Wildlife Cruises with a Meal Worldwide: the 5 Best Tables Afloat

1.Darwin: Mary River Wetlands Wildlife Cruise with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 324 reviews · 8 hours · from $166Our pick

Spend eight hours with a small group exploring Fogg Dam, Window on the Wetlands and the Mary River Wetlands. Guides such as Evan, Cam and Richard bring the region to life before a 2.5-hour open-air cruise, where you may see saltwater crocodiles, freshwater crocodiles, buffalo, jabirus and about 30 bird species.

“Fantastic day. It was great out on the water of the Mary River Wetlands. We saw the big 5 in a very relaxed atmosphere. Our Guide Paul was extremely knowledgeable on the area, wildlife as well as the history of the NT.”

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2.From Nidri: Marine Wildlife Cruise with Lunch and Swim Stops

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 109 reviews · 7.5 hours · from $82Top rated

Join a 15-person marine wildlife cruise from Nidri with guides such as Ben, Marieta, and Harry. Snorkel over seagrass, enter sea caves, swim from the boat, enjoy a BBQ lunch, and stop in Meganisi for ice cream or coffee before returning to port.

“We had a wonderful day on the water during our boat trip and snorkeling excursion. Our guide was friendly and shared interesting facts about the surrounding islands, making the experience both enjoyable and informative. The marine biologist on board was knowledgeable and provided fascinating insights about the marine life we encountered. The lunch served was delightful, rounding off a perfect day. Overall, it was a highly enjoyable and educational experience that we would definitely recommend.”

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3.Rockingham: 3 Island Wildlife Snorkeling Cruise with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 47 reviews · 3h 30m · from $176

Join Perth Wildlife Encounters from Rockingham for a 210-minute cruise through Shoalwater Islands Marine Park. Grace, Georgia, John, Courtney, Lara, and Niamh are among the friendly guides who may lead your trip, with wetsuits, snorkeling lessons, wildlife viewing, underwater photos, and a generous lunch included.

“All involved extremely friendly , wetsuits , snorkels & flippers included in the cost & all efforts made to find kit to fit you .( I would bring my own wetsuit & mask next time my personal preference as im a more mature female with curves in more places than most 😅! ) Even though I have restricted lung capacity at the time of the trip, I was able to experience some snorkelling; once back on board I was able to see the seals, & wildlife from the top deck. The captain was informative about the wildlife , conservation etc & I didn’t feel that I missed out while others…”

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4.Perth: Dolphin, Sealion & Wildlife Cruise with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 14 reviews · from $53Best value

Join Perth Wildlife Encounters at Penguin Island Visitor Center for a one-hour glass-bottom cruise around Penguin, Seal, and Bird Islands. Your English-speaking skipper points out dolphins, Australian sea lions, pelicans, and seabirds before you redeem a burger or fish and chips at Pengo’s Cafe.

“The guide was safety conscious - didn’t let us board while the waters were rough. He was friendly and knowledgeable.”

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5.Sandakan: Kinabatangan River Wildlife Cruise with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 5 reviews · 6 hours · from $207

You’ll travel from Sandakan to Bilit for a two-hour afternoon cruise on the Kinabatangan River. An English-speaking guide helps spot proboscis monkeys, hornbills, crocodiles and other wildlife. Lunch, welcome tea, local snacks, and round-trip transport are included, but expect a long road journey.

“The 2 hour river cruise was good, unfortunately the drive to the cruise wasn’t, we didn’t know that we were picking others up along the way, also lunch being served at 11.30 and afternoon tea all before the cruise? This is really only a half day trip of 6 hours max and not all day.”

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