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Board a custom-built adventure boat for a thrilling offshore experience!

Lake Macquarie Coastal Boat Tour

Ocean Explorer Tour

The thrilling Ocean Explorer Tour is a fast-paced, fun-filled ocean boat tour adventure along the stunning Lake Macquarie coastline. Departing from Chalmers Street Jetty, on the oceanside of Swansea Bridge, cruise through the pristine waters of Swansea channel before zooming along the Lake Mac coast, past Moon Island Nature Reserve, discovering hidden sea caves and visiting Catherine Hill Bay. Share in the natural history of the area with an experienced wildlife guide making this tour fast, fun and informative. This tour is the perfect adventure for anyone seeking an unforgettable offshore boating experience.

November – May
75 Minutes

Highlights include:

  • Water-level views (close to the action)
  • Professional guides, knowledgeable on wildlife and the local environment
  • Safe and comfortable eco-tourism vessel
  • Premium weatherproof jackets provided
  • Comfortable, slim-profile life jackets provided
  • Accredited quality and sustainable tourism business

Price:

  • Adult – $99

  • Child – $75 (5 – 12 yrs)

Learn About the Lake Mac Coastline

This ocean boat tour explores the beautiful Swansea Channel at the entrance to Lake Macquarie and the spectacular Lake Macquarie coastline. This includes the region’s most impressive natural wonders, including Moon Island Nature Reserve, the stunning sea caves at Caves Beach and Pinneys Headland, and the picturesque Catherine Hill Bay.

You will be fascinated by the maritime and natural history of this amazing stretch of coastline. Designed as a family-friendly experience our professional guides will share their expertise in marine life, Aboriginal heritage and local geology. Our ocean boat tour was recently considered the #1 ultimate way to play in Lake Macquarie. 

Notes: 

  • Minimum age is 5 years old.

Live Availability

Departure Location

Ocean Boat Tour - Frequently Asked Questions

How close will we get to the sea caves?

The sea caves at Caves Beach and Pinney’s Headland are some of the highlights on our Ocean Explorer Tour, and we try to give guests a close experience. How close, is of course dependent on the sea conditions themselves. You can rest assured, your skipper will position the vessel in a safe location to make sure everyone aboard can get a nice photo of the caves.

How far does the tour go?

Our ocean boat tour covers 15-20 kilometres of the Lake Macquarie channel and coastline. Departing from Swansea Channel, we travel approximately 25 kilometres in the space of about 80 minutes.

What marine animals can I see? Will I see dolphins?

We’re fortunate to regularly encounter marine animals on our ocean boat tour including bottlenose dolphins, common dolphins, long-nosed fur seals, turtles, penguins, sharks and many species of seabirds. Remember that these are all wild animals and we are not guaranteed to see them on any given day.

Where should I park?

Free parking is available near Swansea RSL or close to the Swansea Swim Centre on Channel Street. Click here for a map of how to find our departure location, including our best parking suggestions.

Are there toilets on the trip?

Yes! There are toilets at the Swansea RSL, Swansea Woolworths, Quinn Park and we even have a toilet on board!

Can I join the waitlist if a tour is booked out?

When a tour books out we have a waitlist feature. It’s free to join, and should your preferred tour be fully booked, we recommend joining our waitlist, if spaces become available we will contact you to see if you’re still available to join us. In the meantime, we also recommend making a confirmed booking for a different day/time as that means you’ve definitely got a place on board. Should your waitlist booking become available, we can always bring forward your confirmed booking in its place.