Top Byron Bay Cruises, Sailing & Water Tours

The crew was great and the marine biologist was very informative. They managed to locate a couple of different groupings of Humpbacks during the trip. It was well worth it!

As a complete beginner, Ricky made me feel instantly at ease. He took care of everything — teaching me to stand up, keeping me hydrated, sharing his knowledge of the local flora and fauna, and even snapping great photos so my phone could stay safe on dry land!We saw stingrays, crabs, and sea hawks — it was honestly a dream. Despite my questionable core strength, I didn't fall off once (though I'll definitely be sore tomorrow). Highly recommend Stand Up Byron

Amazing! Ricky was generous with his time, patient and I managed to paddle 4kms standing up! His connection to the location shone through and the talks while paddling were amazing! Absolutely enjoyed! A very funny, gentle and encouraging guide! Thanks Ricky

We had a wonderful day, saw a few whales & learnt a lot about them as well. We would recommend this trip to everyone.

It was so much fun! The guides were very experienced and entertaining! I would recommend to all! Hope it’s as much fun for you all!

Was a great experience. Did see dolphins but unfort i had to head back after a hour or so due to motion sickness, i never get it but had inner ear issue so i should have taken pills prior. What was amazing is the guides allowed me to swap kayaks and one paddle me back in. Not my finest mo but was great fun still.

Seeing whales is a must if you are in Byron Bay or surrounding area. We booked through Cool Destinations & the company used was out of the blue adventures based in Ballina about 30 minutes drive from Byron. The communication was good. We wete greeted by 2 friendly staff. One a marine biologist who was very knowledgeable on all whale facts. The boat was a nice size and held aporox 20 people. So felt sturdy but not too big. You are supplied with waterproof ponchos and life jackets. As we went into open water which was fun after about 10 minutes we were lucky to see whales. We saw breaching, dotsil fins, and tail flapping. A magical experience. An honour to see the whales in their natural habitat. I We went on a sunny day, still rocky in open water, but for someone who gets sea sick ( I took sea sick pills prior) I was fine. The crew provide sick bags if needed! I would definitely go again on this trip and highly reccomend it.

Fantastic trip. Very informative. Plenty of whale action and the ride was great.

Absolutely brilliant experience from start to finish. Knowledgeable and friendly guides… and we were lucky to go out on a perfect morning. Lots of dolphins all around us, I will never forget this trip, and I would do this again in a heartbeat. Great value for money, don’t hesitate, book it!

The cost of this trip is well worth it. We spent an hour and a half on the water with multiple guides who really knew what they were doing, we got to see so many dolphins. I was nervous going in to it because I was by myself and although I have kayaked before, never in the ocean with the waves but the guys who work there make sure you are paired up with someone and did a safety briefing before and made sure everyone was safe and felt comfortable going out! It was honestly such a cool experience and I can’t wait to go back during whale season. The guides who take you out were a lot of fun!

Ricky is a great instructor, easy to understand and lots of fun. Took us to a beautiful, serene part of river. Lots of laughs, Not too hard. Water felt divine falling into. Fresh home made bread and hummus afterwards. Highly recommend.

This stand up paddle tour was nothing short of amazing. From start to finish, the experience felt both exhilarating and deeply peaceful—a rare combination that made it truly special. The natural beauty surrounding us was absolutely spectacular. Being out on the water gave us a perspective you simply can’t get from shore, and every moment felt like we were immersed in something larger than ourselves. There’s something almost meditative about gliding across the water, feeling the rhythm of your paddle strokes, and taking in the scenery at a slower, more intentional pace. Our guide Ricky deserves special recognition. His knowledge of the area and wildlife was impressive, but what really stood out was how he made everyone feel completely safe and at ease. Even if you’re a beginner, Ricky has a way of breaking things down that makes it feel easy and accessible. His expertise and calm demeanor allowed us to relax fully into the experience. I highly recommend this tour to anyone looking for something unique. It’s not just another outdoor activity—it’s a special nature experience that stays with you long after you’ve left the water. Whether you’re seeking adventure, tranquility, or simply a new way to connect with nature, this paddle tour delivers on all fronts.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

The experience was very memorable, informative, exiting, easy and beautiful.

An insanely beautiful experience! It only took a few minutes until we saw the first whales. Sometimes they were in a group of three. Our boat was always at a respectful distance from the animals. The biologist always provided nice information. Absolutely recommended!

Oh my goodness where do I start? Weather was perfect perfection❤️ We saw so many whales breaching, tail slapping, 70 year-old sea turtle what a treat that was❤️ The skipper and the marine biologist were fantastic. There wasn’t a point that I felt unsafe🙏once in a lifetime experience❤️ thanking you so much for fulfilling that for us. Michele & Michael.

This tour was fantastic, we saw so many whales breaching. Gabriel, the marine biologist, was really informative and Michael, our captain, drove the boat really well.