Tasman Venture Remote K’gari + Whale Watching Tour Review
Are you thinking about booking the Tasman Venture Remote K’gari and Whale Watching Tour from Hervey Bay but want to know what to expect?
We booked the tour in September, and the whole family agreed that it was a great day.
While I read reviews before the tour, I could not find the information I was looking for. What food is served, and at approximately what time? How long would we spend at each activity? What was it like on board? What do I need to bring?
If you appreciate knowing what to expect, this review is for you.
Keep reading to find out what to expect on the Tasman Venture Remote K’gari + Whale Watching Tour from Hervey Bay.
Choosing a Tour
We knew we wanted to go whale watching, and while researching, Mark found this tour that offered more than just whale watching.
We’ve been whale watching before, and with kids, it is best to have additional activities.
If you only want to go whale watching, plenty of tours leave from Hervey Bay. Here are a few options:
- Half-day Whale Watching Tour
- Hervey Bay Whale Watching Cruise
- Hervey Bay Exclusive Whale Watching Encounter
Booking Your Tour
Tasman Venture posts all its tours on its website. Click on the tour you want to book, and book directly with the company.
Alternatively, you can book via Viator. The price is the same (and sometimes they offer a discount). With Viator, you get free cancellation with 24+ hours’ notice. You can also reserve your spot and pay later.
What to Bring On Board
- Water bottle (which you can refill on board)
- Swimsuit (we recommend wearing it)
- Cover-up (maybe even a jumper; it gets cold)
- Hat
- Camera
- Snacks (they serve plenty of food, but it is a long day)
- Change of clothes
- Wet bag for wet bathing suits
- Something to do onboard (when you aren’t looking for whales)
Arriving at the Marina
They ask you to arrive at least 15 minutes in advance, as the boat leaves on time.
Our tour began at 7:30 am, and they called us when we were not there by 7:15 am. We knew we were running late as we got every single red light on the way.
We checked in at 7:25 am as the last family to arrive, with 1 person joining their family behind us.
Obviously, plan better than we did. Get to the marina early.
Seat Selection
When you first board, everyone must sit on the upper level. This is for the safety demonstration. Seats are bench seats around the side of the boat, some shaded and some not.
After the safety talk, we were told we could move around the boat. They said not to worry about seats, as everyone would move around the boat all day, sitting everywhere.
We walked downstairs, as we preferred to sit in a shady spot.
In the front of the boat, on the bottom level, there are tables and seating perfect for families and groups. We claimed one and ended up staying there for the day.
Honestly, I did not even look at other seating. This was perfect for storing our belongings, having quick access to the outside front area to spot whales, and we had a table for meals.
Morning Tea
As soon as the safety demo is over, they begin to set up morning tea.
Morning tea consisted of cakes, cookies, and pizza. Tea, coffee, and hot chocolate were included.
If you prefer a capsule coffee, you can purchase one for $5.
Morning tea was generous, and though I saw many people piling up their plates and going back, the food was available for quite a while.
Whale Watching
Less than an hour in, we saw our first whale.
Of course, this is not guaranteed.
We toured at the end of September, peak season.
By the end of the day, we had seen an abundance of whales, including moms, babies, and chaperones.
We saw whales’ tails, fins, blowholes, and breaches. Some were extremely close to the boat, while others were off in the distance.
One of the guides spoke to us about whales as we were out spotting them, and was available to answer any questions.
As there are 2 levels and multiple areas to be outside, it wasn’t crowded on the deck.
Awina Creek, K’gari
Our first stop, about 2 hours into the day, was Awina Creek. This can change based on the day.
Two boats pick up the passengers from the larger boat and take them to shore. You do need to be able to climb into the smaller boats. If that is a problem, ask to be put in the smallest boat, as it is easier to get into. We rode on each boat, and I prefer the larger boat as there are more seating options.
The stop at Awina Creek is 2 hours long, and there are 3 activities, all of which are optional. You can kayak, snorkel, or go tubing.
Kayaking and tubing take place in the creek, and tubing takes place in the ocean.
Tubing is not what I pictured. A raft that fits up to 4 is pulled behind a boat.
Additional time can be spent on the beach. After 2 hours, the boats that take you to the larger boat come back to pick up the passengers.
Lunch
Once back on the boat, lunch is served.
Lunch consists of chicken, roast beef, ham, multiple vegetarian salads, and bread with butter. If you need a vegan meal, order one in advance. We saw someone with what looked like falafel.
Like morning tea, there was plenty of lunch. You can go back as many times as you wish.
Drinks are available for purchase.
Bowarrady Creek, K’gari
We stopped to see more whales before the stop at Bowarrady Creek.
Once again, we took the smaller boats to shore. They drive on the sand so you do not get wet.
The first thing to do at Bowarrady Creek is to climb a sand hill and check out the view.
My son ran to the top, with my daughter not far behind.
After debating whether we wanted to try, due to injuries, Mark and I began the climb, but did not make it far. It is hard to climb through sand!
I was nervous about coming back down, but it was fun to slide down (while standing).
Then, you can walk through the creek or on the sand until you reach the spot where the creek opens up for swimming. That is where there is a rope swing.
One kid swung off the rope swing over and over while the other played with the rocks in the water.
After climbing, one of the guides showed us coffee rocks and how easily they break. The kids loved breaking the rocks.
All in all, we were on land for about an hour.
Afternoon Tea
Once back on board, afternoon tea is set up.
Afternoon tea consists of cheese, crackers, dip, and olives.
Drinks and additional snacks are available for purchase.
Shopping
Partway through the day, souvenir shopping is available. Many people crowded around the whale-themed jewelry. Booklets with more ocean animal-themed jewelry are available for browsing.
Stuffed animals, hats, socks, books, and other items are for sale. Unfortunately, the whale socks were out of stock.
You can purchase food and drinks throughout the day.
Tour Wrap Up
Our tour ended by 4:50, 20 minutes after it was predicted to end.
Of course, time will vary based on your day and how long you stop to watch the whales.
My whole family enjoyed the day immensely. We had never seen so many whales.
In addition to whale watching, we got to go to a remote part of K’gari. While we had been to K’gari before, we had not gone to these areas.
We never felt rushed, and we never felt as though anything took too long. We had enough time to kayak, snorkel, go tubing, play on the beach, climb a sand hill, and play in the creek.
Food was plentiful, and there was enough variety so that everyone could get something they liked. Though I do not eat beef or pork, I did not mention it before boarding. Still, there was more than enough food for me to eat.
Suggestions
- Get to the marina early.
- Scope out seats before the safety briefing and move quickly. We were lucky to get our seats.
- It can get cold; pack a jumper.
- Reapply sunscreen often. Don’t forget the tops of your feet.
