As the biggest island continent, Australia is surrounded by water. This doesn’t just mean that there are some great coastal holiday destinations around the country, it also means that Australia is one of the best places in the world to see all different types of whale, especially given that almost 60% of the world’s whales can be found in Australian waters. Your chances of spotting these gentle giants depend on where you are and what time of year it is. Here are some of the best whale-watching destinations in Australia and when to head there.
- Eden, NSW
This far-south coast town on is one of the area’s best whale watching spots with Twofold Bay being the best vantage point to catch sight of southern humpback migration between September and November. During this time, you have the opportunity to see mothers and calves returning to Antarctica because they travel in large numbers and stay close to the shore with their young in order to avoid predators. While the humpbacks are the easiest to spot, sperm whales and killer whales can also be seen further off the coast. In fact, Eden was once a base for a group of whalers who formed an unlikely friendship with a pod of killer whales who then helped them hunt other whales. You can learn more about this unique story at Eden’s Killer Whale Museum where you can see a full orca skeleton and learn about the history of whaling in Australia. The museum also sounds a siren whenever there is a whale making an appearance in the ocean down below so you won’t miss out on any sightings! Each year in early November, the town celebrates the season with a whale festival, which combines whale watching, live shows, a parade and showcases whale-related photography and film.
- Albany, WA
Albany was once the site of Australia’s last operating whaling station but it is now a destination for whale lovers, hoping to catch sight of humpbacks, southern right whales and even the occasional blue whale. The best time to visit is between July and October when the whales transit through Western Australian waters on their way to the tropics. Southern Right whales take shelter in Albany’s bays to calve and mate, which means there may even be baby whales around if you go at the right time. The whaling station, Cheynes Beach Whaling Company, closed in 1978 and has been replaced by Discovery Bay, an interactive museum where you can explore an old whaling ship.
- Brisbane and Moreton Island, QLD
The Moreton Bay Marine Park off the coast of Brisbane is recognised for its marine diversity and different aquatic habitats, such as reefs and seagrass. With marine species such as dolphins, turtles, rays and dugongs, this is more than just a great whale-watching spot. The warm waters of the bay are an excellent location for whales to take a rest from their migratory process. Whales can be spotted from around Moreton Island and North Stradbroke Island, with a range of guided whale tours going around the marine park. Up to 20,000 individual whales pass by Moreton Island every year which means that chances of spotting one are high! One great way to experience this region is on a cruise from Sydney or Brisbane, that gives you the chance to be on the ocean, see the magnificent coastline and the explore Moreton Island for yourself.
- Head Of Bight, SA
It’s believed that about one-third of all southern right whales in Australian coastal waters are born in the Great Australian Bight and for this reason, the Head of Bight area is the ideal spot to watch these beauties frolic, mate, nurse and calve close to shore between May and October. The Head of Bight is remote and not the easiest destination to get to (1100 km from Adelaide and 1700 km from Perth), but it is considered one of Australia’s best land-based whale-watching areas. Attracting up to 250 keen whale-watchers a day during the season. As well as whales, you might also see the dolphins, Australia sea lions and great white sharks that call this stretch of water home.
- Port Stephens, NSW
Just north of Newcastle, the Port Stephens region offers various land-based locations to see whales between May and November as they migrate north and then return south again. The summit walk of Tomaree National Park, in particular, has panoramic views that offer unparalleled viewing opportunities of breaching whales and whale pods. It’s a great destination to enjoy some of the acrobatic displays humpbacks love to put on. Several whale tours operate in the region if you’re keen to get off the shore. With 26 golden sandy beaches and a Marine Park, there is the chance to see more than just whales. The region’s sheltered bay is home to 165 bottlenose dolphins as well.
- Exmouth, WA
Exmouth is most well-known for its whale sharks, which are actually a fish and not a whale. Between April and July, these giant fish (the world’s biggest) visit the area to feed on the zooplankton that thrive in the warm water. However, it also is a hotspot for whale watching with humpback whales, blue whales, killer whales and dwarf minke whales being some of the species spotted off the coast. For an up-close and personal experience, head out on a boat tour – you might even get the chance to swim with humpback whales in Ningaloo Reef.
- Hervey Bay, QLD
Humpback whales have made Hervey Bay on of their pit-stops on the southern migration journey and it is for this reason that Hervey Bay is often considered Australia’s unofficial whale watching capital. Humpbacks start to arrive in Hervey Bay from mid-July and stay up until late November. This a spot where the whales can relax and socialise. The waters are sheltered by Fraser Island so often the humpbacks stopover here to break up their journey and play with their young. This means there is the opportunity to see some serious frolicking going on. Cruises run throughout the season and the Hervey Bay Ocean Festival in August celebrates the majestic creatures with a Whale Parade and Concert that highlight the efforts of those in Hervey Bay to protect the marine environment.