First-time Whale-watching In Australia: Top Places to Visit

whale watching in australia

If you have always dreamt about seeing these glorious sea creatures, from all places you could pinpoint to go to, Australia is your number one destination. Australia is a huge country and home to countless animals and sea creatures, and whales might be their proudest and most cherished mammals. One of the main reasons why there are so many diverse whales in Australian waters is due to the warmth of Australian seas and the abundance of fish that roam around the coast. If you want your dream to come true, pack your bags and head out to some of the following destinations around Australia to witness majestic sea mammals and even spot them migrating. For first-time goers, but also keen whale-watching enthusiasts, here are some of the top places to visit in Australia for whale-watching.

Bremer Bay, West Australia

The outstanding orcas are a must-see, and probably the easiest way to spot them and have a memorable experience while doing so is Bremer Bay. Heading southeast from the city of Perth to the Great Southern, you will have a chance to spot the glorious orcas in family pods of around 10 or more individuals. Western Australia has become a popular spot to go whale-watching since orcas, humpback whales, and other species join bottlenose dolphins and swim together in search of food near the coast. Many take shelter in the bays to mate, so you can easily see these large cetaceans and have an amazing time. The best time to visit Bremer Bay to spot whales is anytime from early June to late September, and don’t forget to bring binoculars.

Gold Coast, Queensland

Brisbane and the Gold Coast are ideal places to go whale watching, especially during the migration season, as more than 34,000 whales are roaming around these splendid waters along the Eastern Seaboard and through the lukewarm waters off Brisbane and North Stradbroke Island. There are a plethora of opportunities to see dazzling leviathans on their unique journey of about 5,000km to the warmer waters, but probably the best way to spot them is to go on a professional whale watching Gold Coast tour with experienced boat personnel. Not only would they know exactly where to find humpback whales, but you would have the chance to see them ultra up close, get postcards of your experience, and truly have a memorable time.

Bass Coast, Victoria

If you were to choose the Bass Coast from April til November, you would be able to spot humpback and southern right ones migrating the glowing waters. What’s more, in the Victoria region you can even spot tremendous orcas with their genuine black and white markings and great Killer Whales that make them stand out from the rest of sea mammals. Eager enthusiasts are advised to go to Pyramid Rock and Cape Woolamai for whale-watching, or hop on a boat and go anywhere around Gippsland’s Bass Coast area to witness stunning sea animals from the waters. Since there are plenty of amazing whale-watching points around the Bass Coast in Victoria, this is another must-go Australian area.

Port Stephens and Eden, New South Wales

Within a few hour’s drive from Sydney, you will reach Port Stephens which is a great starting point to spot some of the great sea giants if you don’t want to go the extra mile north or west. This small but lovely bay is situated near Newcastle, and the best time to go whale-watching expeditions is any time between June and November and see humpback whales and bottlenose dolphins swimming and playing in the waves. Also, on the other side of Sydney a bit south, the region of Eden is home to the annual whale festival where you can see sperm and killer whales among other things. Don’t forget to go to the Killer Whale Museum in Eden to discover more about the local whale population.

Bruny Island, Tasmania

Tasmania is home to humpback, southern rights, mikes, pygmy, and orca whales which make this island a great spot to see all local and majestic migrating whales. There are plenty of adventure tours that go around Bruny Island and guarantee the best experience and certain whale-spotting sights. There’s no need to hurry, you can see various whale species anytime between May and July or September and December and have a blast. Bear in mind that whales love to take shelter for up to five weeks at a time, so if you were to walk along the island’s coast you will have a definite chance to spot them. Bruny Island is a world of wonder, and in your free time, you could go kayaking, snorkeling, or surfing in the wonderful waters to contemplate your stay.

Australia is your number one place to go to if you want to witness some of the greatest sea animals on the globe. No matter if you are an adventure seeker or a keen whale watcher, you are in for an unforgettable time.