning: 8:30am–12:30pm or Afternoon: 1:30pm–5:30pm. Boarding starts 15 minutes prior.

Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, free transfers from select Hervey Bay accommodations – just provide your hotel or Airbnb details.

What meals are provided?
Two light meal services: morning or afternoon tea outbound and an antipasto-style platter on return.

Are whale sightings guaranteed?
Yes – if no whales are seen you receive an open-dated return ticket (very uncommon during season).

What should I bring?
Sunscreen, hat, camera, water bottle and comfortable clothes. Non-slip shoes recommended.

Is the tour suitable for children?
Yes, all ages are welcome. The Whale Warrior Program adds extra fun for younger guests.

Do tours run in bad weather?
Yes, rain or shine unless extreme weather prevents safe access.

How many people are on the boat?
Limited to approximately 85 passengers for your comfort.

Can I see the whales underwater?
Yes – the boat has an underwater viewing window and hydrophone so you can listen and watch.

Where does the tour start?
Great Sandy Straits Marina in Hervey Bay.