Sea turtle · Australia
Where to see sea turtles in Australia
About this list
A common trap when looking for places to see sea turtles in Australia is a trip sold as if the sighting were certain. Maptlantis lists only operators that name the sea turtle as a target species, 13 of them. Places that only mention a chance sighting are left out. Regions on record: Byron Bay & North Coast, New South Wales, QLD, Cairns, QLD, Whitsundays, Broome & Dampier Peninsula, Western Australia, WA, Coral Bay and Exmouth & Ningaloo, Western Australia. Encounters are split into snorkeling, scuba diving, swimming, boat-based watching and land-based watching. Two "sea turtle tours" can differ completely in rules and price when one watches from the boat and the other puts you in the water. All 13 operators on this list publish prices on their own channels, so you can compare them directly. Estimated prices are not shown. The 7 operators that state a season for sea turtle programs in Australia cluster in Mar–Nov. That is the operators' operating period, not a promise that the animals will appear. No operator can guarantee a wildlife sighting, and rules on approach distance and in-water permits differ by country.
Sea turtle season in Australia
Mar–Nov
- JanJanuary: not in season
- FebFebruary: not in season
- MarMarch: in season
- AprApril: in season
- MayMay: in season
- JunJune: in season
- JulJuly: in season
- AugAugust: in season
- SepSeptember: in season
- OctOctober: in season
- NovNovember: in season
- DecDecember: not in season
The months 7 operators state as their program season, combined. That is the operators' operating period, not a sighting guarantee; each operator's months are in the sea turtle season table.
13 listed operators
Australia · Byron Bay & North Coast, New South Wales
Byron Bay Dive Centre
Scuba divingSnorkelingFamily & kids- Season
- May–Nov
- Price
- A$119 and up
- Checked
- Official source
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Australia · QLD, Cairns
Spoilsport
Scuba divingSnorkelingIsland hopping & boat trips- Season
- Mar–Apr, Jun–Jan
- Price
- See the operator page
- Checked
- Official source
Australia · QLD, Whitsundays
Explore Whitsundays
Scuba divingSnorkelingBeach & water play- Season
- May–Nov
- Price
- A$653.30 and up
- Checked
- Official source
Australia · Broome & Dampier Peninsula, Western Australia
Broome Adventure Company
Beach & water playKayak & paddleFamily & kids- Season
- Year-round
- Price
- A$120
- Checked
- Official source
Australia · WA, Coral Bay
Ningaloo Coral Bay Boats
FreedivingSnorkelingSwimming- Season
- Year-round
- Price
- A$245
- Checked
- Official source
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Australia · WA, Coral Bay
Ningaloo Marine Interactions
SwimmingMarine life encounters- Season
- Mar–Oct
- Price
- A$315 and up
- Checked
- Official source
Australia · Exmouth & Ningaloo, Western Australia
Live Ningaloo
SnorkelingSwimmingMarine life encounters- Season
- Mar–Oct
- Price
- A$600
- Checked
- Official source
Australia · Exmouth & Ningaloo, Western Australia
Three Islands Whale Shark Dive
SnorkelingSwimmingFamily & kids- Season
- Mar–Oct
- Price
- A$620
- Checked
- Official source
Australia · Mandurah & Bunbury, Western Australia
Dolphin Discovery Centre
SwimmingFamily & kidsMarine life encounters- Season
- Nov–Apr
- Price
- A$220
- Checked
- Official source
Australia · Pilbara & Dampier, Western Australia
Lethal Adventures
SnorkelingSwimmingIsland hopping & boat trips- Season
- Year-round
- Price
- Adults AUD 550 · Ages 6–17 AUD 450
- Checked
- Official source
Australia · Shark Bay & Monkey Mia, Western Australia
Island Life Adventures
Island hopping & boat tripsKayak & paddleSurfing & SUP- Season
- Apr–Nov
- Price
- A$324
- Checked
- Official source
Australia · Shark Bay & Monkey Mia, Western Australia
Perfect Nature Cruises
Beach & water playIsland hopping & boat tripsFamily & kids- Season
- Year-round
- Price
- A$130 and up
- Checked
- Official source
Australia · Shark Bay & Monkey Mia, Western Australia
Wula Gura Nyinda Eco Cultural Adventures
SnorkelingKayak & paddleSurfing & SUP- Season
- Year-round
- Price
- A$225
- Checked
- Official source
Sea turtles in Australia, by region
Sea turtles in Australia, by way to meet them
Sea turtle season
Sea turtles in other countries
Other marine life in Australia
Activities in Australia
- Family water activities in Australia265
- Island hopping and boat trips in Australia202
- Snorkeling in Australia178
- Scuba diving in Australia120
- Swimming in Australia117
- Beaches and water play in Australia110
- Marine life encounters in Australia99
- Surfing and SUP in Australia63
- Kayaking and paddling in Australia54
- Liveaboards in Australia27
Frequently asked questions
Where can you see sea turtles in Australia?
13 operators name the sea turtle as a target species. Main regions: Byron Bay & North Coast, New South Wales, QLD, Cairns, QLD, Whitsundays, Broome & Dampier Peninsula, Western Australia, WA, Coral Bay and Exmouth & Ningaloo, Western Australia.
Do you have to get in the water to see sea turtles?
Formats on record: snorkeling, scuba diving, swimming, boat-based watching and land-based watching. Boat-based watching stays on the boat; snorkeling, swimming and freediving put you in the water. Some countries ban getting in the water altogether, so check the format in the program details.
When is sea turtle season?
The 7 operators that state a season for sea turtle programs in Australia cluster in Mar–Nov. That is the operators' operating period, not a promise that the animals will appear.
Will I definitely see them?
No. Sea turtles are wild animals, and whether you meet them depends on their movements and the sea. Maptlantis does not use wording that promises a sighting, and cancellation and refund terms follow each operator's policy.