From July to October, Freedom Whale Watch and Charters provides premier whale watching experiences based in the heart of Hervey Bay, Australia which is renowned for its proximity to the spectacular Great Barrier Reef and the Sandy Straits Marine Park. As the new owners of this well-established cruise company, Mark and Andrea Cooper are thrilled to carry forward a 15-year legacy of unparalleled whale watching adventures because seeing their guests experience the joy and wonder of the whales is so rewarding.
During the Summer months, from November until March, we offer beachy cruises, sunset cruises and even trips along the Mighty Mary River and all have our signature relaxed, caring and attentive crew. In addition we offer private charters all year round, catering to specific requirements from our guests.
Our team of seasoned experts and enthusiastic new faces, brings a wealth of knowledge about the local marine ecosystem and, importantly, we are skilled navigators and guides, as well as ardent conservationists, dedicated to preserving the natural beauty and biodiversity of Hervey Bay and the Great Barrier Reef.
We operate within the picturesque waters of the Great Barrier Reef and the Sandy Straits Marine Park, a haven for a diverse range of marine life, including the majestic humpback whales. Our tours offer intimate encounters with these gentle giants, allowing our guests to witness their awe-inspiring presence in a respectful and responsible manner.
The vessel is 58ft (17.7m) in length
Built in 1990 in Innisfail, Queensland, Australia
Powered by 2 x 280hp Fiat Iveco motors (installed 2010)
3 toilets (2 marine & 1 household) & shower facilities
Large airconditioned saloon area with comfortable couches
Numerous fridges and freezers
Licensed for up to 48 people in the Bay area
Hydraulic lift platform
Cruising speed of 14-18 knots
3 x 360 degree viewing levels
Sleeping quarters for up to 8 people
Full galley including microwave, gas cooktop, diswasher & oven
Flat screen TV
Fully licensed bar
Currently in 2B (8 people 200 miles offshore) & 2C (20 people 50 miles offshore) survey
Hervey Bay Whale Watching Beats the Gold Coast so if you’re dreaming of an unforgettable encounter with humpback whales, location matters. While both Hervey Bay and the Gold Coast offer whale watching tours, Freedom Whale Watching in Hervey Bay delivers a premium experience that’s closer, calmer, and more sustainable—and here’s why. 🐋 You’re With the…
Talented writer Liz Bond from This Magnificent Life has written a wonderful account of their experience aboard Freedom on one of our three quarter day whale watching tours in September 2020. You can read all about Liz’s whale watching experience and browse the beautiful photos taken by Tim via the link below. It was an…
If you are looking for something different in accommodation not too far from Hervey Bay then check out Sue’s (owner at Freedom Whale Watch & Charters) brothers’ Farmstay: Mary River Farmstay on Air B&B, just 80 minutes drive from the Urangan Harbour in Hervey Bay. As the name suggests it is on the banks of…
Wondering what it’s like to see the great giants of the sea, humpback whales in Hervey Bay, Australia, one of 2 whale heritage sites worldwide? Jens Assmann Photography describes it very well in a blog post when they travelled to Australia to see the humpback whales in action. Jens also happened to see the whales…
Trip Advisor, the world’s largest travel site, today announced the winners of its Travellers’ Choice® awards for Experiences, recognising the experiences that are the most popular among TripAdvisor reviewers. Freedom Whale Watch and Charters were lucky enough to to awarded 2 Travelers’ Choice awards in the following categories: Top 10 Experiences – South Pacific Top 10…
Freedom has had some raving reviews of our Whale Watching tours departing from Hervey Bay – this awesome blog post on the Travel2Next website is full of photos and experiences that will get you excited to see the whales. Click the image below to check out the article. Freedom Whale Watch Experience
Relaxed whale cruises by Freedom Whale Watch and Charters. Awesome work Michael Smith of Into The Wild Photography. You’re always welcome to cruise with us at Freedom Whale Watch. Want to see whales like this in the flesh? Book your spot now!!
Check out this awesome and very detailed review written by German blogger, Passenger on Earth. Many beautiful photos and such a detailed review. Thank you so much for taking the time to post about your experience on Freedom Whale Watch and Charters in Hervey Bay. We are so glad to hear you had a fantastic…
We are currently having a bumper whale watching season in 2017 and love having the opportunity to show first-time whale watchers just how amazing it is to experience these gentle giants of the sea. Recently Irene had the opportunity to come out whale watching with Freedom and she has written about her experience in a…
Ready to learn some awesome facts about the Humpback Whales that visit Hervey Bay? Check out the blog post below! About the humpback whale fins While the Humpback whale may not be the largest species of whale it is easily recognised because of it’s very long pectoral fins. It’s Scientific name is Megaptera Novaeangliae;…
So, you’ve booked a trip out whale watching? Congratulations, you are in for a real treat! I bet you’re counting down the days! Wouldn’t it be really frustrating if you forgot your camera? Or sunnies!? Ouch, glare central! So, we thought we’d help out a little and put together a short list of important items to…
Round six of the Offshore Superboats Championship is on this weekend 9 & 10th November 2013. It is the second time the races have been help in Hervey Bay. Last year it was during the Whale season and we were not able to be involved, but the excitement and noise on race day was amazing. This year…
The whales have been plentiful in the Bay and we have been having a bumper season despite some interesting weather over the last 2 weeks. The humpbacks are having an awesome time and are being very active so it is the perfect time to book with us and experience it for yourself. Freedom have had some fantastic…
What an amazing week it has been for Hervey Bay! Killer Whales stranding in the Great Sandy Straits with 3 unfortunately not surviving. Eleven members of the pod are still in Hervey Bay, thankfully in deeper water away from the shallow sand and mud banks down the straits, not far from Kingfisher Bay Resort and Village. Several of…
We were surprised to encounter a lone humpback whale inside Hervey Bay on Saturday 15th June while on an afternoon/evening fishing charter. This is a whole month before we officially start whale watching season on the 20th July. Our fishing passengers sighted the whale as we were travelling north towards Southern Arch cliff on Fraser…
The whale watching in August has been exceptional. Perfect weather conditions, friendly humpback whales and many passengers from all over the world has made for fantastic August whale watching. Today we encountered the following behaviours: At one time we could count five pods within 500 metres of the boat. Close encounters of whales circling the…
The huge number of humpback whales entering Hervey Bay has made for amazing whale watching experiences. Wonderfully calm weather over the last week has resulted in excellent conditions for whale watchers who have come from all over the world to encounter our majestic, playful, curiously friendly humpback whales. Saturday’s Blessing of the Fleet ceremony went…
Freedom III moved into her new berth today ready for the first whale watching on the Fraser Coast for the 2012 season on Saturday 21st July. It’s not such a long walk along the jetty as we are just near the marina office. Barry our very knowledgable and well loved skipper is in town and…
What a surprise we had today to open the mail and find a Certificate of Excellence 2012 for achieving a customer rating of 5.0. We will proudly display the certificate and window sticker for all to see when we start the new whale watch season just 3 weeks from today! This great Tripadvisor recognition is…
Whale watching in Hervey Bay, Queensland does not start until the humpback whales begin there return journey to Antarctica. When they travel north they normally swim on the eastern side of Fraser Island as the Great Sandy Straits are too shallow for them to traverse. They continue on to the Great Barrier Reef to mate…
Preparations for whale watching 2012 are well under way with marketing campaigns due to start on June 1. Harvey and the Humpbacks are already on the move north from the Antarctic and the numbers of whales look set to increase again this year. Our new brochures are at the printers and we are currently installing…
