The 13 best whale watching spots in Australia

When: Mid-May to November

What: Humpback whales, southern right whales, minke whales

The marine life on this slice of the South Coast is abundant, so whether you’re whale watching or not, you’re bound to come by a pod or two of playful dolphins and a couple of seals as they chill around their breeding ground. There are heaps of tours that take you out on a boat to see the whales on the water, and Woebegone Freedive actually has a special license from the government to swim (eco-responsibly!) in the water with the whales. How’s that for up close and personal?

When: May to July (when they migrate north), and September to November (when they return south)

What: Humpback whales, southern right whales, blue whales (rarer)

Forget about massive boats that chug by with a mere glimpse of a whale on the horizon. On the water, the custom-made yellow boats at Bruny Island Cruises get you up and close to the action, including skirting around Bruny Island’s gorgeously rugged cliff edges. But you don’t actually have to leave dry land to spot whales; Bruny Island is a premier haven for seeing rare southern right whales, including at The Neck Lookout or Cape Bruny Lighthouse.

When: May to July (when they migrate north) and August to November (when they migrate south)

What: Humpback whales, southern right whales, minke whales, Bryde's whales

Eden is well known for its killer whales. There’s a ‘Killer Whale Trail’ that drives you to five historical and equally gorgeous sites on the Sapphire Coast, including old whaling stations and lookouts. One of the stops is a whole museum dedicated to the aquatic mammals. For those of you who brushed up on your marine knowledge, you’ll know that despite the name, killer whales aren’t actually whales – they’re a type of dolphin. But, where there’s smoke, there's fire, and there are plenty of (actual) whales to see and learn about around town.

When: June to September

What: Southern right whales, humpback whales

One of the Fleurieu Peninsula's most popular coastal towns, Victor Harbour, has been visited by whale fans for ages because the whales love to stop by and play around right near the coastline. Get out on the water with a spotting tour, or safely perch yourself along Encounter Bay’s cliff faces and watch from above. Like its southerly cousin, Tasmania, Victor Harbour is just one of the few locations at the bottom of Australia where you might get fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of the southern right whales as they’re breeding. Here, you’ll also find the South Australian Whale Centre if you want to geek out a little over the animal kingdom’s largest member.

When: June to October

What: Humpback whales, southern right whales, blue whales (rarer)

While many species from humpbacks to blue whales grace the waters in Albany (and can be spotted from the shore), the port city hasn't always been so whale-friendly. It's home to the country's last operating whaling station, which closed in 1978 and has since been transformed into a premier cultural tourism attraction. You can visit Albany’s heritage-listed Historic Whaling Station to see Australia’s largest marine mammal skeleton display amongst a wealth of other marine information. But to see the mammals in the flesh, join a tour to the sheltered waters of King George Sound or spot them from land at Middleton Beach, Emu Point or The Gap in Torndirrup National Park.

When: June to October

What: Humpback whales, southern right whales, blue whales (rarer)

After visiting Phillip Island’s famous fairy penguins, stick around and see if you can spot a whale. From Phillip Island, it’s possible to see humpback and southern right whales – updates on where whales have recently been spotted can be found by checking out the Phillip Island Whale Watchers group or by following the Two Bays Whale Project Facebook page. Top whale spotting sites on the island include Cape Woolamai, Pyramid Rock, Surf Beach, The Nobbies and around Summerlands.

When: June to November

What: Humpback whales, southern right whales, pilot whales, minke whales

Moreton Island is a wonderland when it comes to bucket-list marine encounters. Beyond snorkelling its iconic crystal-clear shipwrecks and meeting wild dolphins, the island serves as Brisbane's best and closest launchpad for whale-watching adventures. You can book a whale watching cruise for the day to watch these gentle giants breach up close, or supersize your experience and spot their migration from up high on a scenic helicopter ride.

When: June to November (or March to July for whale sharks)

What: Whale sharks, humpback whales

Just like Jervis Bay, the Ningaloo Reef is one of the very few other places in Australia where you can swim with whales. The reef, just off the coast of Exmouth, acts as a rest stop for whales on their migratory journey, so you’ve got a pretty good chance of getting in on some of the fun. Exmouth Dive and Whale Sharks keep track of what’s where with some friends in the sky, scouting out whales from a plane. Your chances of a friendly encounter are looking pretty good.

When: June to November

What: Humpback whales, southern right whales, minke whales

Swimming with a 40-tonne humpback whale might sound surreal – perhaps even a tad scary – but the Sunshine Coast is the ultimate place to brave the blue. You can get up close and personal with these gentle sea creatures on a whale-watching trip with Sunreef Mooloolaba, proudly Australia’s first operator for swimming with humpback whales. With a 92 per cent success rate, you’ve got the highest chance of a memorable encounter with these ocean giants anywhere in the world. If you'd prefer to stay dry, you can also catch sight of whales along the Sunshine Coast's 'Humpback Highway' at popular lookouts, like Point Perry, Point Cartwright, Moffat Headland, Dolphin Point in Noosa National Park or Alexandra Headland.

When: June to November

What: Humpback whales, southern right whales, minke whales

Hark! What's that? If it's winter in Sydney and you're standing by the sea, it could very well be the gentle giants of the Big Blue popping up to say hello – and, y'know, breathe. In Sydney, June to November is your best bet to catch a glimpse of some humpback whales, as 20,000 of them make moves along the NSW coastline during the colder months. A popular attraction is Palm Beach's Barrenjoey Lighthouse, a heritage-listed building that stands at 113 metres above sea level, and it's a perfect spot for spotting whales. Other popular spots include The Gap in South Head, Manly; Cape Solander in Kamay Botany Bay National Park, Kurnell; and anywhere along the 26-kilometre coastal walking trail in the Royal National Park.

When: Mid-July to late October

What: Humpback whales, minke whales, southern right whales, killer whales

Hervey Bay is one of the most incredible places in Australia to watch whales swim on up (or down) the ‘Humpback Highway’. That’s the route they migrate along Australia’s coastline, and Hervey Bay in particular is a popular place for humpback whales, particularly mothers and calves who love the sheltered waters. Instead of being on a mission for their food, whales check in and play around, so book a day tour, head out on a boat and enjoy the whales breaching and surfacing all over the place.

Fun fact: Hervey Bay was crowned as the world’s first Whale Heritage Site in 2019. 

When: July to October

What: Humpback whales, minke whales

Does it come as a surprise that one of the world's most well-known reefs and marine life hot spots is one of the best places to spot whales? The Whitsunday Islands, scattered around the Great Barrier Reef, mark the endpoint for the whales’ annual migratory path. It’s a fantastic spot for whale watching because the water is super warm and sheltered enough for the whales to pop by and play around here. Because of this, you’re more likely to catch whales from July to early October.