Whale Watching in Australia: Where and When

Each year, two great whale highways run along the Australian coast. Humpbacks travel north to breed through autumn and winter, then south again with their calves through spring. Southern right whales gather to give birth in sheltered southern bays. Between them, they make the Australian winter one of the best whale-watching seasons on earth.

The east coast: May to November

The humpback migration hugs the east coast, and few places see them closer than Eden on the New South Wales far south coast. Twofold Bay is one of the deepest natural harbours in the southern hemisphere, and charter boats often find pods within minutes of leaving the wharf. Peak months are September and October on the southern return.

Further north, the calm waters behind Fraser Island make Hervey Bay the calving nursery of the east, where mothers and calves linger from July to November.

The south coast: June to October

For southern right whales, head to the Nullarbor. At the Head of Bight, the animals gather below the Bunda Cliffs to calve, and a clifftop boardwalk run by the local Mirning community offers one of the finest land-based viewing platforms anywhere. More than a hundred whales have been counted there in August.

The west coast: late May to December

Western Australia enjoys one of the longest seasons in the country. Cape Naturaliste, near Dunsborough, watches over Geographe Bay, a sheltered nursery for southern rights and a migration route for humpbacks, blue whales and minkes. The whale lookout on the cape trails is a reliable spot from a high vantage point.

Tips for a good sighting

Mornings tend to bring calmer seas and better light. Bring binoculars even on a boat tour, dress warmer than you expect, and give yourself a second day if the weather turns. Patience is the whole game.