Best Wildlife Trips for Cruise Passengers — Our Top 9

1.Best Whale Watching and Wildlife Shore Excursion in Sitka

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 103 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $205Our pick

Join Captain Rick, a Sitka native, for a small-group cruise through Sitka Sound and along Baranof Island’s outer coast. With no more than six people, you’ll look for humpback and gray whales, sea otters, Steller sea lions, bald eagles, and more from outdoor seats or a heated cabin.

“Great day on the water with Captain Rick. Whales, sea otter, sea lions and wonderful scenery! Fantastic!”

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2.Amazing Whale Watching and Marine Wildlife Shore Excursion

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 74 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $199

Join Captain Tad and Baranof Tours for about two hours on Sitka’s waters, watching for humpback whales, orcas, sea otters, sea lions, eagles, and other wildlife. The small private boat has a cabin for warmth, live commentary, and a return to Harrigan Centennial Hall.

“The weather wasn’t the best but we still manage to see some whales. The guide also took us to se some sea otters and sea lions”

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3.Wings Wildlife Park Shuttle, Burnie Shore Excursion

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 34 reviews · from $89

Ride inland from Burnie with a guide and driver, then spend about 90 minutes to two hours exploring Wings Wildlife Park on your own. Feed kangaroos, see Tasmanian devils, visit koalas and parrots, and return through Penguin and along the Leven River.

“Nice chance to see Australian animals and interact. Kind of hectic at the market to get tickets. They lost our reservation but accommodated us no problem”

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4.Akaroa Shore Excursion: Banks Peninsula, Christchurch City Tour and Willowbank Wildlife Reserve

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 26 reviews · from $123

From Akaroa, you’ll cross Banks Peninsula by coach to Christchurch, walk through the Botanic Gardens, see earthquake recovery sites, and visit Willowbank Wildlife Reserve. The two-hour reserve visit includes a guided Natural New Zealand tour and a chance to see kiwi in a dark nocturnal house.

“This was a very informative and interesting tour. There was a bit of confusion as to which bus was going where at Akaroa but all sorted out at The Museum first stop. The tour around Christchurch was very informative. The Willowbank Wildlife Reserve was well worth a visit and as our group of 5 was the only group going here we had a guide from The Reserve just for us. Our guide was excellent. Our return trip to Akaroa was eventful when we had a double tyre blowout. We were about 20 minutes from Akaroa at this time so our driver phoned another driver in Akaroa and arranged for him…”

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5.Barbados Shore Excursion: Wildlife Encounter and Beach Day

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 20 reviews · from $78Best value

Spend about six hours exploring Barbados by tour vehicle, from Bathsheba and the Wildlife Reserve to Garrison Savannah and Carlisle Bay. You may see green monkeys and red-footed tortoises, then relax at Savvy on the Bay with a lounger, umbrella, welcome drink, and optional shipwreck snorkeling trip.

“Susan was friendly and attentive. It was just my husband and I on the tour. We enjoyed the wildlife reserve and monkey feeding. The beach was beautiful and the lounge chairs and umbrellas were plentiful. The return shuttle was on time.”

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6.Eagle Sanctuary and Rainforest Wildlife Center

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 9 reviews · 2 hours 45 minutes (approx.) · from $272

Walk a half-mile forest trail at Herring Cove with a local guide, then follow a raised boardwalk beside Eagle Creek. You may see bald eagles, salmon, bears, seals, and marine birds, plus reindeer and raptors. Guides Gavin and Angie have led engaging walks, but wildlife and rescue exhibits are not guaranteed.

“There is no wildlife center or Eagle sanctuary. This is false advertising as the rescue portion was closed down over a year ago. We did not get a tasting of salmon or anything else. We walked for 1.5 hours through a privately owned rain forest to learn about the flora and fauna (literally). He was very knowledgeable and was the only hood part of the trip. There was no wildlife and of course a gift shop area at the end of the walk with shopping, a blacksmith, and a bar. What we paid was extremely expensive for just getting the tour through the rainforest. No eagles, no wildlife at all.…”

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7.CRUISE SHIP Wildlife Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · from $178

Start in Penneshaw at 9:00 am for a seven-hour wildlife day with local guide Colin. Visit Seal Bay, watch a live raptor show, and explore Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park, with lunch available to buy. The tour is designed for cruise ship visitors and returns to Penneshaw.

“Great tour, good amount of time at each stop. Colin was knowledgeable and easy going. Wonderful meal at Emu Ridge.”

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8.Hobart: Mt Field National Park & Wildlife Shore Excursion

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 6 reviews · 7 hours · from $130

Meet near Hobart’s cruise terminal for a seven-hour small-group trip to Mt Field National Park and Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary. Walk to Russell and Horseshoe Falls, see towering swamp gums, hand-feed wallabies, and watch a Tasmanian Devil feeding. Trevor is one guide named in recent feedback.

“They left without me even though they promised to wait until I was able to go through immigration, which was delayed by government officials. I got out as quickly as I could but when I arrived at the meeting point they were gone. I informed of my status all along and they kept promising to wait but they left anyway.”

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9.Crocodile & Wildlife Park Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 3 reviews · 4h 30m · from $88

Travel from Cairns to Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures, explore woodlands and rainforest habitats, and board a specially designed Wetlands Cruise for close views of saltwater crocodiles. The $88 package includes entry and return transport, but lunch and drinks cost extra.

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