Hervey Bay Eco Marine Tours is a small, locally owned family business run by Jacqui and Glenn from Fisherman's Wharf Marina on Jetty Road, Urangan — not the Great Sandy Straits Marina where most whale boats berth. It runs one boat, Milbi, which it describes as "Hervey Bay's only glass-bottom vessel". Milbi is the Butchulla word for sea turtle, and Butchulla storytelling is part of its trips on board.
This is not a whale-watching company. Eco Marine's whale page lists other operators' tours, which it sells as an agent. What it does run is small-group turtle, island, sunset and cultural tours, two of which are confirmed on GetYourGuide.
What Hervey Bay Eco Marine Tours runs
| Tour | Length | Direct price (herveybayecomarinetours.com.au) | On GetYourGuide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turtle Discovery | 3 h | A$119 adult, A$89 child 4–12, A$359 family 2+2 | A$119 |
| Morning Milbi Scenic Cruise | 3 h, 9 am | A$109 adult, A$79 child, A$349 family | — |
| Milbi Sunset | 1.5 h; 4:30 pm winter, 5 pm summer | A$95 adult, A$65 child, A$265 family | A$95 |
| Pelican Bank Tour | 1–5 pm | A$99 adult, A$49 child, A$280 family; BYO snacks | — |
| Djinang Cultural Walking Tour | on foot | A$59 adult, A$39 child | — |
GetYourGuide prices are checked regularly. Direct and GetYourGuide prices match on the two listed tours, so book where the dates and cancellation terms suit you.
Milbi, the glass-bottom boat
Milbi is surveyed for 38 passengers, but the operator takes a maximum of 28. The glass bottom lets you look beneath the boat without getting wet, which suits small children and non-swimmers. By the operator's account it is the bay's only glass-bottom boat; the whale boats with underwater windows are a different thing, covered in our lunch and glass-bottom cruise guide.
Accessibility is mixed on the operator's own pages. The homepage says "we are fully wheelchair accessible", while the FAQ says the bathroom has no disabled access and there are no baby-change facilities. Ring ahead if either matters. The exact check-in point is on your voucher.
Turtle Discovery: the headline tour
Turtle Discovery is a three-hour trip into the Great Sandy Strait, visiting Round Island (Weenandin), Pelican Banks and Big Woody Island depending on the tide. Morning or afternoon tea and snorkel gear are included, and the GetYourGuide listing mentions swimming, snorkelling and time on remote islands.
What the operator does not promise: "we cannot guarantee what you will see". Turtles, dolphins and dugongs are wild; the trip is built around places they are often found, not a guarantee. For the species, seasons and the rules around marine wildlife, see dolphins and turtles in Hervey Bay. For snorkelling expectations in the bay, read our snorkelling guide.
The Milbi sunset
Milbi Sunset is 90 minutes with "fresh local king prawns, a delicious grazing platter, and a glass of champagne", in the operator's words. It claims to be "the only sunset tour in Hervey Bay that docks on the beach". On GetYourGuide it has ★4.8 from 48 reviews.
Note that the A$95 sunset on GetYourGuide is Eco Marine's, not Whalesong's, even though Whalesong also sells a sunset cruise. For the sailing and twilight alternatives, see the sunset cruise guide.
Hervey Bay Eco Marine Tours reviews and awards
We did not collect Tripadvisor or Google scores, and we do not paraphrase reviews we cannot link. On GetYourGuide:
- Turtle Discovery: ★4.2 from 157 reviews — the lowest score among the whale and cruise operators we review.
- Milbi Sunset: ★4.8 from 48 reviews.
We cannot tell you why the Turtle Discovery score sits lower without reading reviews we cannot cite. It is still a positive average, but it is worth reading the recent reviews on the listing before booking.
The operator lists repeat "Best of Queensland Experience" recognition from Tourism Queensland over several years, earlier Tripadvisor Certificates of Excellence, Advanced Eco certification from Ecotourism Australia, and Respecting Our Culture (ROC) certification. It calls itself "The only Indigenous experience in Hervey Bay" — its own claim.
Eco Marine prices, discounts and cancellation
Family fares are the saving: A$359 for two adults and two children on Turtle Discovery, against A$416 for four single tickets. There is no promo code. Children are 4–12.
The cancellation policy is one of the gentlest in town: "24 hours notice of cancellation for a full refund", and a 50% fee under 24 hours "OR we can reschedule". GetYourGuide bookings follow the listing's own terms.
How to book Hervey Bay Eco Marine Tours
Because the fares are identical, the choice is about the booking itself. Book direct on herveybayecomarinetours.com.au for the family fares, the Morning Milbi Scenic Cruise, the Pelican Bank Tour or the Djinang cultural walk, none of which are on GetYourGuide. Book Turtle Discovery or the Milbi sunset on GetYourGuide if you want them alongside other Hervey Bay trips in one account.
If you are in town during whale season and want both, remember the whale trip is run by a different company: read that operator's sighting guarantee and cancellation terms, whoever you book it through. Our cruises hub lists the year-round options side by side.
Who should book Eco Marine
Good fit: families with young children, non-swimmers who still want to see under the water, visitors outside whale season, and anyone interested in the Butchulla story of the bay.
Look elsewhere if: you want whales (see our whale watching guide), a longer sail with dolphins (Blue Dolphin), or the cheapest boat trips in town — the Boat Club's 2-hour twilight cruise is A$55 and its 3-hour K'gari sightseeing cruise A$60 on GetYourGuide.
Our call
Book Eco Marine's Turtle Discovery for a small-group, 3-hour look at the Great Sandy Strait's turtles and islands, or the Milbi sunset for prawns and a beach landing.
It is the only glass-bottom boat in the bay by the operator's account, it caps groups at 28, trips include snorkel gear and Butchulla storytelling, and the direct and GetYourGuide prices match.
Skip it if you want whales — book a whale boat such as Tasman Venture or Boat Club Adventure Cruises — or you want a sure-fire sighting, which the operator says it cannot promise.
Check Eco Marine datesfrom A$119 · GetYourGuide
Questions people ask
Does Hervey Bay Eco Marine Tours do whale watching?
Not on its own boat. Its whale page lists other companies' whale cruises, which it sells as an agent: "we are also a tour agent and we sell all tours in Hervey Bay". For a whale trip, go straight to an operator such as Tasman Venture, Boat Club Adventure Cruises or Pacific Whale Foundation.
Is there a glass-bottom boat in Hervey Bay?
Yes: Milbi, run by Hervey Bay Eco Marine Tours, which the operator calls "Hervey Bay's only glass-bottom vessel". Milbi is the Butchulla word for sea turtle. It is surveyed for 38 but takes a maximum of 28. Our lunch and glass-bottom cruise guide covers the other ways to see under the water.
How much is the Eco Marine Turtle Discovery tour?
On herveybayecomarinetours.com.au Turtle Discovery is A$119 adult, A$89 child (4–12) and A$359 for a family of two adults and two children. GetYourGuide lists it at A$119 (prices checked regularly). It runs about three hours with morning or afternoon tea and snorkel gear.
Where does Eco Marine's Turtle Discovery go?
The operator lists Round Island (Weenandin), Pelican Banks and Big Woody Island, subject to the tide. Stops change with conditions, and the operator is clear that "we cannot guarantee what you will see". For the wider picture of turtle and dolphin trips, read dolphins and turtles in Hervey Bay.
Is the Eco Marine sunset cruise worth it?
Milbi Sunset is 1.5 hours with local king prawns, a grazing platter and a glass of champagne, A$95 on GetYourGuide or A$95 adult direct. The operator calls it "the only sunset tour in Hervey Bay that docks on the beach". It has ★4.8 from 48 reviews. Compare it in our sunset cruise guide.
Is Hervey Bay Eco Marine Tours wheelchair accessible?
Partly, by the operator's own pages. The homepage says "we are fully wheelchair accessible", but the FAQ says the bathroom has no disabled access and there are no baby-change facilities. Call (07) 4125 6888 to talk through your needs before booking.
Is there an Eco Marine Tours discount?
No promo code is published. Family fares for two adults and two children save on every tour — for example A$359 on Turtle Discovery versus A$416 for four single tickets. Children are 4–12. The operator gives a full refund with 24 hours' notice; under 24 hours it charges 50% or reschedules.
Sources we checked
- Hervey Bay Eco Marine Tours — Turtle Discovery
- Hervey Bay Eco Marine Tours — Milbi Sunset
- Hervey Bay Eco Marine Tours — Contact and FAQs
- Hervey Bay Eco Marine Tours — Crew
- Hervey Bay Eco Marine Tours — Whale watching tours (agent listings)
- GetYourGuide product page (Wayback snapshot) linking Hervey Bay Eco Marine Tours as supplier
Page updated 23 September 2026 · GetYourGuide prices refreshed 23 September 2026 · How we work