Where the whale swim departs
139 Chinderah Bay Drive, Chinderah NSW 2487 (open in Google Maps). Look for the big trailer parked along the river, and your friendly crew.
The whale swim departs from this spot on the Tweed River. From here we head down the river and out to the Pacific Ocean, and the second part of your briefing happens on the way.
Swim with whales from Tweed Heads and Coolangatta: directions
Chinderah is about 10 minutes drive from Coolangatta.
- Driving from the south on the Pacific Motorway: take the Kingscliff/Cudgen exit, go left at the roundabout and follow this road.
- Driving from the north on the Pacific Motorway: take the Kingscliff/Cudgen exit, go right at the roundabout, pass under the motorway and follow this road.
To confirm with Lachy: Typical driving times to 139 Chinderah Bay Drive from Tweed Heads, Kingscliff, Surfers Paradise and Byron Bay?
Parking
There is street parking available along Chinderah Bay Drive.
Please note: do not park in front of the Cubby Bakehouse or in the Chinderah pub car park.
We run on Queensland time
We depart from NSW but operate on Queensland time, which is one hour behind NSW while daylight saving applies (October to April). If your swim is in October, check the time on your booking against Queensland time.
Coming from Byron Bay
Humpbacks follow the continental shelf, which runs closest to the shoreline between Byron Bay and the Gold Coast, and that makes this stretch of coast the prime location to see whales in their natural environment. If you are staying in Byron Bay and want to swim with whales, the tour still departs from Chinderah, so allow for the drive. To confirm with Lachy: Typical driving times to 139 Chinderah Bay Drive from Tweed Heads, Kingscliff, Surfers Paradise and Byron Bay?
When you arrive
We check you in, ask you to sign a standard waiver form and help you with your wetsuit, mask, snorkel and fins before the first briefing. Space on board is limited, so no backpacks or large bags are allowed; we provide dry bags for things like your camera, and the seats open up to store valuables such as wallets and phones. To confirm with Lachy: How early should swimmers arrive before departure for check-in, the waiver and wetsuit fitting? To confirm with Lachy: Is a pick-up and drop-off shuttle offered now? The design copy still says it is paused due to COVID-19.
Read what to expect on a whale swim for the full morning.
