The Best Places in Australia for Whale Watching

Whale watching has always been on your bucket list and you finally want to make your dream come true? Look no further because we’re here to help you out! Here are the five best places in Australia for this incredible activity, so check them out and start packing for your trip! Enjoy!

Top location #1: near Sydney

Needless to say, Sydney is one of the best locations for whale watching in Australia. In fact, the entire east coast of Australia offers incredible opportunities for whale watching – particularly along the coasts of Queensland and New South Wales. The best time to see whales near Sydney is from May to late November. However, the most popular period certainly includes the last week of June and the first week of July. This is the time when humpbacks can be spotted heading north. If you miss this period, don’t worry as mothers and their calves will pass by Sydney in early September, while traveling back south. The best place to watch whales in Sydney is The Gap at South Head in Watsons Bay. You can also opt for a daily cruise from Huskisson. You won’t make a mistake whichever option you go for!

Top location #2: near Hobart

Tasmania’s east coast is another fabulous location for whale watching in Australia. In case you didn’t know, some legends say that the sounds of whales in the River Derwent used to keep the residents awake at night. Even though whaling was quite popular back in the 19th century, Hobart still is a great place to see humpbacks and southern right whales. The good news is that the population of whales is recovering these days. The best time to spot them on their annual migration is between May and July and between September and December. Frederick Henry Bay is a fantastic spot to watch the whales on their way to their breeding areas. However, they will sometimes stick around this place, so people can easily see them from shore. If that’s what you’re looking forward to, head straight to Tasmania to watch whales!

Top location #3: near Perth

When it comes to Western Australia, its south coast is the ideal place for whale watching. The best time for this activity is from early June to December, so you’ll have plenty of time to plan your trip to Perth. As for humpback whales and southern right whales, you can see them in Augusta’s Flinders Bay in their natural habitat. On the other hand, rare blue whales can be spotted in Geographe Bay. If you opt for a whale watching tour in Perth, make sure to figure out the dates first. You can see humpback whales in Augusta on their northern migration from late May to late August, whereas you can spot them in Perth from September to early December on their southern migration. Ningaloo Reef is another phenomenal location where you can see around 30,000 humpbacks on their way to their breeding areas. It doesn’t get better than that!

Top location #4: near Brisbane

If you’re planning to visit Queensland, the area near Brisbane should certainly be your go-to choice for whale watching. We’re talking about Hervey Bay, to be more precise. It’s located around 300 kilometers north of Brisbane. As this peaceful spot is protected by Fraser Island, humpback whales come here to mate, breed, and nurse. If you want to see baby whales, you should visit Queensland in the first week of September. Did you know that there is a festival in July and August that celebrates the arrival of humpback whales? That’s right, it’s called the Hervey Bay Whale Festival and it incorporates numerous displays, concerts, and street parades. However, if you want to dive with these marvelous creatures, you must visit the Whitsunday Islands. This is the only place where you can swim with dwarf minke whales, but only for a short period in June and July!

Top location #5: Melbourne

Apart from being one of the best cruising destinations, Melbourne should be your number one destination for whale watching, too. In fact, we’re talking about the entire area around Melbourne. All you need to do is to go to Logans Beach in Warrnambool, which is a 3-hour drive from Melbourne along the Great Ocean Road. This is an ideal place to see southern right whales near the shore. It’s because they stay in a nursery with their calves for a few weeks. It helps their babies build strength for a long journey that awaits them later on. There are amazing viewing platforms on the sand dunes where you can even watch new whale moms interacting with their calves. On the other hand, Cape Nelson is your place to go if you want to see rare blue whales. Don’t miss it!

As you can tell, there are so many fantastic places in Australia when it comes to whale watching. These five unquestionably are the best ones out there, so bear them in mind and you won’t make a mistake. Just stick to our list and plan your upcoming trip to the tiniest detail!