SWIM WITH WHALES ON AUSTRALIA’S EAST COAST

Enjoy an awe-filled weekend packed with whale swimming, salty hair, laughing bellies, great people and full cups.

Every winter, thousands of humpback whales pass through the waters off Australia’s East Coast. And every winter, for the past three years, we’ve been quietly guiding people into the water alongside them.

This is a full-sensory weekend designed to whisk you away from the daily grind and help you feel present and humble in nature. Think early mornings on the water, appreciating the rare beauty of the humpback whale, building new friendships over shared meals. The perfect weekend away if you’re love on annual leave and want to make the most of your time!

We’ll be based near Kingscliff in a gorgeous private villa. Expect laughter. Expect freedom. Expect a little salt in your hair.

  • TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

    - 2 mornings of Watching and Swimming with humpback whales

    - The opportunity to swim with other marine species such green sea turtles

    - Ocean Inspired Meditation and Breathwork Workshop

    - Gorgeous modern villa to share for the weekend

    - Games and group bonding activities

    To see what’s included, scroll to the Expedition Details

  • a turtle swimming in Northern NSW Australia

    DATES

    We’re delighted to offer this trip for the third year running!

    Here are our upcoming 2025 dates:

    - 12-14 Aug 2025 - SOLD OUT

    - 15-17 Aug 2025 - SOLD OUT

    - 22-24 Aug 2025 - SOLD OUT

  • INVESTMENT

    Shared Room (per person):

    A$1500

    Private Room (per person):

    A$1650

    Couples/Friends Suite (per person):

    A$1500

    $150 discount on mid-week trip!

    Scroll to Trip Details to check out the Packages!

  • TRAVEL STYLE

    Small-group weekend adventure travel experience.

    Shared peaceful villa accommodation with a pool

    Eat out or BYO food and cook in the kitchen, the choice is yours!

    Keep scrolling to read the Expedition details!

  • The breathtaking show from the boat

  • Guest Testimonials

  • POOL OUTSIDE VILLA

    Our private pool

  • Guest Testimonial

  • Face to Face with a Sea Turtle

  • Group Accom

  • Guest Testimonials

  • Curious baby whale coming to check us out

  • Example private bedroom

  • In Sync Below the Surface

  • Guest Testominals

  • Mother whale raising her newborn baby up to the surface for a breath

TRIP DETAILS

  • Shared Room (per person):

    A$1500

    Private Room (per person):

    A$1650

    Couples/Friends Suite (per person):

    A$1500

    $150 discount on mid-week trip!

  • 2025 Trips:

    • 12-14 August - SOLD OUT

    • 15-17 August  2025 - SOLD OUT

    • 22-24 August 2025 - 2 SPOTS LEFT

    • 2 x Whale Swim Adventures

    • 2 x nights stay in a Group Villa complete with pool

    • 2 x breakfasts (before our dive!)

    • Meditation & Breathwork workshops

    • Expedition Goody Bag!

    NOT INCLUDED

    • Lunches and Dinners (excluding breakfast) - we will go to local restaurants or eat at home if the group prefers!

    • Freediving Equipment (Freediving wetsuit, mask, and snorkel fins available to rent. Not weight belts.)

    • Weights: We will have a few spare weights but not enough for everyone to rely on. Please note: weights may only be worn by certified freedivers.

    • Ocean-related or Freediving Certifications

    • Transport to and from accommodation and dive site - lift sharing will be supported via Whatsapp

    • Alcohol

  • We’re looking for nature-lovers, awe-seekers, and good people looking to be part of a wholesome and unforgettable group vibe.

    You’ll also get a lot more out of this trip if you’re with us on these points:

    • you’re looking for raw, wild interactions over manufactured, forced situations

    • you’re ready to bring your best self to a warm and supportive group vibe

    • you know nature’s ways and you’re prepared for a range of conditions!

    Everyone's welcome - both snorkelers and freedivers! If you're new to freediving, fret not; snorkelling encounters with wildlife are equally mesmerising.

    Important: All participants must be competent and CONFIDENT swimmers, and complete a medical questionnaire prior to booking confirmation. Guests are also required to come familiar with their equipment and able to put it on quickly.

  • There are so many freediving retreat options out there. Let's make sure we are a good fit!

    • We pride ourselves on having the best customer experience in the freediving industry, so you can expect a smooth booking process, lots of communication, and dedicated 24h engagement from the team on retreat.

    • We’re a value-led company and everything we do reflects these values; please check them out!

    • We won’t force animal interactions for photos.

    • We rise early, dive a lot, have a lot of fun, and go to bed pretty early. It's probably not the one if you want to party hard.

    • The majority of our guests are in the 25-45 age range, but we host all ages 18+, so please expect variety!

    • Our customer base is primarily Australian, but we love hosting guests from all over the world.

    • We’re LGBTQIA+ friendly.

    • We really, really, really value great group dynamics and we are grateful for respectful, tolerant, drama-free people!

    • The atmosphere is often playful and silly - dancing, games, human pyramids, sports, dirty jokes. If this isn’t your vibe, there may be a better fit for you…

    We pride ourselves on being an inclusive, supportive, and super friendly place. Our guests are all treated equally. However, if you feel you may need additional levels of personal support, please contact us first for an honest discussion about how we can facilitate this.

  • We get it, life is unpredictable. Here is our policy if something happens or you change your mind. Please think carefully before booking as we cannot make exceptions to this policy.

    • Deposit: Non-Refundable.

    • Cancellation of trip up to 4 weeks before: Refund or Credit less Deposit.

    • Cancellation within 4 weeks of start date: No Refunds or Credits. Name change may be available.

    Please read our Terms and Conditions here.

    All guests are required to have comprehensive travel insurance to cover them in the event of sickness, travel interruptions or weather cancellations.

    IN THE EVENT OF WEATHER RESCHEDULES OR CANCELLATIONS

    Credit vouchers will be provided to guests for the partial components of the trip that are missed, so that the guest may return and use those vouchers in the future.

    Due to the fact that many guests will be booking independent flights to the area we will avoid as much as possible rescheduling the entire trip. Where an activity cannot proceed, we will provide alternative group activities.


  • No. Wildlife interactions can NEVER be guaranteed, at least not ethically.

    Here’s an idea of the likelihood of whale interactions, bearing in mind that we work on nature’s terms and we won’t be forcing interactions:-

    • 95%+ possibility of seeing whales on the surface from the boat.

    • approx 60% possibility of seeing a whale underwater (we can never predict the nature of the interaction)

    NOTE: The ocean is unpreditable! If you’re looking for a manufactured +. guaranteed interaction it might not be the trip for you!

    Unfortunately we cannot offer credits or refunds if we’re unlucky with the whales. However, we have 2 swims over the trip which doubles our chances!

  • What our previous guests say:

    I went to Narooma and out to Montague Island with Immersia and it was one of the best things I’ve ever done. The (many many) seals were super curious and playful and wanting to interact with us. The group were all super nice and the staff were incredibly welcoming, helpful and professional. It felt fun, safe and well thought out. Couldn’t recommend this more—I’ll be going back for sure.

    Jonnie

    Freediving with Seals in Narooma 2024

  • What our previous guests say:

    Loved every minute of it. Had a wonderful time whale diving, chasing turtles, doing yoga and improving breath ability. Well organised and no bad eggs in the group. Would recommend to anyone to try at least once!

    Andrew

    Whales Byron Retreat 2023

  • What our previous guests say:

    I was able to achieve beyond what I thought was possible. I would recommend this for anyone wanting to try free diving or wanting to become more comfortable in open water. What an amazing experience.

    James

    Freediving Student

  • What our previous guests say:

    Immersia it’s the best. It’s an amazing school with a beautiful community around it. Bela is an outstanding freediving teacher. I just came back from a whale freediving trip in QLD and had one of the most special experiences of my life swimming with whales. Couldn’t recommend it enough.

    Livia

    Swim-with-Whales Weekend Guest August 2024

  • What our previous guests say:

    My wife and I recently did the Freediving PADI course with Immersia and had a lovely experience. The instructors are very passionate, knowledgeable and accommodating, at all times looking after our safety and making us feel very comfortable. We don't have experience with other schools so far, but it's hard to think it can be better than our experience with Immersia!

    Luca

    Freediving Student

FAQs

  • Only when we sell out a trip do we add more dates.

    If you want to see different dates, please help us by:

    • dropping us a note to tell us which dates you’d like to see!

    • sharing the trip with your friends! Help us spread the word so we can fill it up and add more dates!

  • No. Wildlife interactions can NEVER be guaranteed, at least not ethically.

    Here’s an idea of the likelihood of whale interactions, bearing in mind that we work on nature’s terms and we won’t be forcing interactions:-

    • 95%+ possibility of seeing whales on the surface from the boat.

    • approx 60% possibility of seeing a whale underwater (we can never predict the nature of the interaction)

    NOTE: The ocean is unpreditable! If you’re looking for a manufactured +. guaranteed interaction it might not be the trip for you!

    Unfortunately we cannot offer credits or refunds if we’re unlucky with the whales. However, we have 2 swims over the trip which doubles our chances!

  • One of our core values is "Don't sh*t where you eat". We are very serious about Marine Conservation and Animal Welfare.

    We partner with a licensed, very experienced and respected local whale swim operator who has been running whale watching tours for many years.

    We comply with all permit limitations and ethical standards of whale interaction, including minimum distances for boats AND swimmers.

    When we interact with wildlife on any of our trips, we do so in a way that does not negatively impact the animals. Everything takes place on the whale's terms. If it chooses to interact with us, we will be stoked. However, we will never chase or force the interaction

    Many believe that we should 'leave wildlife alone', and for good reason. However we sadly live in a world where coastal nations will continue to exploit the oceans for economic gain regardless. Ecotourism, such as whale swimming, provides an avenue for communities to benefit from the ocean in way that:

    • inspires the public to protect the ocean

    • doesn't harm any animal or ecosystem

    • creates strong ocean advocates in our guests

  • Adults (18+) with confidence and experience in the ocean.

    You don’t need to be a certified freediver to attend! However, you must be a competent swimmer or snorkeller.

    The conditions can be unpredictable so you may need to be prepared for choppiness and current.

    We also require all guests to complete a medical history form before attending. Certain medical conditions may require doctor’s permission before diving.

    • Option 1 - Drive. There is parking available at the accommodation.

    • Option 2 - Fly. The closest airport is Coolangatta. As transport is not included we aren't offering airport pickup but we recommend to organise a rental car share with other guests.

    Note: We will create a Whatsapp group 2 weeks before the trip so that everyone can organise car sharing.

  • Yes!

    With advance notice we can arrange for rental of:

    • Wetsuits,

    • masks, and snorkel

    • snorkelling fins

    Not available to rent:

    • weight belts

    • weights (we will have a few spare but not enough for everyone!

    Please note, only certified freedivers may wear weight belts.

    Please reach out to us at info@immersiafreediving.com with your needs!

  • At the moment we are not offering this package but hold tight - we may add an option for this once places are sold out!

  • Yes! groups of 3+ people may be eligible for a discount. Simply reach out to us at info@immersiafreediving.com .

  • No. We've tried to keep this trip as affordable as possible !

    Once we have guest numbers confirmed we will create a Whatsapp group to organise car sharing, renting, etc.