Departing Chinderah, 10 minutes from Coolangatta

139 Chinderah Bay Drive, Chinderah NSW 2487 (open in Google Maps)

We set off from the jetty on the Tweed River at Chinderah. Look for the big trailer parked along the river, and your friendly crew. From here we cruise down the Tweed River and out to the Pacific Ocean.

Chinderah is about 10 minutes drive from Coolangatta, which makes us a close option for whale watching from Coolangatta and the southern Gold Coast. Humpbacks sometimes pass so close to the shoreline that you can spot them from the beaches of Coolangatta, Kirra, Kingscliff and Tweed, but nothing beats seeing them up close from the water, on a boat with no more than 12 guests.

If you are looking for whale watching from Tweed Heads, our tours run from the Tweed River at Chinderah. For whale watching from Kingscliff, Chinderah is reached from the Kingscliff/Cudgen exit of the Pacific Motorway (directions below). Whales and dolphins are seen off Kingscliff too; our post on dolphins and whales near Kingscliff has the story. Whichever town you are staying in, whale watching from Chinderah starts the same way: check-in by the river, a safety briefing, then down the Tweed River to the Pacific Ocean.

If you are driving from the south on the Pacific Motorway, take the Kingscliff/Cudgen exit, go left at the roundabout and follow this road.

If you are driving from the north on the Pacific Motorway, take the Kingscliff/Cudgen exit and go right at the roundabout, passing under the motorway, then follow this road.

To confirm with Lachy: does a pick-up and drop-off shuttle run now? If so, from where, at what times and at what cost?

There is street parking along Chinderah Bay Drive.

Please note: do not park in front of the Cubby Bakehouse or in the Chinderah pub car park.

Chinderah is in New South Wales, but we operate on Queensland time. During daylight saving (October to April), Queensland time is one hour behind NSW, and whale season runs into October and November. Our departures at 7:00am, 10:30am and 2:00pm are Queensland times, so check which clock you are reading before you leave.

One of the crew will greet you and check you in on the iPad, then the skipper gives a short safety briefing before we board. To confirm with Lachy: how many minutes before departure should guests arrive for check-in? Please add a correct phone number when you book, as we may need to contact you about time changes or cancellations. See what to expect for the rest of the tour.