Expand the sections below to view the answers of the most commonly asked questions from our clients!
General FAQs
Yes, we do where possible. Please advise dietary requirements at time of booking.
No weight or disability restrictions as such. However, you need to be physically able to embark and disembark the bus, tender and mothership safely. There is no jetty landing for loading. Please visit our Accessibility Tourism Information guide here, or contact us for further information.
We board a tender from the shore. You’ll wade out into knee-deep seawater, and then transferred to our mothership ‘Contessa C’. Please wear appropriate clothing, and footwear that you can slip off easily or don’t mind getting wet.
Yes, we have a full-sized toilet on the main deck.
Payment is made by credit card (Mastercard or VISA) over the phone, by direct debit to our bank account (we will email you details; avoiding any credit card fees) or cash/card at the office if you are in Broome. 50% deposit is required to secure your fishing booking.
Money is required for those that have not paid in full for their tour prior to pick up.
If you would like to purchase AOC merchandise please bring some money or your credit card. We also have a bar on board with a variety of alcoholic drinks for sale.
Cancellation Policy: AOC reserves the right to cancel or postpone any tour unforeseen circumstances. If any of our tours are cancelled due to bad weather, safety issues or insufficient numbers you will be offered a spot on the next tour available or you will receive a full refund.
If you decide to cancel your booking for any reason and give 72 or more hours notice prior to tour departure date we will refund your payment in full. If you give us less than 72 hours notice, but at least 24 hours notice prior to tour departure date we will refund your payment less a 50% cancellation charge. There are no refunds for bookings cancelled within 24 hours of tour departure date, or tours purchased but not utilised.
If you are entitled to a refund, it will be paid in the same manner through which we received the original booking payment.
Charter FAQs
Whatever you need to be comfortable, protected from the sun and capture memories. Think hat, sunnies, ideally long sleeved clothing, water bottle and bring a camera (although nowadays phone cameras are plenty good enough). Wear whatever footwear you’re comfortable in, thongs are fine, but if you prefer to wear sneakers they’re unlikely to get wet.
Drinks? Feel free to BYO, however we request you bring only a small esky or cooler bag to keep them cold. Alternatively, we’ve got a licensed bar on board with a great range of bevvies, and prices start as low as $5 a drink, bargain! Of course, we’ve also got a great range of non-alcoholic refreshments, too.
Need sea sickness medication? Please ensure to bring this if necessary, as we don’t generally carry this on board.
While we do provide everything you’ll need to snag a beauty, if you’d prefer to bring your favourite rod and reel please feel welcome. You won’t need to bring bait, buckets or an esky though.
Fin-Nor Offshore spin reels with braided line are used for bottom fishing. The same reels are used for trolling with mono line. All outfits are rigged with high quality leader and hooks, giving you the best chance to catch and land your fish. We don’t use cheap gear, or skimp out on what’s important. We want to see you land a record breaker and will do everything possible to make that happen!
No, we have eskies on board for both your fish and your drinks. We’d prefer if you didn’t, purely for the sake of storage space and keeping the deck clear, however if you’d like to bring a small esky or cooler bag to keep drinks or snacks cool then please do so.
If you’ve booked a private charter, we can chat through your specific requirements and ensure you’re set up for a great time.
Contessa C fishes 12 lines at a time, but can take up to 25 passengers for group bookings.
JayBee takes a maximum of 3 passengers.
If you’ve got a partner or young kids that aren’t keen to fish all day, a shared line might be a good option. This gives you 1 rod to share between two people, so you can take turns and enjoy the day at a more laid back pace. Please note, Shared Line bookings must accompany a Single Line booking.
On Absolute Ocean Charters’ Broome Fishing Charters, you can keep anything you catch as long as it’s within Fisheries regulations. It’s important to follow these rules to ensure the longevity and sustainability of our ocean’s health. Of course, if you’d prefer to catch and release, you’re more than welcome to!
We follow Fisheries regulations on landing fish. The larger fish are filleted (usually Spanish Mackerel) while the smaller fish are gut and gilled. To read more on the exact legislation around recreational fishing, and under what scenarios a fish can be filleted, see here;
Yes! Children of all ages are welcome on our Broome Fishing Charters. We encourage you to bring the kids along for a great day out on the water, however please be aware all children on board are the responsibility of the parent at all times. Children 4 years and under are free.
Broome Fishing Charters operate daily year round. In the quiet season (November to March) charters are booking-dependent, but in the busy season there’s hardly a day where the boat isn’t full—so get in quick to secure a spot!
Cruise FAQs
Personal items such as camera, hat, sunglasses and wear clothing you are comfortable in. Bring your own water bottle and whatever footwear you like, thongs are ok.
BYO alcohol if you wish; we provide esky and ice for your drinks. We also have a licensed bar on board with a great selection of drinks to purchase. Prices start at $5 per drink!
Sea sick medication if required.
Choose from an Afternoon Tour 1pm to 4pm or Sunset Tour 3pm to 6pm. Pickups are prior to these times.
Migratory animals, Humpback Whales come up from their Antarctic feeding grounds during the winter months of July, August and September to mate and calve. Southern Right Whales and Blue Whales can also be seen in Broome at this time! As a general rule ‘whale season’ is from late June to early October.
Our Whale Watching tours operate daily from late June to early October. Start and end dates are a little different every year as it depends when the whales arrive and depart our waters!
For more info, check out our article on the best times to go whale watching in Broome.
The best time to go whale watching is in the afternoon between 1 and 4pm, or between 3pm and 6pm for sunset, and this is when we operate our tours! The balmy afternoons are a great time to see all sorts of different marine life, and there truly is something magical about a Broome sunset.
There are whales in Broome during the dry season. The rest of the year, whales typically live down in the cold waters of Antarctica—their traditional feeding grounds. When it gets most cold, they migrate north to the warmer waters of Broome.
During July, August and September we average seven Humpback encounters per tour! There are so many whales during this period, that you’re sure to see plenty. Our expert skippers and on-board marine biologists are highly skilled at finding the whales, predicting where they’ll be and following from appropriate distances.
While extremely rare, it can happen—particularly during the start and tail end of the season. If it does, and you don’t see any whales or snubfin dolphins on the tour, we’ll take you out again on the next available tour (two incredible afternoons on a boat for the price of one! How good is that?!).
Whale watching season is a solid 3 months, from July to September. During this time, whales come up from Antarctica to warmer waters, where they calve and mate. It can vary however, as of course the whales might come earlier or later depending on global climate conditions. See our article on Broome’s whale watching season for more!
The Snubfin Dolphins that inhabit Roebuck Bay live there all year-round. Our cruises run from April to October each year to capture them at their best and during times of optimal weather conditions.
Whales can be seen in Broome during the dry season, which is what would be considered ‘winter’ in more temperate areas.
In Broome, we really think it’s best to go whale watching in the afternoon. The water is generally calmer, the weather beautiful and balmy, and the lighting is just perfect. For an incredible experience, look to one of our sunset cruises. Watch the sun set in a magical show over the Indian Ocean.
Truly, Broome is one of the best places in the world to see whales. Huge populations of whales migrate north during the winter to these waters, and there’s so much else to do while you’re here! Check out our article on interesting things to do in Broome for ideas.
Antarctic Humpback Whales migrate north in winter, travelling from their traditional feeding grounds in the chilly Southern Ocean to the warmer Indian Ocean around Broome.
Yes! Children are absolutely more than welcome on our whale watching charters. Please ensure that they are accompanied by a responsible adult at all times. Children under 4 are free!
Town Tour FAQs
Our tour visits top sites including Chinatown, Streeters Jetty, Matso’s Broome Brewery, Roebuck Bay, Town Beach, Gantheaume Point, and Cable Beach, plus more!
Bring personal items such as a camera, hat, and sunglasses, water bottle and wear comfortable clothing. Any footwear is fine, including thongs.
Yes, children of all ages are welcome. Parents are responsible for their children at all times, and they must be seated. Children 4 years and under are free. We do not have booster seats for children.
The bus tour can accommodate up to 12 passengers or 21 passengers (depending on which bus we use).
Bus tours operate every Tuesday and Friday. The tour departs at 9 am and finishes at 11 am. Pick-ups start at approximately 8:30 am, with return to accommodation by 11:30 am. If you would like to join us on a different day, please call with your request.
There are no specific weight or disability restrictions, but passengers need to be physically able to embark and disembark the bus safely. We can fit a foldable wheelchair, but navigating into the bus is required. Please contact us for further details.
Payment can be made by credit card (Mastercard or VISA) over the phone, by direct debit to our bank account (details provided via email), or by cash/card at our office in Broome. Payment is required at the time of booking to secure your spot.
We stop for a coffee break where you can purchase hot or cold beverages from a local Broome establishment. Additionally, bring money or your credit card if you wish to purchase AOC merchandise.
Cancellation Policy: AOC reserves the right to cancel or postpone any tour due to unforeseen circumstances. If we cancel a tour due to safety issues or insufficient numbers, you will be offered a spot on the next available tour or receive a full refund.
If you cancel:
- 72+ hours notice: Full refund.
- 24-72 hours notice: 50% cancellation charge.
- Less than 24 hours notice: No refund.
There are no refunds for bookings cancelled within 24 hours of tour departure date, or tours purchased but not utilised.
Refunds will be made in the same manner as the original payment.
Absolutely! Our tours are designed to be fun, informative, and entertaining, with complimentary cold water provided for all guests.
Feel free to contact us for any additional questions or to make a booking. We look forward to showing you the best of Broome!
