Cruises are subject to weather. When you book your cruise it is important that you leave a contact number for where you are staying (preferably a mobile that you will be carrying on the day of your tour). If The Operator needs to cancel due to weather, they will contact you to see if you can reschedule for another date. There is no charge if we have to cancel due to weather.

On the boat, it’s important that you are adequately dressed because it can be cold, even in summer. A warm weatherproof jacket is essential. Gloves, scarves & beanies for the colder days are a good idea.

For Penguin Island, wear comfortable footwear. Most visitors wear thongs or sandals. Hats, sunscreen and a long sleeve or UV-resistant shirt are recommended for sun protection. Bring swimmers and towels if you are planning water activities. A warm weatherproof jacket is recommended even in summer as the afternoon sea breeze can be cold.

We visit the wildlife sanctuary zone of the marine park which has the best viewing opportunities including the Australian Sea Lion! There can be up to 30 sea lions ‘hauling out’ on the beach at Seal Island but numbers vary especially during the breeding season. There are lots of sea birds and we typically see pelicans, ospreys, terns and cormorants most days. We will also do our best to find you some dolphins but this can’t be guaranteed as our cruise is restricted to inside the sheltered waters of Shoalwater Bay. The dolphins do spend a lot of time here but they also go out to sea at times where the glass bottom boat is not licensed to go. Please note, due to the nature of wild animals, wildlife sightings are not guaranteed.

Beneath the surface, Shoalwater Bay has an interesting diversity of marine habitats including seagrass meadows, limestone reefs and sandy sea beds that are home to plenty of fish, crabs, stingrays, rock lobster, octopus and more. The guides will endeavour to share the best underwater viewing on every cruise, however, visitors should not expect brightly coloured tropical reef and fish that they may have experienced on other glass-bottom boats. The colours here are more subdued as we’re operating in temperate waters and we also don’t feed the fish to attract them under the glass (it’s bad for their health and the environment!). Viewing Shoalwater’s underwater world is just one component of this wildlife cruise and some days limited visibility can make it difficult. Most of the local wildlife and scenic highlights are above the water so this is where our guides will focus your attention.