10 Wildlife Days Ashore Worldwide Worth Booking

1.Best Whale Watching and Wildlife Shore Excursion in Sitka

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

Join Sitka local Captain Rick, or another experienced captain from Sitka Sound Tours, for about 2.5 hours around Sitka Sound and Baranof Island’s outer coast. With no more than six passengers, you’ll have room to watch for humpback and gray whales, sea otters, sea lions, bald eagles, and bears from outdoor seats or a heated cabin.

“Our wildlife tour with Rick was amazing! He went above and beyond to find wildlife for us. We got to see sea lions, sea otters, and whales. He took us to a cove where we stayed for 20 or 30 minutes where we saw lots of whales. We loved the fact that the boat was small and so was the number of companions (only one other couple). Rick let us take turns sitting in the front of the boat with him as well to chat and told us all sorts of Alaskan info from cost of living to wildlife facts. He made it very interesting and fun. Initially, we were…”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Amazing Whale Watching and Marine Wildlife Shore Excursion

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

Depart Harrigan Centennial Hall for a private, two-hour boat trip through Sitka’s waters with Captain Tad or another local guide. Expect live commentary, a warm cabin, and chances to see humpback whales, orcas, sea otters, sea lions, seals, eagles, and possibly bears. Wildlife sightings depend on weather and luck.

“Tad was great. He really goes out of his way to deliver a great experience. We saw 2 whales, sea lions and tons of otters while out on our excursion...”

Check availability →Read our full review

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 two hours exploring Wings Wildlife Park on your own. Feed kangaroos, see Tasmanian devils, and look for koala encounters at extra cost. The return route passes Penguin and follows the Leven River before bringing you back to the meeting point.

“The tour should have had 2 hours at the wild life park but the driver only allowed us 1 hour and 20 minutes. Other than that it was an excellent tour.”

Check availability →Read our full review

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

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

Ride from Akaroa through the scenic Banks Peninsula to Christchurch, with a short Botanic Gardens visit, a city tour focused on earthquake recovery, and about two hours at Willowbank Wildlife Reserve. You’ll see native and exotic animals, including kiwi in a dark nocturnal house. Guides such as Rob and Matt have led some departures.

“I was very disappointed in this trip. We started out in Akaroa with a drive to Christchurch. I was under the impression that we would have a guide to give us interesting info about the area. We did not have a guide, we had a driver. Our driver was very nice and polite, but he was a driver and did not provide tour guide services. This should have been advertised as transportation service to the Christchuch area. The drive through the Banks Peninsula was pretty, but that was all it was, a drive with pretty views, no guide service. We arrived at Christchurch where our driver dropped us off for…”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Barbados Shore Excursion: Wildlife Encounter and Beach Day

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

Spend about six hours touring Barbados by vehicle, visiting the Wildlife Reserve, Bathsheba or other scenic stops, Garrison Savannah, and Carlisle Bay. You get port transfers, a beach lounger, shared umbrella, and a welcome drink. An optional boat trip adds swimming and snorkeling near a shipwreck and turtle habitat.

“Great tour. Our guide Fernando was exceptionally helpful and friendly. The monkey experience was more than we could have imagined. We saw lots of monkeys, even some with babies and enjoying their food and swinging in the trees. The next part of the tour to Pirates Cove Beach was in total contrast where we enjoyed a stay on the beach where there was great music by a duo with steel drums and guitars and a free glass of punch. Everything was as described by Viator and more.”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Private Charter Scenic Wildlife Excursion for Cruise Passengers

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 17 reviews · 3 hours (approx.)

Join Captain Chris of Outer Coast Charters for a private three-hour boat trip from Sitka. Your group of up to five rides in the enclosed, Coast Guard-approved Suzy-Q, with routes shaped by weather and wildlife. Look for whales, otters, sea lions, eagles, seabirds, and the volcanic cliffs of St. Lazaria Island.

“Captain Chris was great and he took us to several different spots to find wildlife and one spot for a little peace and tranquility. The weather wasn't the best, but since the cab was fully enclosed we could stop, pop out for photos and then get back inside to stay mostly dry. We always felt safe, even with rain and wind creating some rough seas at times. We saw seals, eagles, a sea otter (that Captain Chris somehow spotted as we were zooming by), gray whales, and jellyfish! A very good time was had by all! Thanks Captain Chris!”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Eagle Sanctuary and Rainforest Wildlife Center

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

Travel eight miles from Ketchikan to Herring Cove for a guided half-mile rainforest walk, Eagle Creek wetlands, and seasonal wildlife viewing. You may see bald eagles, black bears, seals, and marine birds, then visit a totem carver, reindeer, and raptors. Guides such as Gavin and Angie have earned strong praise for their friendly, clear talks.

“Tour guide Gavin very knowlegable and friendly. Gave great tour and made it fun for all thankyou Gavin and good luck!!!!”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.CRUISE SHIP Wildlife Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · from $178

Meet at 9:00 am in Penneshaw for a locally guided wildlife day timed for cruise ship visitors. Colin and the team take you to Seal Bay, Raptor Domain, and Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park, with sea lions, birds of prey, kangaroos, wallabies, dingoes, and penguins along the way. Lunch is available to buy, and the tour returns to Penneshaw.

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

Check availability →Read our full review

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

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

From Hobart’s cruise terminal, join an English-speaking guide for rainforest walks at Mount Field National Park, including Russell Falls, Horseshoe Falls, and the Tall Trees Trail. After a bakery-style lunch stop, visit Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary for wallabies, wombats, and Tasmanian Devils. Guides such as Trevor keep the day moving.

“Fantastic guide. She was very knowledgeable and flexible with length of each part of the tour. Really enjoyed the sites we visited.”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Cairns Shore Excursion: Crocodile & Wildlife Park Tour

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

Ride from Cairns to Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures, where you can walk through woodland and rainforest areas, see koalas, kangaroos, birds, cassowaries, and reptiles, then board a Wetlands Cruise through coastal Melaleuca wetland to watch saltwater crocodiles. Your cruise time is assigned on arrival, so plan your park visit around it.

Check availability →Read our full review