What an experience I'll never forget! It was very foggy and cloudy, so I was afraid we were not able to spot any whales. But oh my, we were able to spot more than a dozen whales in the beginning! And they were really close. We even spotted two New Zealand seals. The biggest one is called Nigel and he is still recovering from shark bites. The currents were pretty strong, but thanks to the V8 motors we cut right through the waves. It was like a roller coaster at times, so a few people got sea sick. I got no regrets, it was wonderful. Dom is a very pleasant and funny host! I definitely recommend this whale watching experience for everyone.

This was a wonderful way to see out beautiful Newcastle coast line. What an absolutely lovely experience! Dom is such a gracious and knowledgeable host and captain. With a manner and customer service that puts one and all at ease. I would recommend this experience to anyone. It’s fun! If you want to sit up the front and get bumped around a bit more or the more faint hearted that can take it a little calmer toward the back. Either way, you see our unique and historic coastline in a way few get to see and it is very very much worth it! Thanks so much Dom. I know I’ll be out there again 😍😍😍😍😍

Had an amazing time with my colleagues watching the whales and the dolphins! Coast XP did a fantastic job and the tour was great! Highly recommended! Ps. Dom was absolutely awesome for giving us a tour! We’ll definitely recommend this to all of my family and friends.

These guys were excellent. They ran a well organised and well run business. Crew were knowledgeable about the marine life and the local area. The boat was in perfect order and was exactly right for the job. Everyone had fun. Definitely recommend 👌 👍

Having done two tours with Dom and CoastXP, I can confidently reccomend everything they have to offer. Dom's professionalism mixed with his local knowledge makes the whole expereince one of a kind.

Spectacular morning photographing the humpback whales off Newcastle on the CoastXP photography sunrise tour. Dom at the helm and Scott assisting with photography made this a memorable experience not to be missed. We were "mugged" by the whales !!! #coastxp are the best. Anyone for a game of sun volleyball ?

After a week of inclement weather and high swell our Adventure Cruise dawned with beautiful sunshine. The boat is extremely comfortable - adventure seats upfront, more comfort towards the rear. The seats are very comfortable. The skipper - Dom - is very easy going, very considerate, a nice human. The trip is a blast. While we had quite a swell the boat/Dom handled it well. The scenery is very interesting - a different perspective. Time flew - we will definitely return.

Truly an amazing experience to get up close and personal with whales and dolphins in their natural habitat. Our host Jane was such a sweetheart. Highly recommend!!

Great ocean trip. Very fast but comfortable boat with perfect all round vision. Friendly and knowledgeable host.

My family and I had a wonderful experience with Jane and Dom as our guide. It was both awe inspiring as well as fascinating to be so up close to the humpback whales. There were several playful dolphins that came alongside the boat as well. My kids especially were excited to see them. Thank you Jane and Dom for an amazing time!

My two young kids and myself took the 2hr Whale Encounter Tour yesterday. We saw NZ fur seals, bottle nosed dolphins and caught some glimpses of a couple of humpback whales, who were proving to be a little elusive - as Dom our Guide explained that on days when the water is quite calm, whales don’t have a need to push the air back out of their holes with much pressure to offset the choppy water which might re-enter their blow holes. It was a well invested 2hrs!! Loved seeing the Newcastle coastline from the water, and hanging on the ‘Humpback Highway’! Watching birds gliding alongside our moving boat, skilfully skimming the water, was a beautiful experience. Dom used a perfect mix of knowledgeable commentary and humour, to make this tour so enjoyable! Totally recommend this tour not just for visitors of Newcastle, but for locals also, who should be enjoying the gorgeous environment we are lucky enough to be surrounded with!!!

If you’re looking for a quality tourism experience in Newcastle, CoastXP is it! Our expert guides, Dom and Dave tee’d up two lively, lady humpbacks who delivered “the best breaching show” anyone on board has seen. Dom’s commentary was engaging and informative, and the tour along the coastline was impressive. I’d absolutely recommend CoastXP’s Encounter Tour to anyone interested in experiencing Newcastle, and the wildlife and ocean lovers out there 🐳

Wow, what an unreal experience. Dom and his team skillfully navigated the tides to deliver a wonderful package for guests on the coast xp boat today. We found plenty of whales and the boat was always positioned for the best photographic vantage. 2 hrs for $99, your kidding 🙏❤ Cheers for a wonderful experience 🐳🤙

My wife and I had a great time, tour guide Dominic had no trouble finding whales, seals and dolphins and managed to avoid a few showers that were about the coast. Highly recommend CoastXP for a great experience.

Amazing day with Dominic and the humpback whales! Dominic was very knowledgeable and shared his expertise about the beautiful Newcastle Coast with us. We were able to experience an incredible show from the humpback whales in addition to seeing a seal and dolphins. I highly recommend this tour!

We had a great time with Dominic on the coastxp boat! The boat itself has super comfortable seats with good views for everyone, is very clean, is a smooth ride even in large waves, and even has a bathroom on board. He took us all the way up to Catherine hill bay along the Hunter coast line stopping intermittently to give us history and interesting facts and stories about the area. We saw bottlenose dolphins and an adorable seal! It was a fantastic way to spend the morning in Newcastle.

We recently had the pleasure of experiencing an Adventure Tour with CoastXP and had a fun and fantastic trip with Jane as our guide. The trip provided a wonderful view of the coastline from Newcastle Harbour south to Caves Beach - something my husband had never seen despite having grown up in Newcastle. We were also blessed to see a pod of Inshore Bottlenose Dolphins herding fish together for a meal. Jane was lovely, had extensive knowledge of the area, history and marine life and handled the boat brilliantly. We have already recommended the trip to many people and will continue to do so.

Coast XP you guys are awesome! Very responsive and professional. Friendly crew, informative, great navigation on the water and a spectacular view of our coastline. We had a great sunny day and the warm jackets provided were appreciated. This is a must do for locals and visitors. Highly recommend Dom & his crew.

We had a great morning out from Newcastle Harbour, whale watching. We glimpsed the hump of a whale and nothing else. But we still had a great morning seeing the beautiful coastline, up close view of a coal ship and some fun in the high speed boat. A first for us locals. Thank you CoastXP. A great memory for my son and I.

Spectacular experience with Dom and Jane this morning! We were lucky enough to experience seals, dolphins and whales. The cruise was beautiful, boat was comfortable and staff welcoming, friendly and knowledgeable. Highly recommend!

We enjoyed a fabulous morning exploring Newcastle harbour and coast line, learning about the history and heritage of the area and enjoying the spectacular views. I would thoroughly recommend a journey with CoastXP to any visitors or locals!

ABSOLUTELY AWESOME!!! We did the Adventure Tour along the coast from Newcastle down to Catherine Hill Bay, WOW! We already knew that Australia's east coast was spectacular, but to see it here from the water is superb, and CoastXP is the way to do it. Dominic and Troy were our crew today, they were fantastic! Informative, humorous, knowledgeable, friendly, polite.... I'm running out of complimentary adjectives! We came back to the dock totally happy!! We saw fur-seals, dolphins, and a chunk of our fabulous coastline. We were educated by the guys and had a blast in the pristinely clean and well maintained boat. My husband Steve and I would have no reservations in recommending CoastXP. The communication from the company beforehand is perfect, and the level of friendly professionalism displayed by Dominic and Troy was awesome! Great value for money, worth every cent.

Had a great day on the water with CoastXP last Wednesday. Thanks Jane for the great trip from Newcastle to Cathrine Hill Bay, it was a fantastic trip down the coast to see the coast line of Newcastle and Lake Macquarie. Well worth the doing

A fantastic experience... Coast XP was an awesome guide... Everyone that went out when I did got a chance to see a seal, multiple Humpback Whales, multiple dolphins and even a few penguins... Definitely recommend it to anyone living in or just visiting Newcastle, especially during the migration season.

The Sunrise Photography early morning cruise with CoastXP was an amazing and wonderful experience. Jane provided all sorts of whale and marine information that contributed to this. It was so great I am going back in 2 weeks to do it all over again.

What a wonderful experience. Easy to book, good communication and reminder day before the trip on where to meet and details of the trip. Efficiently run and not match waiting around or time wasted. We had the best time. Dom and his crew were knowledgeable, polite and you can see they just love what they do. And to see a whale breach right in front of us will go down as a highlight of my life. Truly an amazing day.

Interesting, informative and vey enjoyable. Our Lake tour today with CoastXP gave us a great new perspective of our Lake - from the middle looking out, rather than the edges looking in. The crew - Dom and Jane - were friendly and professional, especially with regard to safety. The boat was in excellent order - exceedingly well maintained and presented. We had a great time and definitely intend to take more tours with CoastXP.

An unforgettable experience. Up close and personal with these magnificent creatures. Dom was a fantastic Captain and guide. Highly recommend 🙌

The entire experience was incredible. Amazing to get out on the water and witness the the majestic humpback whales, dolphins & seals. Not only was the natural beauty amazing but the knowledge and way that Jane articulated stories of our surroundings, wildlife and history of Newcastle was so insightful and interesting. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and felt that as it was a smaller boat, you get better views.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Dom and Coast XP this morning and a cracker of a sunrise with the sunrise whale photography trip. It was a Birthday present to myself. On the trip I got help with camera settings. He helped me with my new camera. I loved that Dom limited the numbers on the boat. I had views on both sides and I will most certainly go out with Coast XP perhaps on the adventure trip next time. Thank you Dom.

Probably the best of the Newcastle whale tours, because of the knowledgeable and friendly crew and their attention to the passenger experience. The boats are fast, meaning more time with the whales and less time cruising and hoping.

We’ve now been twice and both times were incredible! Once in June and once in October. Dom is a great host. The boat is comfortable and perfect for whale watching. My parents in their 70’s also love it.

Dominic did a great job on our one hour coastline tour. He is enthusiastic and excited about what he does and it shows. The boat, Atmos, was comfortable and provided a nice ride. Sit up front if you want the bumps and thrills, towards the back for a smoother ride. Great views everywhere.

Wow wow wow what an experience, the boat was super comfy, spacious and convenient with a toilet under deck, Dom the tour guide was super friendly kind and so informative and down to earth we couldn’t have asked for a better person. We got the trifecta dolphins, seals and whales it was amazing, anyone that comes up Newcastle way be sure to book these guys in for a great day, make sure you rug up as it gets cold out in the sea

I have never been on a smaller boat going out through the heads to see dolphins, seals and whales - and it was incredible! I was worried we may not have seen anything but we got the trifecta! And I’m being a smaller boat we could quickly go over to animals we spotted in the distance. Captain Troy was wonderful too - knowledgeable, helpful and funny. Would definitely recommend pairing with a scenic flight from Aero Logistics at Mayfield too!

Awesome 😎. Take a pill if you are prone to get sea sick. Otherwise the guide was pretty good. We enjoyed the journey and spotting Dolphins on the way back.

While the whales didn't want to be overly sociable, the ride was fantastic, the guide was really knowledgable, and friendly. I had a great time - thank you!!

Good morning out, getting up and close with humpbacks and dolphins. Dom also explains the history of Newcastles icons along the way and he provides deep knowledge of all the animals you may spot on your ride. Highly recommended.

An awesome experience! We missed out on seeing whales the first time, but managed to see some action the second trip, even a breach right next to the boat. Either way, great ride and would highly recommend! Plus great music taste.

Had a fantastic morning with Dom on the CoastXP. This was our 4th attempt to see some whales after 2 lots of bad weather and one lovely cruise but no whale sightings. Each time our cruise was cancelled or no whales seen Dom always made it easy for us to rebook for another day. He is very friendly, passionate and professional and I would definitely recommend to everyone. It was certainly worth the wait even though it is nearing the end of the migration season we were lucky enough to have some spectacular displays today from two female whales.

Our 3rd time on this boat. Dom makes everyone feel special and welcome while allowing you to relax and enjoy the experience. The boat is modern with large comfortable seats. love being able to explore the Newcastle coastline without the big crowds. We will definitely be back next whale season.

Awesome adventure tour ride by Dominic. Highly recommended activity in Newcastle.

What a great afternoon exploring the gorgeous coastline and bush starting from Caves Beach. Rach was an excellent guide with loads of local info about the area as well as flora and fauna. Rach’s knowledge of the local Indigenous people was impressive and respectful. The walk showcased the beautiful land we live in and to finish the day we had a cold beer together at the Caves Coastal Hotel. 10/10

We went on the whale watching cruise twice and both times it was amazing. The boat creates a smooth ride and is a good size for easy viewing in all directions. Dom obviously loves what he does and has lots of knowledge about Newcastle and the marine life. We had a few weather cancellations and it was very easy to rebook.

Unfortunately, wildlife viewing trips always come with the risk of not seeing much. While we caught a few spouts and a few 'humps', we did not manage much more. Despite this, the trip was super pleasant and well run - the Newcastle coastline was beautiful enough to make this trip totally worth it! Will definitely go with Coast XP again.

Just had a great trip with Dom from COASTXP. Very professional, informative and most enjoyable. Weather was perfect so that’s a bonus. As a Novacastrian I felt so proud looking back at the coast. It has been almost 20 years since I viewed from offshore and what a stunning view. Thanks Dom

We had a great cruise between Newcastle and Catherine Hill Bay on Coast XP. It was amazing to view our beautiful coastline from the water. The commentary was relevant and we gained more insight into this region. Thanks Dom and Cam for a wonderful experience!

I am so glad that I did my first whale watching with CoastXP, it was such a wonderful and unforgettable experience. Our journey started in a sunny morning, from the Newcastle Harbour. We passed the Port of Newcastle, which was beautifully soaking in the morning sunlight, and went deeper into the sea alongside the coastline .The coastline of Newcastle is breathtaking and I couldn't help myself but took so many pictures of it. The most special experience for me during this tour is to watch two whales swimming in front of me, that was my first- time experience and it was so great. Our tour guide - Dominic has made the my experience even better. He is really genuine about his love for the ocean and the boat and he made the tour really enjoyable from start to finish. I recommend everyone with CoastXP's experience, because it is just simply so great.

Tour around Lake Macquarie was brilliant. Dom was very informative and interacted well with us the whole time. The feedback and whole process of booking and and getting tickets was handled promptly and quickly, and all queries I had were answered straight away by Dom and his team. 10 out 10 for service and a great day on the lake ✔️

Fantastic few hours out on the ocean. Dominic was very professional and knowledgeable. And had a bonus of seeing dolphins. Well wort the trip.

A great day out on the coast experiencing a different perspective of Newcastle and Lake Macquarie's coast line. Dom was professional and informative throughout our trip. Highly recommend!

The speedboat is very comfortable and covered, and friendly staff have been explaining the history of marine life and Newcastle. In conclusion, I enjoyed the beautiful marine life as well as the attractive coastline of Newcastle. Strongly recommend

Would recommend this experience to everyone, started with a helicopter ride up the coast , which was amazing, then onto the boat ride with Dom , what a very knowledgeable and amusing bloke , the weather was a bit ordinary, but only added to the experience, seeing whales, seals, and dolphins in their natural environment is something I will never forget , thanks Dom for great memories

Excellent guide, cute dolphins for company, great adventure tour! What more could you want? Thanks for looking after us! See you in a few months for a whale encounter 😄

Perfect Sunday morning out on the water with Dom as our guide showing us the spectacular coastline from Newcastle Harbour all the way south to Catherine Hill Bay! Dom had fantastic knowledge of the area and the vessel was first class! Thoroughly recommend joining him for a tour! See you again soon!

I had an excellent time on my CoastXP tour with Dom! He took the time to stop the boat and share his knowledge about the history of various landmarks along the coastline and in Newcastle Harbour. If I ever find myself in Newcastle during whale watching I would definitely like to take that tour with Dom!!

Dom was a friendly and enthusiastic guide for our Ride & Fly tour. We opted for a morning helicopter session (provided by Aerologistics), followed straight up by the Encounter boat ride - which is fantastic value for money. We got back to the harbour around 11am with ample time to grab lunch at a local cafe. It could not have been a better day! Dom contacted me the day before to ensure COVID precautions were followed, and there was ample distancing aboard the new & very clean boat. We saw a number of humpback whales and cruised along the Newcastle coastline with a stunning new perspective. He even emailed us the photos he'd snapped on our tour, which takes away the 'guilt-factor' of wanting to snap your own photos without missing the live-action. I could not recommend this local business enough - we'll definitely be back!

What a buzz. I’ve told so many friends about the 2 hour whale watching tour I went on last week. So many thought I departed from Port Stephens and were surprised to find out it departed locally from Newcastle. The water and weather conditions were perfect and an adult Humpback whale cruised right under the boat, which was the highlight for my day, it was definitely up close and personal Dom was the skipper for the day and was so knowledgeable about the migrating whales. I can highly recommend this tour on your own or as a family Karen Scanlen

Second time I have been out with CoastXP. Highly recommend this tour. We saw whales, dolphins and Nigel the NZ seal. Thank you again Dom! Just fabulous

Fantastic experience, up nice and close seeing whales and dolphins. Dom was lovely, good sense of humour, enthusiastic, interesting commentary

What a great experience! We´ve seen whales, dolphins and seals during our 2 hours tour. The boat was really fast! Thanks to our captain Dom:-)

We enjoyed the Lake Mac tour with Dom and had an amazing experience! The service and local knowledge was incredible. For those that have lived in the area but have never fully appreciated it or those that are just visiting, this trip is so worth while. Loved it and will be checking out all of the other CoastX.P adventures

Great tour of coastline great seeing seals and whales. Very informative and good fun. A must do!

Amazing experience! We saw whales and seals and Dom was very friendly.

We were very happy with the quality of our boat trip. The skipper Dom, was skilled in making the boat ride fun and he shared some interesting facts on the Newcastle coast and of course whales. We had the pleasure of a humpback whales curiosity to our boat and we also spotted sealions and dolphins. It was a beautiful day, but cold when the boat picked up speed, so recommend warm clothes.

Dom shares his local knowledge and goes above and beyond to make the experience as good as possible for everyone. Also great photos included in the price is a bonus! Thanks Dom 👍

CoastXP puts together an awesome trip to experience the Newcastle coastline and see what you can’t from the shores! Excellent and responsive service from Dom providing interesting facts and plenty of experience on the water. Definitely recommend this company tied in with the Aerologistic’s heli tour.

A great day with lovely guide and lots of wales

Thanks Dom - we had a great day - it must be good if two teenage boys can say they really enjoyed themselves! Thanks for the photos too - they are amazing! Thanks again, the Donaldsons