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Whale, whale, whale – if it isn’t another whale-watching enthusiast keen to cash in on migration season. You’ve likely clicked into this article because, like us, you are super excited for Australia's epic whale-watching season to come to life along the NSW coastline. Every winter, thousands of these gentle giants journey north along our legendary 'Humpback Highway' to breed in warmer waters. Peak sightings usually happen between late June and early July, when the whales swim closest to our beautiful shoreline. But if you miss that fast-paced northbound journey, mothers and calves make the return trip south, extending the season from August to November.
We’re blessed to have around 60 per cent of the global whale population migrating through Australian waters, meaning your odds of spotting one are pretty high. However, to truly guarantee front-row seats, you need to target the ultimate hotspots on the whale circuit – as revealed by new research from the travel insurance specialists at AllClear. They analysed more than 63,000 whale sighting records from the Ocean Biodiversity Information System across Australia's most popular whale-watching destinations to reveal which locations have the highest number of recorded sightings.
NSW claimed four of the top ten spots for the most whale sightings, with beautiful Cape Byron – Australia’s most easterly point – rounding out the top three. It currently has more than 6,000 recorded sightings, with the best land-based viewing from Cape Byron Lighthouse or the Captain Cook Lookout. Those seeking more thrills can take kayaks out and see these magical mammals up close and personal.
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The rest of NSW’s heavy hitters aren’t far behind, either. Down south, Cape Solander in Kamay Botany Bay National Park (in Sydney’s south-east) racks up an impressive 2,355 recorded sightings, making it one of the most reliable land-based vantage points in the state – helped by its dramatic cliffs and proximity to the migratory path. Just north of the city, Barrenjoey Lighthouse at Palm Beach isn’t just a pretty backdrop for your camera roll; it’s logged 2,284 sightings, with sweeping ocean views that make spotting splashers feel almost too easy. And then there’s Sydney Harbour and its surrounding headlands, where 2,203 sightings prove you don’t even need to leave the city to get in on the action.
Other NSW spots included in the top 20 are the historic whaling town of Eden (around six hours’ south of Sydney), the Sapphire Coast and the beloved holiday hotspot of Jervis Bay.
Where you're most likely to see whales in Australia:
- Hervey Bay, QLD
- Albany (King George Sound), WA
- Cape Byron, NSW
- Sunshine Coast (Mooloolaba), QLD
- Logans Beach, Warrnambool, VIC
- Victor Harbor (Encounter Bay), SA
- Cape Solander (Kamay Botany Bay National Park), NSW
- Barrenjoey Lighthouse / Palm Beach, NSW
- Sydney Harbour and headlands, NSW
- Ningaloo Coast, WA