Freedom III departs at 9:30am from Great Sandy Straits Marina, Buccaneer Road, Urangan and returns after 3:30pm each day from early July to early October. This is the peak season for whale-watching in Hervey Bay.

Cruise the sheltered waters of beautiful Hervey Bay to the Great Sandy Marine Park. The area is renowned as the playground for visiting humpback whales as they migrate south to the Antarctic waters. Expert commentary from your skipper will educate and inform you about the unique aspects of whale watching in Platypus Bay near K'Gari (Fraser Island) and  Hervey Bay. It is world renowned and the first location accredited by Whale Heritage Site by the World Cetacean Alliance.

Freedom Ecotours operate in an environmentally friendly way to ensure both the safety of our marine creatures as well as our guests. 

Morning tea, lunch and and afternoon tea platter of cheese and fruit is served through the day. Tea, coffee and filtered water is available all day and you are welcome to purchase other drinks and snacks from the licensed bar. 

Several pods of whales will be seen as well dolphins, turtles and sea birds. Fabulous views of K'Gari western beaches provide a wonderful background to your tour. 

Freedom III has

• 3 levels of viewing plus a water level platform for really close encounters
• Hydrophone for hearing the whale song
• Low passenger numbers
• Delicious food
• Locally owned and operated with friendly experienced crew
• Eco Accreditation through Ecotourism Australia

• Please Note:
• Child ages are 4-14years, Under 4 are infants
• Select seats on the bus as 'extras' and we will pick up from a Hervey Bay hotel and return you from Great Sandy Straits Marina - capacity 23 on the bus.

Please see our other boat tour and charter options if you are travelling to Hervey Bay at other times of the year. We look forward to meeting you and sharing this beautiful part of the world with you.

Freedom is a fun and affordable venue for your next family gathering, corporate event or celebration. Relax aboard our comfortable 58ft catamaran, while the captain and crew sail you through the pristine waters of the Great Sandy Straits Marine Park and K'gari. Accommodating up to 48 guests, Freedom has spacious viewing decks on three levels, comfortable air-conditioned seating in the saloon, an excellent sound system, licensed bar and three toilets and showers. See our webpage for amazing reviews from hundreds of happy guests.

Off-peak banded pricing starts at just $400 per hour with a minimum three-hour booking. This includes captain and crew.  Additional hours can be booked as extras and we can optimise start and end times to take the tides into account.

Please call us to discuss our catering, which can be tailored to suit your budget. Options include cold seafood and charcuterie and cheese and fruit platters. Alternatively, you are welcome to organise your own catering and the galley kitchen, large fridge, freezer and esky make this very easy. Licensing restrictions do not allow BYO alcohol, but we are happy to stock your guests preferred alcoholic and soft drink options in our licensed bar.

Customer service is an important part of our training and ethos. We will do our very best to accommodate any special requests. This might be helping to put up chosen decorations or playing the 'embarrassing' birthday video and you can tailor your soundscape for the trip by bluetoothing your own playlist or booking a small band or DJ.

Entertainment extras include stopping for a swim and snorkel, beach time and using the boom net to splash about in. Additional crew will be required to supervise these activities.

All captains are fully qualified and experienced. This includes Mark Cooper, owner-operator, who has many years of experience as a captain for fun as well as commercially. He sailed a catamaran from Tahiti and down the East Coast of Australia. He has captained delivery of Sydney to Hobart yachts, and he was on the helm for three exciting Sydney to Hobart races. He has also participated in the gruelling Clipper Round the World yacht race. Safety is his highest priority and during his time as a  skipper for NSW Marine Rescue for the last three years and crew for a further five years, he has rescued many boats and saved lives on the water. 

See separate listing for peak season chartering options - your own private whale-watching experience from mid-July to mid-October!

Book Freedom today!

Our premium offering - charter the whole boat for your own, personal whale-watching experience and you choose who you share it with! Make memories with family and friends - fill it to the max (47) or keep it to a select few. Luxury either way. Book today to secure - available dates are disappearing fast.

Peak banded pricing, non-catered and at full capacity, is equivalent to $120 per head (normally $160 per head). Please email us (andrea@freedomecotours.com.au) to discuss our catering, which can be tailored to suit your budget. Options include freshly baked pizzas from the onboard pizza oven, cold seafood and charcuterie and cheese platters. Alternatively, you are welcome to organise your own catering and the galley kitchen, large fridge, freezer and esky make this very easy. Licensing restrictions do not allow BYO alcohol, but we are happy to stock your guests preferred alcoholic and soft drink options in our licensed bar.

Customer service is an important part of our training and ethos. We will do our very best to accommodate any special requests.

All captains are fully qualified and experienced. This includes Mark Cooper, owner-operator, who has many years of experience as a captain for fun as well as commercially. He sailed a catamaran from Tahiti and down the East Coast of Australia. He has captained delivery of Sydney to Hobart yachts, and he was on the helm for three exciting Sydney to Hobart races. He has also participated in the gruelling Clipper Round the World yacht race. Safety is his highest priority and during his time as a skipper for NSW Marine Rescue for the last three years and crew for a further five years, he has rescued many boats and saved lives on the water. 

See separate listing for off peak season chartering options from mid-July to mid-October which can include swimming, snorkelling and boom-netting - humans not fish!

Make a day of it with Freedom and the whales this winter - Book today to secure - available dates are disappearing fast.

Freedom III departs at 9:30am from Sandy Straits Marina, Buccaneer Road, Urangan and returns after 2.30pm most days from mid October to June. 

The peak season for whale-watching in Hervey Bay is from late July to early October. Mother nature is in charge of whether we will see any whales in the shoulder season of early July and late October.  It is highly unlikely we will see any Humpback whales in the off-peak season from November to June, but we are sure you will have a beautiful day on the water, and we may still encounter minke whales, dolphins, turtles, dugong, rays and sharks.

Cruise the sheltered waters of beautiful Hervey Bay and travel comfortably with us to Round Island, Big Woody Island and Pelican Bank before reaching the widest part of K'gari at Moon Point. From there we cruise to Coongul Beach for morning tea and on to Platypus Bay in time for lunch. Interesting historical and geographical information will be included in the skipper's commentary. Further up the island you will enjoy the sights of the Arch Cliffs, and several creek entrances along the pristine beaches.

Keep a close watch and you may see dugongs, dolphins, dingos, sea birds and turtles. You will definitely experience the natural beauty of this area with its sand banks, estuaries, tree-lined cliffs and beaches.

Freedom Ecotours operate in an environmentally friendly way to ensure both the safety of our marine creatures as well as our guests. Please feel free to bring your reusable coffee cup for hot or cold drinks. Free tea, coffee and filtered water is available all day. Alcoholic and soft drinks are available to purchase from the bar.

Again, whale sightings are not guaranteed on this tour.

Bus transfers are availabe at a nominal extra cost for this tour.

Freedom III has:

• 3 levels of viewing 
• Licenced bar
• Airconditioned saloon when you want a break from the sun
• Low passenger numbers
• Delicious food
• Locally owned and operated with friendly experienced crew
• Eco Accreditation through Ecotourism Australia

• Please Note:
• Child ages are 4-14years, Under 4 are infants
• Select seats on the bus as 'extras' and we will pickup from a Hervey Bay hotel and return you from Sandy Straits Marina - capacity 23 on the bus.

Contact us with any questions andrea@freedomecotours.com.au

Please see our other boat tour and charter options if you are travelling to Hervey Bay at other times of the year. We look forward to meeting you and sharing this beautiful part of the world with you.

This tour will run every Thursday to enjoy the perfect blend of Maryborough history, markets and relaxation on a fabulous round trip including a delightful cruise along the mighty Mary River and through the Great Sandy Strait on the luxury catamaran Freedom.

Hervey Bay based guests will be collected by courtesy bus from their hotel accommodation or the Hervey Bay Tourist Information Centre. You will arrive in the charming town of Maryborough in time for the historic, bustling markets.

Explore local highlights such as the Thursday Markets, the sparkling MaryAnn Steam Train, the enchanting Story Bank, and the Military and Cultural Museum, or take a self-guided walk through the Golden Mile historic streets. Enjoy a delightful morning tea at Portside, soaking in riverside views. 

At 12 pm (time may be adjusted for tides), Hervey Bay- based and Maryborough-based guests will board the luxurious Freedom catamaran for a scenic cruise along the Mary River. Savour a delicious lunch onboard as you take in the picturesque horizons of the Great Sandy Straits and K'Gari (formerly Fraser Island) on your journey back to Hervey Bay arriving at approximately 3.30pm. 

Our courtesy bus will return to your accommodation in Hervey Bay or Maryborough. 

A wonderful day all round, filled with new memories of Heritage and Horizons.