# Cooly Eco Adventures

> Small-group whale watching, swim with whales, swim with turtles and dolphin and turtle safari tours departing Chinderah NSW (10 minutes from Coolangatta), serving Gold Coast, Tweed Heads and Northern NSW visitors.

## Key facts

- Business: Cooly Eco Adventures, a tour operator. Phone 1300 162 326. Email info@coolyecoadventures.com.au.
- Departure point: 139 Chinderah Bay Drive, Chinderah NSW 2487 (Chinderah on the Tweed River, about 10 minutes drive from Coolangatta).
- Boat: customised commercial safari-style open-ocean rigid inflatable boat (RIB), 32ft, seats 12 guests plus captain and crew.
- Booking: online through Rezdy (links below) or by phone. We run on Queensland time (one hour behind NSW during daylight saving).
- Whale season: June to November on the east coast of Australia (client FAQ); best time to swim with whales August to October; mothers and calves late October and November.

## Tours (prices in AUD)

- [Whale Watching Gold Coast](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/whale-watching-gold-coast/): Safari-style humpback whale watching on a 32ft open-ocean rigid inflatable boat with a maximum of 12 guests, departing Chinderah, 10 minutes from Coolangatta. $129 Adult or child (minimum age 6 years); $1400 Private charter, up to 12 guests. Duration 2.5 hours approx. Departs 7:00am, 10:30am and 2:00pm (weather and tide dependent). Book: https://coolyecoadventures.rezdy.com/455090/safari-style-whale-watching-gold-coast?useTransparentSessions=1
- [Swim with Whales Gold Coast](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/swim-with-whales-gold-coast/): In-water swim with humpback whales off the Gold Coast, maximum 9 swimmers per tour with an experienced guide, departing Chinderah. $399 Per person (15 years and over); $3299 Private charter, 1 to 9 passengers (call to book). Duration 4 hours approx. Departs 6:30am and 11am (weather and tide dependent). Book: https://coolyecoadventures.rezdy.com/454978/swim-with-whales-gold-coast
- [Swim with Turtles Gold Coast](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/swim-with-turtles-gold-coast/): Snorkel with sea turtles at Cook Island Aquatic Reserve (Joongurra-Narrian), maximum 12 swimmers, departing Chinderah. $149 Adult; $129 Child (6 to 12 years); $539 2 adults and 2 children; $410 2 adults and 1 child; $1600 Private charter, up to 12 passengers. Duration 2.5 hours approx. Departs 7am, 10am and 1pm (tour times subject to change due to tide and wind). Book: https://coolyecoadventures.rezdy.com/415851/swim-with-turtles?useTransparentSessions=1
- [Dolphin and Turtle Safari Gold Coast](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/dolphin-turtle-safari-gold-coast/): Safari-style dolphin and turtle watching from Chinderah via the Tweed River entrance to Cook Island Aquatic Reserve, maximum 12 passengers. $110 Adult; $99 Child (6 to 12 years); $399 2 adults and 2 children; $299 2 adults and 1 child; $1299 Private charter, 1 to 12 people (call to book). Duration 1.5 to 2 hours approx. Departs Early or late afternoon. Book: https://coolyecoadventures.rezdy.com/530560/dolphin-turtle-safari

## Tour hubs and their guide pages

- [Whale Watching Gold Coast hub](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/whale-watching-gold-coast/)
  - [Departing Chinderah, 10 minutes from Coolangatta](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/whale-watching-gold-coast/departure-point/): Whale watching near Coolangatta and Tweed Heads departs 139 Chinderah Bay Drive on the Tweed River. Address, directions, parking and Queensland time.
  - [Whale watching questions answered](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/whale-watching-gold-coast/faqs/): Answers to the questions we get asked most about whale watching on the Gold Coast: season, sightings, the boat, seasickness, weather and tickets.
  - [Whale watching photos and video](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/whale-watching-gold-coast/gallery/): Photos and video from our Gold Coast whale watching tours: breaches, tail flukes, guests on the boat and humpbacks underwater. See more in our gallery.
  - [Humpback whales on the Gold Coast](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/whale-watching-gold-coast/humpback-whales/): The humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) that migrate past the Gold Coast each year: size, behaviour, breaching and the bay as a nursing ground.
  - [Whale watching prices and what is included](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/whale-watching-gold-coast/prices/): Adult and child $129 (minimum age 6), private charter $1,400 for up to 12 guests, what is included, group and family bookings, weather policy and refunds.
  - [What guests say about our whale watching tours](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/whale-watching-gold-coast/reviews/): Real reviews from guests on our Gold Coast whale watching and swim with whales tours, in their own words, as published on our site.
  - [Gold Coast whale watching season](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/whale-watching-gold-coast/season/): Gold Coast whale watching season: tours run May to November, with peak sightings June to November. Migration, mothers and calves, and when to go.
  - [What to expect on your whale watching tour](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/whale-watching-gold-coast/what-to-expect/): Step by step: check-in at Chinderah, the 32ft RIB, how close we get, what you see, what to bring and how the 2.5 hour tour runs.
- [Swim with Whales Gold Coast hub](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/swim-with-whales-gold-coast/)
  - [Departing Chinderah on the Tweed](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/swim-with-whales-gold-coast/departure-point/): Where the whale swim departs (139 Chinderah Bay Drive, 10 minutes from Coolangatta), parking, directions from the Pacific Motorway and Queensland time.
  - [Whale swim questions answered](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/swim-with-whales-gold-coast/faqs/): Will I get wet, how close do we get, what to wear, seasickness, weather cancellations, tickets and private charters.
  - [Whale swim photos and video](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/swim-with-whales-gold-coast/gallery/): Underwater photos and video from our Gold Coast whale swims.
  - [Whale swim prices and inclusions](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/swim-with-whales-gold-coast/prices/): $399 per swimmer, what is included (wetsuit, mask, snorkel, fins, guide), private charter options, weather and no-swim policy.
  - [What swimmers say](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/swim-with-whales-gold-coast/reviews/): Real guest reviews of swimming with humpback whales with Cooly Eco Adventures.
  - [When to swim with whales](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/swim-with-whales-gold-coast/season/): The best time to swim with whales on the Gold Coast is August to October, inside the June to November whale season. Mothers and calves come later.
  - [What to expect on a whale swim](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/swim-with-whales-gold-coast/what-to-expect/): How a whale swim runs: briefing, the guide, entering the water, how the whales are approached, how long you are in the water, snorkelling ability needed.
- [Swim with Turtles Gold Coast hub](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/swim-with-turtles-gold-coast/)
  - [Cook Island Aquatic Reserve](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/swim-with-turtles-gold-coast/cook-island/): About Cook Island off Fingal Head: the aquatic reserve, its turtles and marine life, and how our tour explores it.
  - [Departing Chinderah on the Tweed](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/swim-with-turtles-gold-coast/departure-point/): Where the turtle tour departs, parking and travel times from Coolangatta, Tweed Heads, Kingscliff and Byron Bay.
  - [Turtle tour questions answered](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/swim-with-turtles-gold-coast/faqs/): What to wear, what to bring, will I get wet, seasickness, weather cancellations, tickets.
  - [Turtle tour photos and video](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/swim-with-turtles-gold-coast/gallery/): Underwater photos and video from Cook Island.
  - [Turtle tour prices and inclusions](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/swim-with-turtles-gold-coast/prices/): Adult $149, child $129, what is included, private charters, weather policy.
  - [What guests say](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/swim-with-turtles-gold-coast/reviews/): Real guest reviews of our Cook Island turtle snorkelling tour.
  - [Turtle season on the Gold Coast](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/swim-with-turtles-gold-coast/season/): Turtle tours run year round; the best season for visibility and water temperature, and what changes month to month.
  - [What to expect snorkelling with turtles](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/swim-with-turtles-gold-coast/what-to-expect/): The boat trip to Cook Island, gear provided, snorkelling ability needed, what you see (turtles, rays, wobbegongs, fish) and how long you are in the water.
- [Dolphin and Turtle Safari Gold Coast hub](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/dolphin-turtle-safari-gold-coast/)
  - [Departing Chinderah on the Tweed](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/dolphin-turtle-safari-gold-coast/departure-point/): The Dolphin and Turtle Safari departs 139 Chinderah Bay Drive on the Tweed River, 10 minutes drive from Coolangatta. Directions, parking and check-in.
  - [Safari questions answered](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/dolphin-turtle-safari-gold-coast/faqs/): Answers on the boat, what to bring and wear, seasickness, weather, tickets and private charters for the Dolphin and Turtle Safari Gold Coast.
  - [Safari photos and video](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/dolphin-turtle-safari-gold-coast/gallery/): Photos and video from the Dolphin and Turtle Safari Gold Coast: sea turtles at the surface, bottlenose dolphins and our open-ocean RIB at speed.
  - [Safari prices and inclusions](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/dolphin-turtle-safari-gold-coast/prices/): Dolphin and Turtle Safari prices: adult $110, child $99 (6 to 12), family fares, private charter $1,299, what is included and the weather policy.
  - [What guests say](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/dolphin-turtle-safari-gold-coast/reviews/): Guest reviews of Cooly Eco Adventures, word for word: the crew, the boat and the wildlife you meet on the Dolphin and Turtle Safari from Chinderah.
  - [Dolphin season on the Gold Coast](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/dolphin-turtle-safari-gold-coast/season/): Dolphins live along the Tweed coast and turtles feed at Cook Island all year. When the safari runs, time of day, weather and how whale season fits in.
  - [What to expect on the safari](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/dolphin-turtle-safari-gold-coast/what-to-expect/): The route, the wildlife (dolphins, green turtles, rays and birds), how close you get and how the Dolphin and Turtle Safari runs from check-in to return.

## Conservation

- [Conservation at Cooly Eco Adventures](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/conservation/): How our tours are run so whales, dolphins, turtles and birds are not disturbed, our eco credentials, research contributions and partnerships.
- [Our eco credentials](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/conservation/eco-credentials/): Low-emission engines, hydrogen-enhanced vehicle, biodegradable products, reef-safe sunscreen, composting, plastic reduction, recycled uniforms and gear.
- [How we run our tours](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/conservation/how-we-run-our-tours/): Approach distances, engine and speed practice, no-chase and no-touch no-take policy, time limits and the regulations we follow.
- [Partnerships](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/conservation/partnerships/): Brands and groups we work with that share our commitment to sustainability.
- [Research and citizen science](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/conservation/research-and-citizen-science/): How tours contribute to whale, dolphin and turtle research.
- [Swimming with whales, respectfully](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/conservation/swim-with-whales-ethics/): How we decide which whales to swim with, how swimmers enter the water, guide ratios and when we do not swim.
- [What you can do](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/conservation/what-you-can-do/): Simple things guests can do on tour and at home.
- [Why eco](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/conservation/why-eco/): Why Cooly Eco Adventures runs as an eco operator and what that means for your tour.

## People

- [Captain Lachy](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/captain-lachy/): Lachy's story, years on the water, qualifications, conservation work and the guests he has hosted.

## Guides and other pages

- [Frequently asked questions](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/faq/): all 22 client FAQs (departure, what to bring, weather, tickets, private charters).
- [Tours overview](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/tours/)
- [Who we are](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/whale-turtle-watching-swimming/)
- [Contact](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/contact/)
- [Terms and conditions](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/terms-conditions/)
- [Gallery](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/gallery/)

## News and articles

- [A Day in the Life on a Whale Watching Tour with Cooly Eco Adventures](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/a-day-in-the-life-on-a-whale-watching-tour-with-cooly-eco-adventures/) (May 22, 2025)
- [The Magic of Swimming with Whales: Personalised Stories from the Deep](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/the-magic-of-swimming-with-whales-personalised-stories-from-the-deep/) (May 22, 2025)
- [Exploring the Underwater Paradise of Cook Island](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/exploring-the-underwater-paradise-of-cook-island/) (September 12, 2024)
- [Snorkeling with sharks on the Gold Coast: Not as dangerous as you might think!](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/snorkelling-with-sharks-on-the-gold-coast-not-as-dangerous-as-you-might-think/) (April 9, 2024)
- [Swim with Humpback Whales!!](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/swim-with-humpback-whales/) (March 15, 2024)
- [Why Coral Reefs Are the Real Stars of our Snorkeling Adventures!](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/why-coral-reefs-are-the-real-stars-of-our-snorkeling-adventures/) (February 5, 2024)
- [The Peculiar Yet Wonderful Things You Can Experience When Snorkeling at Joongarra-Ngarrian](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/snorkeling-at-joongarra-ngarrian/) (January 8, 2024)
- [Dispelling Shark Fears](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/dispelling-shark-fears/) (December 12, 2023)
- [Gold Coast Whale Season 2023 is Here](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/gold-coast-whale-season-2023-is-here/) (June 14, 2023)
- [Give Me Some Fin and Let’s Work Together!](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/give-me-some-fin-and-lets-work-together/) (March 15, 2023)
- [Twinkle Twinkle Little Starfish](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/twinkle-twinkle-little-starfish/) (March 15, 2023)
- [The Gold Coast Bay Has Become A Birthing And Nursing Ground For Humpback Whales](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/the-gold-coast-bay-has-become-a-birthing-and-nursing-ground-for-humpback-whales/) (August 22, 2022)
- [THE MYSTERY BEHIND A WHALE’S VISION AND WHAT THEIR EYES CAN ACTUALLY SEE](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/the-mystery-behind-a-whales-vision-and-what-their-eyes-can-actually-see/) (August 22, 2022)
- [Join Us for Snorkeling Byron Bay & Northern NSW](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/join-us-for-snorkeling-byron-bay-northern-nsw/) (December 8, 2021)
- [Cooly Eco Adventures Featured by Juice 107.3](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/cooly-eco-adventures-featured-by-juice-107-3/) (November 2, 2021)
- [Best Time to Swim With Turtles Gold Coast](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/best-time-to-swim-with-turtles-gold-coast/) (October 12, 2021)
- [Dolphins and Whales Spotted Playing Near Kingscliff](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/dolphins-and-whales-spotted-playing-near-kingscliff/) (July 29, 2021)
- [Whale Watching Season Gold Coast - Megaptera novaeangliae / Humpback Whales](https://coolyecoadventures.com.au/megaptera-novaeangliae-humpback-whales/) (April 6, 2021)

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