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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:
12.0pt;margin-left:0cm'><span lang=EN-GB>Australia is one of the world’s great
whale-watching destinations, with humpbacks, southern right whales, orcas and
even whale sharks making seasonal appearances along the coast. This blog-style
overview rounds up the standout locations, what you’ll see, and when to plan a
trip for each region.<a
href="https://www.australia.com/en/things-to-do/wildlife/whale-watching-in-australia.html"><span
style='color:#1155CC'>australia+2</span></a>​</span></p>

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<h2 style='margin-bottom:4.0pt;page-break-after:auto'><a name="_885zm2j25kys"></a><b><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:17.0pt;line-height:115%'>When and where to go</span></b></h2>

<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:
12.0pt;margin-left:0cm'><span lang=EN-GB>Australia’s main whale-watching window
runs from around May to November, as whales migrate between Antarctic feeding
grounds and warmer breeding areas closer to the tropics. Peak timing varies by
latitude, so northern hubs like Exmouth and Hervey Bay see their best action
slightly earlier than the southern states.<a
href="https://australianwildlifejourneys.com/blog/2024/03/07/213/top-5-whale-watching-locations-in-australia"><span
style='color:#1155CC'>australianwildlifejourneys+2</span></a>​</span></p>

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<h2 style='margin-bottom:4.0pt;page-break-after:auto'><a name="_qt9lcvgtpjm5"></a><b><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:17.0pt;line-height:115%'>Hervey Bay, Queensland</span></b></h2>

<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:
12.0pt;margin-left:0cm'><span lang=EN-GB>Often called Australia’s
whale-watching capital, Hervey Bay is famous for close humpback encounters in
sheltered waters protected by K’gari (Fraser Island). Whales use the bay as a
rest stop, which means more playful behaviour like breaching, tail slaps and
“mugging” boats between roughly July and October.<a
href="https://www.timeout.com/australia/things-to-do/best-whale-watching-spots-in-australia"><span
style='color:#1155CC'>timeout+2</span></a>​</span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:
12.0pt;margin-left:0cm'><span lang=EN-GB>Local operators run a mix of half-day
and full-day cruises with hydrophones so guests can listen to whale song below
the surface. The town leans into the migration with public art, a whale
festival and a marina packed with purpose-built viewing vessels.<a
href="https://www.yha.com.au/travel-and-tours/traveller-stories/the-top-whale-watching-spots-in-australia/"><span
style='color:#1155CC'>yha+1</span></a>​</span></p>

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<h2 style='margin-bottom:4.0pt;page-break-after:auto'><a name="_4f1cazaw7m39"></a><b><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:17.0pt;line-height:115%'>Exmouth and Ningaloo Reef,
Western Australia</span></b></h2>

<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:
12.0pt;margin-left:0cm'><span lang=EN-GB>On the Coral Coast, Ningaloo offers a
unique chance to swim alongside whale sharks in autumn, then transition into
humpback encounters as the season shifts. From March to July the focus is
typically on whale shark tours, with humpback swims and cruises picking up from
about June through October.<a
href="https://www.australia.com/en/things-to-do/wildlife/whale-watching-in-australia.html"><span
style='color:#1155CC'>australia+1</span></a>​</span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:
12.0pt;margin-left:0cm'><span lang=EN-GB>Trips here are as much about the reef
as the whales, with manta rays, turtles and vibrant coral visible on the same
outings. Strict in-water guidelines keep interactions low-impact and make this
one of the world’s benchmark destinations for ethical big-animal marine
tourism.<a
href="https://australianwildlifejourneys.com/blog/2024/03/07/213/top-5-whale-watching-locations-in-australia"><span
style='color:#1155CC'>australianwildlifejourneys+1</span></a>​</span></p>

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<h2 style='margin-bottom:4.0pt;page-break-after:auto'><a name="_jk6ynlvelx9a"></a><b><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:17.0pt;line-height:115%'>Jervis Bay, New South
Wales</span></b></h2>

<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:
12.0pt;margin-left:0cm'><span lang=EN-GB>Jervis Bay combines snow-white
beaches, sandstone cliffs and clear water with a reliable stream of migrating
humpbacks. Mothers and calves often shelter in the bay during the southbound
leg of the migration, giving visitors a good chance of calmer, close-to-shore
sightings.<a
href="https://www.australia.com/en-us/things-to-do/wildlife/whale-watching-in-australia.html"><span
style='color:#1155CC'>australia+1</span></a>​</span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:
12.0pt;margin-left:0cm'><span lang=EN-GB>Land-based viewpoints like Cape St
George and Point Perpendicular offer elevated vantage points over the marine
park, while boat operators run dedicated whale cruises through the season. The
calm conditions also allow frequent dolphin encounters and views of sea caves
and rock formations along the headlands.<a
href="https://concreteplayground.com/brisbane/travel-leisure/travel/whale-watching-australia"><span
style='color:#1155CC'>concreteplayground+2</span></a>​</span></p>

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<h2 style='margin-bottom:4.0pt;page-break-after:auto'><a name="_9l4wefp1rjxo"></a><b><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:17.0pt;line-height:115%'>Cape Solander and Sydney’s
coastal lookouts</span></b></h2>

<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:
12.0pt;margin-left:0cm'><span lang=EN-GB>Just south of central Sydney, Cape
Solander in Kamay Botany Bay National Park is renowned for high counts of
humpbacks passing close to the cliffs in June and July. On good days, spotters
have recorded dozens of whales, sometimes more than 100, from this single
land-based platform.<a
href="https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/wild-about-whales/top-whale-watching-spots"><span
style='color:#1155CC'>nationalparks.nsw+1</span></a>​</span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:
12.0pt;margin-left:0cm'><span lang=EN-GB>The broader Sydney region has multiple
clifftop lookouts that double as whale vantage points, including Barrenjoey
Lighthouse, various Sydney Harbour National Park headlands and Royal National
Park viewpoints. These spots suit travellers who prefer to stay on land or mix
whale watching with coastal walks and picnics.<a
href="https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/wild-about-whales/top-whale-watching-spots"><span
style='color:#1155CC'>nationalparks.nsw</span></a>​</span></p>

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<h2 style='margin-bottom:4.0pt;page-break-after:auto'><a name="_q9viowfq3mpk"></a><b><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:17.0pt;line-height:115%'>Port Stephens, New South
Wales</span></b></h2>

<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:
12.0pt;margin-left:0cm'><span lang=EN-GB>North of Newcastle, Port Stephens is a
long-established whale-watching hub with an active fleet of tour boats.
Humpbacks migrate along the “humpback highway” just offshore here, and
land-based lookouts such as Tomaree Head and Barry Park provide sweeping ocean
views.<a
href="https://www.yha.com.au/travel-and-tours/traveller-stories/the-top-whale-watching-spots-in-australia/"><span
style='color:#1155CC'>yha</span></a>​</span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:
12.0pt;margin-left:0cm'><span lang=EN-GB>The region also offers a bonus cast of
dolphins, seabirds and occasional fur seals, making cruises attractive even
outside peak whale days. New coastal walking paths and viewing platforms give
visitors more options to scan the horizon without stepping onto a boat.<a
href="https://www.yha.com.au/travel-and-tours/traveller-stories/the-top-whale-watching-spots-in-australia/"><span
style='color:#1155CC'>yha+1</span></a>​</span></p>

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<h2 style='margin-bottom:4.0pt;page-break-after:auto'><a name="_xfo1ldk000k0"></a><b><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:17.0pt;line-height:115%'>Great Australian Bight and
Eyre Peninsula, South Australia</span></b></h2>

<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:
12.0pt;margin-left:0cm'><span lang=EN-GB>Along the remote Great Australian
Bight, protected areas on the Eyre Peninsula host important breeding grounds
for southern right whales. Conservation efforts over recent decades have helped
numbers recover, and winter now sees dozens of adults and calves sheltering in
these bays.<a
href="https://www.australia.com/en/things-to-do/wildlife/whale-watching-in-australia.html"><span
style='color:#1155CC'>australia+1</span></a>​</span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:
12.0pt;margin-left:0cm'><span lang=EN-GB>Viewing options range from clifftop
platforms overlooking sheltered nurseries to multi-day tours that combine land,
sea and sometimes scenic flights. The dramatic limestone cliffs and pounding
Southern Ocean add a wild backdrop to the experience.<a
href="https://australianwildlifejourneys.com/blog/2024/03/07/213/top-5-whale-watching-locations-in-australia"><span
style='color:#1155CC'>australianwildlifejourneys+1</span></a>​</span></p>

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<h2 style='margin-bottom:4.0pt;page-break-after:auto'><a name="_92xkb09f25oz"></a><b><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:17.0pt;line-height:115%'>Victoria and Tasmania</span></b></h2>

<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:
12.0pt;margin-left:0cm'><span lang=EN-GB>In Victoria, locations such as
Warrnambool and Logans Beach are known as southern right whale nurseries, with
mothers and calves frequently visible from shore-based platforms in winter.
Humpbacks also move along this coast, giving occasional bonus sightings on boat
trips or from high headlands.<a
href="https://www.timeout.com/australia/things-to-do/best-whale-watching-spots-in-australia"><span
style='color:#1155CC'>timeout+1</span></a>​</span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:
12.0pt;margin-left:0cm'><span lang=EN-GB>Tasmania’s east and south coasts can
see migrating humpbacks and southern rights from headlands and cruises around
places like Bruny Island and the Tasman Peninsula. The relatively low
development and rugged coastline mean fewer crowds but more reliance on local
guides to find the best daily vantage points.<a
href="https://www.australia.com/en/things-to-do/wildlife/whale-watching-in-australia.html"><span
style='color:#1155CC'>australia</span></a>​</span></p>

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<h2 style='margin-bottom:4.0pt;page-break-after:auto'><a name="_y36pjvp5bfsx"></a><b><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:17.0pt;line-height:115%'>Western Australia’s south
coast and orca hotspots</span></b></h2>

<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:
12.0pt;margin-left:0cm'><span lang=EN-GB>Beyond Ningaloo, Western Australia’s
south and south-west coasts offer several key whale-watching zones, including
Margaret River, Dunsborough and Augusta. Here, humpbacks and southern right
whales can be seen on dedicated cruises and occasionally from headlands and
lighthouses.<a
href="https://australianwildlifejourneys.com/blog/2024/03/07/213/top-5-whale-watching-locations-in-australia"><span
style='color:#1155CC'>australianwildlifejourneys</span></a>​</span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:
12.0pt;margin-left:0cm'><span lang=EN-GB>Further east, Bremer Bay has become
famous for orca encounters on offshore canyon expeditions that run over summer.
These trips are targeted at keen wildlife watchers comfortable with longer boat
rides and offshore conditions in exchange for a chance to see apex predators in
the wild.<a
href="https://australianwildlifejourneys.com/blog/2024/03/07/213/top-5-whale-watching-locations-in-australia"><span
style='color:#1155CC'>australianwildlifejourneys</span></a>​</span></p>

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<p>
<img src="/static/images/blog/139912-3_1110x624.jpg" alt="Adventure">
</p>

<h2 style='margin-bottom:4.0pt;page-break-after:auto'><a name="_n8on2j26zwta"></a><b><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:17.0pt;line-height:115%'>Practical whale-watching
tips</span></b></h2>

<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:
0cm;margin-left:36.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-18.0pt'><span
lang=EN-GB>●<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</span></span><span lang=EN-GB>Check regional timing: migration windows shift
by latitude, so confirm typical peak months for your chosen destination before
booking.<a
href="https://aboutaustralia.com/blog/whale-watching-in-australia-season/"><span
style='color:#1155CC'>aboutaustralia+1</span></a>​<br>
<br>
</span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt'><span
lang=EN-GB>●<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</span></span><span lang=EN-GB>Choose operators carefully: look for accredited,
eco-focused companies that follow distance and noise regulations to avoid
stressing the whales.<a
href="https://www.australia.com/en/things-to-do/wildlife/whale-watching-in-australia.html"><span
style='color:#1155CC'>australia+1</span></a>​<br>
<br>
</span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt'><span lang=EN-GB>●<span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span
lang=EN-GB>Pack for time on the water: even in winter sunshine, offshore winds
can be cold, so bring layers, sun protection and seasickness remedies if you’re
prone to motion sickness.<a
href="https://www.yha.com.au/travel-and-tours/traveller-stories/the-top-whale-watching-spots-in-australia/"><span
style='color:#1155CC'>yha+1</span></a>​<br>
<br>
</span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:12.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:
12.0pt;margin-left:0cm'><span lang=EN-GB>For a national blog or itinerary, you
can easily frame these locations as a “whale trail” around Australia, linking
east coast lookouts with reef swims in Western Australia and nursery bays in
the south across a single migration season.<a
href="https://www.australia.com/en/things-to-do/wildlife/whale-watching-in-australia.html"><span
style='color:#1155CC'>australia+1</span></a>​</span></p>

<ol style='margin-top:0cm' start=1 type=1>
 <li class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:12.0pt'><span lang=EN-GB><a
     href="https://www.australia.com/en/things-to-do/wildlife/whale-watching-in-australia.html"><span
     style='color:#1155CC'>https://www.australia.com/en/things-to-do/wildlife/whale-watching-in-australia.html</span></a></span></li>
 <li class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-GB><a
     href="https://www.australia.com/en-us/things-to-do/wildlife/whale-watching-in-australia.html"><span
     style='color:#1155CC'>https://www.australia.com/en-us/things-to-do/wildlife/whale-watching-in-australia.html</span></a></span></li>
 <li class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-GB><a
     href="https://australianwildlifejourneys.com/blog/2024/03/07/213/top-5-whale-watching-locations-in-australia"><span
     style='color:#1155CC'>https://australianwildlifejourneys.com/blog/2024/03/07/213/top-5-whale-watching-locations-in-australia</span></a></span></li>
 <li class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-GB><a
     href="https://concreteplayground.com/brisbane/travel-leisure/travel/whale-watching-australia"><span
     style='color:#1155CC'>https://concreteplayground.com/brisbane/travel-leisure/travel/whale-watching-australia</span></a></span></li>
 <li class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-GB><a
     href="https://www.yha.com.au/travel-and-tours/traveller-stories/the-top-whale-watching-spots-in-australia/"><span
     style='color:#1155CC'>https://www.yha.com.au/travel-and-tours/traveller-stories/the-top-whale-watching-spots-in-australia/</span></a></span></li>
 <li class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-GB><a
     href="https://www.timeout.com/australia/things-to-do/best-whale-watching-spots-in-australia"><span
     style='color:#1155CC'>https://www.timeout.com/australia/things-to-do/best-whale-watching-spots-in-australia</span></a></span></li>
 <li class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-GB><a
     href="https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/wild-about-whales/top-whale-watching-spots"><span
     style='color:#1155CC'>https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/wild-about-whales/top-whale-watching-spots</span></a></span></li>
 <li class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-GB><a
     href="https://aboutaustralia.com/blog/whale-watching-in-australia-season/"><span
     style='color:#1155CC'>https://aboutaustralia.com/blog/whale-watching-in-australia-season/</span></a></span></li>
 <li class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-GB><a
     href="https://eastcoasttours.com.au/article/where-to-see-whales-on-australias-east-coast"><span
     style='color:#1155CC'>https://eastcoasttours.com.au/article/where-to-see-whales-on-australias-east-coast</span></a></span></li>
 <li class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span lang=EN-GB><a
     href="https://whalewatchwesternaustralia.com/"><span style='color:#1155CC'>https://whalewatchwesternaustralia.com</span></a></span></li>
</ol>

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