Northern Beaches Whale Tales: Ocean Encounters with Heart

For many of us, the ocean is a place of calm, mystery, and that hit of salt-laced freedom we crave on a Sunday morning walk. But for Katie Trepess and her husband Rob, the ocean is much more than a backdrop - it’s a place to that changes people’s lives forever.

Katie runs Whale Tales, a family-owned whale-watching ecotour business operating from Sydney Harbour. And while whale-watching might sound like a tourist box to tick, what Katie and her crew offer is something different, it's an experience anchored in respect, sustainability, and wonder.

“I grew up on a sheep farm in outback NSW, so the ocean was a bit of a mystic creature for me,” Katie laughs. It wasn’t until she met Rob and moved onto his sailboat that she truly discovered the world beneath the surface. “You’d be surprised by the parallels between the outback and life on the ocean. In both, you’re immersed in nature, self-sufficient, and you learn to fix things with what you have.”

Whale Tales was born from this shared love of the natural world and the desire to work together, weaving a life where passion and purpose meet in the salt spray. After years cruising up and down the Great Barrier Reef with travelers, Katie and Rob saw firsthand how nature changes people. It gives them a new perspective, a moment to pause and look around, to see the world – and themselves – differently.

What sets Whale Tales apart isn’t just their beautiful vessels or even the whales themselves, but the people on board. “Our crew will ask to come out on their day off, which is unusual,” Katie says. “They’re there for the experience and sharing that with others is more rewarding for them than a paycheck.”

It’s the kind of small business energy you can feel. It’s not just about spotting a tail flick on the horizon but about creating moments of real connection. When you’re out on the water with Whale Tales, you’re part of the search, scanning the water, holding your breath for that first sighting. “One of our crew goes up on the roof in a safety harness to spot for whales,” Katie explains. “Once we find them, they come down to join the team and provide expert commentary on what we’re seeing.”

While everyone loves to see a whale breach, it’s the quieter moments that Katie treasures most. “The muggings are truly special,” she says. “That’s when an inquisitive whale comes right up to the boat, and we turn off the engines and just bob around together. Sometimes they’ll even pop their heads out of the water and look right at us.”

These encounters aren’t just fun – they’re powerful. Whales, Katie says, are one of nature’s true success stories. From near-extinction in the 1960s to a thriving population today, humpback whales remind us that change is possible when we care enough to act. And they’re not just pretty faces; whales play a surprising role in keeping our planet healthy by absorbing and storing massive amounts of CO2 throughout their lives.

Whale Tales walks the talk on sustainability, partnering with Sea Shepherd and using biodegradable products wherever possible. But perhaps the most important work they do is education. “Our aim is to give people an epic wildlife encounter that connects them to the ocean,” Katie says. “We share practical tips too, like explaining the damage caused by the krill industry.”

The hope, Katie says, is that guests walk away changed, taking small steps toward living more sustainably in their daily lives. And it’s the next generation that gives her the most hope. “Children are our beacon,” she says. “They’re being raised with an understanding of the environment that many of us didn’t have growing up.”

Running a family business on the ocean isn’t without its challenges, but Katie and Rob wouldn’t have it any other way. “We wanted to work together, and we’re grateful we get to do that while building something meaningful,” she says. “Reading our customer reviews is the most rewarding part, knowing we created a moment someone will never forget.”

When Katie does get out from behind the computer running the business and onto the water, it’s always worth it. “You can never get tired of seeing a whale,” she says. “And it’s nice to experience what our customers are experiencing, to share that moment with them.”

Asked if the business has changed her, Katie smiles. “I like to think it hasn’t changed me too much,” she says. “The things I valued before are still the most valuable things in my life. It’s made me proud of what we’ve built, while always looking ahead to what comes next.”

If she could be any sea creature, Katie admits, “I have to say a whale, don’t I? They play, sing, and seem to do things just for fun, like dolphins. Whale mothers love and nurture their babies just like we do.”

Katie’s bucket list already holds a dream realised: swimming with humpbacks in Tonga two years ago, an experience she hopes to repeat when the busy season allows. And her perfect day off? “A yoga class, a coffee, and a walk in our beautiful North Shore national parks with my daughter,” she says. “I can’t believe we live in a city of this size and still have such incredible natural beauty.”

In a world that often feels too fast, Whale Tales is a reminder to pause, breathe in the salt air, and remember our place in the natural world. It’s about connection – to the ocean, to wildlife, and to each other. And it’s about hope, one whale encounter at a time.

To book your Whale Tales adventure or learn more, visit www.whaletales.com.au or follow them on Instagram @whaletalessydney

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