5 Best Jervis Bay Dolphin Cruise & Whale Watching Tours

There are many reasons to flock to Jervis Bay. The incredible white sands, varied coastal walks and fantastic wildlife are exceptional. But, one of the most popular reasons to visit is its wonderful and diverse marine life. Certainly, two of the main drawcards within the pristine waters of Jervis Bay Marine Park are whales and dolphins. And, there’s no better way to explore Jervis Bay in the hope of catching sight of these wonderful animals, than with a dolphin cruise or whale-watching tour.

In this guide, we’ll detail 5 highly rated and impressive boat tours from Jervis Bay, ensuring you have every chance to admire the impressive marine life for yourself.

Top 5 Jervis Bay Tours

Below, we’ll overview the top 5 tours in Jervis Bay for dolphin cruises and whale-watching tours. We’ve handpicked the most highly-rated tours on GetYourGuide and Viator, so you don’t need to sift through the pile. There’s a tour to suit every level of adventurer, from sitting back and relaxing on a dry boat deck to getting a soaking on the boom net or experiencing a very up close and personal encounter in a kayak. Let’s take a look at the top picks.

1. Jervis Bay Whale Watching Tour

This incredible 2-hour boat tour heads out into Jervis Bay to watch these awesome mammals as they migrate up and down the coast of New South Wales. The whale migration season in Jervis Bay runs from May through to November, so that’s when the tours take place.

The Jervis Bay whale-watching tour includes expert commentary, that’s both interesting and informative, helping you to get the most out of the trip, as well as helping you to spot whales and other interesting sea life. Alongside whale watching, you’ll also cruise by some of the most interesting coastal geology in Jervis Bay, enjoying the pastry layer-like cliff walls and cave lookouts.

Click here to book the Jervis Bay Whale Watching Cruise.

2. Jervis Bay Dolphin Cruise

Jervis Bay is known for its resident dolphins frolicking in the turquoise shallows. But, to be certain of spotting these marine favourites, be sure to hop on a Jervis Bay Dolphin Cruise.

This 1.5-hour Dolphin Cruise tour around Jervis Bay with GetYourGuide sails by pristine white sand beaches and through crystal clear waters as you look out for the playful dolphins. Expert guides know the best places to look, as well as filling the short tour with some of the best views of Jervis Bay. This is sure to be an experience you won’t forget.

Click here to book the 1.5-hour Jervis Bay Dolphin Cruise tour.

3. Dolphin Cruise & Boom Netting Experience

If you’re keen to get a little more up close and personal with the dolphins in Jervis Bay, then you might consider a boom netting tour. Boom netting is essentially a kind of jacuzzi-like experience, where you sit on a net at the back of a boat that rests just below the surface of the water. The boat, cruising through the beautiful waters of Jervis Bay, causes the water to froth and splash a little, like a jacuzzi. Although not guaranteed, inquisitive dolphins have been known to swim over to check out the fun going on.

This Dolphin Cruise and Boom Netting Experience with GetYourGuide is a wonderfully fun tour, leaving from Huskisson, Jervis Bay. You’ll explore the beautiful Jervis Bay Marine Park, as you hunt for bottlenose dolphins and enjoy the scenic coastline.

Click here to book the Dolphin Cruise & Boom Netting Experience.

4. Cruise of Jervis Bay Passage

This 2-hour bout cruise tours the outstanding coastline of Jervis Bay, sailing past the towering cliffs around Point Perpendicular. Here, you’ll see some incredible rock formations, including sea stacks that resemble layers of pastry, stacked precariously one on top of the other.

You’ll enjoy a wonderful sea perspective on this tour of the gorgeous white sand beaches that litter the coastline of Jervis Bay. There’s informative commentary on board, helping to spot dolphins as you cruise around Jervis Bay. This Jervis Bay boat tour is great for those who enjoy wildlife and natural attractions.

Click here to book the Jervis Bay: 2-Hour Cruise of Jervis Bay Passage tour.

5. Jervis Bay Sea Kayak Tour

If you fancy something a little more energetic, then exploring Jervis Bay on a guided kayak tour is hard to beat. The sheltered waters of Jervis Bay create a calm and tranquil setting for enjoying a relaxing paddle. Heading out with an experienced guide, you’ll paddle around the exquisite coastline of Booderee National Park, which lies in the southern parts of Jervis Bay.

Look out for dolphins, stingrays, penguins (yes, penguins!) and even whales as you soak up this dreamy landscape. This half-day kayak tour with Viator leaves from Huskisson, Jervis Bay, and cruises around to Bowen Island and Murrays Beach in Booderee National Park. After resting on a pristine white sand beach, you’ll be treated to coffee, cakes and fresh fruits to fuel the return paddle back to Huskisson. This is a truly great tour option in Jervis Bay for the adventurous and those looking for a slightly quieter tour option. The maximum group size is 8 people.

Click here to book the Half-Day Jervis Bay Sea Kayak Tour.

Other Jervis Bay Tours 

There are plenty of other cool tours you might consider on your trip to Jervis Bay. Whether that’s exploring more of the coastline and waterways or immersing yourself in some of the local indigenous culture, Jervis Bay has a lot to offer. Let’s take a look.

Jervis Bay Paddleboard Tour 

Explore the beautiful coves of Currarong and Callala in Jervis Bay with this fantastic group private hire SUP. You can arrange to meet and pick up your equipment at the Culburra Beach hire store, or, the team will bring it to your desired start and finish location along the coast. Perfect!

Sunset River Cruise

Sail along the serene Currambene River and soak in the increasingly active wildlife at dusk. There’s informative commentary as you cruise, as well as the chance to spot stingrays and pelicans. Don’t forget to bring your own picnic and then simply sit back and relax with your favourite snacks.

Indigenous Cultural Tour

A must-do tour in Jervis Bay is the Dharawal Culture Tour. The half-day tour welcomes visitors with a traditional smoking ceremony, before boomerang throwing and the opportunity to try some local bush tucker. Visitors can enjoy traditional indigenous stories that have been passed down through the generations and enjoy the impressive spectacle of a corroboree. It’s a wonderful experience that supports the Indigenous peoples of Jervis Bay, as well as helping to preserve and showcase their traditions and customs.

Dive Jervis Bay

If you’re keen to see what lies beneath Jervis Bay, then consider diving into those pristine turquoise waters. Woebegone Freedive offers an array of snorkelling and diving tours in Jervis Bay, including the incredible Whale, Seal and Dolphin Swim Tour.

These guys are passionate about what they do and they certainly know their stuff, so you’ll be in safe hands having the time of your life as you hopefully find yourself splashing about with whales, dolphins and seals.

How to Get to Jervis Bay

Jervis Bay is around 200km south of Sydney in the Shoalhaven region and takes around 3 hours to drive to. Certainly, the easiest way to get to Jervis Bay is with your own set of wheels. The drive is very straightforward, following the M1 south down to Bomaderry, before picking up the A1 Jervis Bay Road. Follow this directly to Huskisson.

If you want to break up the journey and make a longer trip itinerary out of heading down to Jervis Bay, then we recommend stopping at Killalea Regional Park, and Kiama. You can also book a tour to Jervis Bay that will take you directly from Sydney.

To find out more about renting a car with Discover Cars, read our Discover Cars review and Discover Cars Insurance review.

Public Transport

But, if you don’t have a car and don’t want to hire one, then it’s also possible to take public transport to Jervis Bay. Essentially, from Sydney, you’ll take the train to Kiama, before picking up a bus to Bomaderray and then another bus towards Huskisson.

Read more: How To Get From Sydney To Jervis Bay

Where to Stay

Jervis Bay is not short of accommodation options. Below you’ll find links to guides about camping, cabins and glamping in Jervis Bay. Otherwise, you’ll find our top 3 picks for motels, hotels and apartments in Jervis Bay.

• Top 8 Jervis Bay Cabins For A Unique and Memorable Stay
• Jervis Bay Glamping: 5 Sites For The Perfect South Coast Trip
• A Quick Guide To Booderee National Park Camping

Other Things to Do

Although taking a dolphin cruise or whale-watching tour should be high on the agenda when visiting Jervis Bay, there’s plenty more to keep you occupied. Below are a selection of guides to some of Jervis Bay’s best natural attractions and activities.

• Jervis Bay Walks: 13 Easy Hikes Not To Miss
• 12 Best Beaches In Jervis Bay That Will Blow You Away
• Gosangs Tunnel Walk & Mermaids Inlet: Can You Still Visit?
• Tianjara Falls: Lookout, Parking and Directions
• Booderee National Park: 12 Must-See Attractions
• White Sands Walk: 3 Beautiful Trail Options To Explore Jervis Bay

Bookmark or save this post so you’re ready to book that whale-watching tour or dolphin cruise in Jervis Bay.

We acknowledge and respect the First Nations people as the Traditional Custodians of the land/water that we visited and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.