Mintjulip
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Hi Claudette, There are many places around Australia, where you are likely to get to see whales, the best time of year is always between March and October as that is the females, "birthing time" , depending on where you are, its up to you where you decide to go.
For WA/SA - The Great Australian Bight.....on the coast between Adelaide and Perth
Vic - Warnambool and all along the shipwreck coast....Warnambool hosts a fantastic whale birthing centre where you can get to see whales birthing their pups in a natural setting.
NSW/QLD - Solitary Islands Marine Park , and Coffs Harbour on the Northern Coast of NSW, Each autumn and winter, humpback whales make their way north to calve in warmer waters.
In spring, they turn and head south again to their Antarctic feeding grounds.
Along the Qld coast around Fraser Island, Hervey Bay, and Burrum Heads is another great natural setting, to see not only the whales but dolphins, sharks and alot of rare tropical fish also......
Minke Whale Swim Programs
Minke whales are commonly seen along the Ribbon Reefs north of Cairns between May and August. In June and July there are Minke Whale Expeditions which allow you to snorkel with these very curious whales. These research-based trips have reported seeing up to 28 of these graceful mammals in one pod and the whales have been known to remain with the boats for up to 10 hours. Trips are usually 3 or 4 nights.
Turtle Nesting and Hatching
Many varieties of turtles such as the loggerhead, green, leatherback and flatback nest from October to March each year along the Queensland coast from Bundaberg in the south to the Cape in the tropical north as well on the islands of the Southern Great Barrier Reef (Heron, Wilson, Lady Elliot, Lady Musgrave).
The Turtle Nesting and Hatching season is an amazing experience and visitors to Queensland will find opportunities to witness these nocturnal events in a controlled environment at a number of island and mainland locations.
Whale Watching
Humpback whales travel along the Queensland coast from late July to early November each year on their southern migration to Antarctica. They are best seen in the shallow coastal waters of the Great Barrier Reef, in Tropical North Queensland and the Whitsundays, and in Southern Queensland in Hervey Bay and Moreton Bay.
Hervey Bay is used as a resting ground by the whales on their long journey south and is recognised as the Whale Watching capital of Australia. A number of marine tour operators conduct full and half-day whale watching tours in these areas. |
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West Aussie Chick
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All over Western Australia. The humpback migrate up the coast annually to the warm waters of the north to give birth to their young. Albany is one good place to see them...there is an old whaling station there now set up for tourists and plenty of whales in the ocean down there. I used to live in Exmouth Wa and we saw whales regualrly. It's great to sit on the beach and watch them jump in the distance...and even better to take a tour and see them up close. You can also dive with whalesharks at this time of year in Exmouth on the Ningaloo Reef which is an amazing experience. Have a great time no matter where you go!
http://www.activesafaris.com.au/11729.htm |
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Kira
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Albany in the lower south west of western australia.
We have a brilliant whale museum full of history. Albany used to be a whaling town, (though now a city) and we still have the old whaling ship (beached for show), and whale discovery center and museum which has been set up for whale watching and so people can learn about whales, buy whale souveniors and see the old whaling ships and eat in the whalers gallery cafe. There are whale tours which go out in the ocean (forgot the name! *mental blank* arrrgg! {shame on me})- the one between australia and antarctica! and go on whale discovery tours. There are prodominent this time of year. |
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BUSHIDO
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Hervey Bay. |
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lostie_fan
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You can see whales on any port of the Australian coast but they are more common in the warmer waters of the Mid north coast/port stephens.
The best way to view a whale is (and can be expensive but you have fun so its a win win) is to look up any whale watching cruises and going that way. The whales will be used to ships and will often "wave" to you.
They can be anywhere from $30-$150 depending on where you go and how long your out there. I generally find the cheapies more enjoyable but thats my opinion
Hope this helps |
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stephen z
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Newcastle beach |
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aussie5468
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Byron Bay - my home town!!!!
Amazing how you take things for granted, when I was a kid we'd see them all the time, as well as swimming/surfing with dolphins & thought nothing of it.
Fast forward a few years & it's all the rage to see and interact with these amazing creatures.
I guess I had a pretty special childhood looking back on it now..........
(NOTE FOR KIRA - it's called the Southern Ocean) |
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tentofield
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All along the east and west coasts for humpback whales.
The Great Australian Bight for southern right whales.
The South Australian/Victorian border towns for blue whales.
Around Tasmania for sperm whales.
North Queensland for minke whales.
All sorts of places for dolphins and pilot whales. |
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Londoner
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Beautiful Coffs Harbour, halfway between Brisbane and Sydney - it's scenic and welcoming, as well as the ocean being totally chock with whales right now! |
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Sparky5115
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Port Stephens, a few hours drive north of Sydney have a number of whale watching tours and now is the time of year that they operate. They have already been spotting humpbacks during their migration.
Mingaloo, the rare white whale (who may have fathered a pure white calf recently) can be seen off Nelson Bay each year. |
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Ms CMP5260
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South Australia, 1 1/2 hrs south of Adelaide, a place not far from Victor harbour called Middleton. The Southern Wright Whales come into the bay to calve and you can stand on a bluff overlooking the beach and observe them very close. Every year June thru to October they come into the bight and several venture to the beach of Middleton/Victor Harbour area. |
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LadyRebecca
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The East Coast is great for migrating Humpbacks at this time of the year. If you are anywehere near Byron Bay, NSW (most Easterly point in Australia) you get a great view from the lighthouse cliff top.
Otherwise just keep heading North and you can see them all up the Gold Coast, sunshine Coast and beyond up the Qld coast. Point Danger is a good lookout, so is Cabarita. Someone else mentioned Hervey Bay - they do a lot of tours there that you can join to get closer by boat. |
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CSL
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The redcliffe pier has a number of whale watching tours. Try around that area. I went out with one from there and saw 3 whales up quite close. They came over to the boat. :o) |
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supernaturalgem
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If your in NSW go down to Jervis Bay, they have a whale watching tour this time of year - the humpbacks migrating up to the warmer waters & it is an absolutely amazing site. One I will never ever forget. |
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• Koala • uÊop ɹÇpun
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Hervey Bary - Queensland - the best place:::
http://www.whalewatching.com.au
http://www.herveybaywhalewatch.com.au
http://www.whalewatch.com.au
http://www.hervey.com.au/Whales/whale.htm
Have fun ! |
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David & Rachael
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One of the best places to watch Whales in Australia is off the coast of Warrnambool in Victoria, the council has installed many viewing platforms along The Great Ocean Road. |
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Alison
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Airlie Beach - has whale watching cruises |
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Mudlark
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Head of the Bight, between Adelaide and Perth. It's a couple of days driving from Adelaide, but there are viewing platforms and you can watch the mothers and calves all day. I was there last year and there were over 60 whales, including an albino calf.
The females come from the Antarctic in about July to give birth there, and suckle the calves til they're strong enough to swim back again. The males arrive a bit later, and they all leave around September-October.
It's awesome seeing so many whales all in the same place, and the young whales playing is just wonderful.
Well worth the effort. |
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Bella
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It depends on where abouts in australia you are...east or west coast...north or south. |
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Bleached Blonde Turkey Head
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Just look for those bloody Japanese whaling ships! |
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