Whale Watching

Whale Watching Tours in Australia

The sheer volume of whales along both coastlines makes Australia a haven for whale watching enthusiasts. With 30 species of whale found in Australian waters, including 9 baleen whales and 21 toothed whales, Australia is an ideal destination for a whale watching tour. 

Many of these whale species are transient, with both Southern Right and Humpback whales famed for their incredible migratory journeys from Antartica's nutrient rich waters. Actually, the world's largest population of Humpback Whales, estimated to be more than 30,000 individuals, migrates off the coast of Western Australia, to breed in the warmer regions of the Kimberley coast. Similarly, on the East Coast, more than 20,000 Humpback Whales migrate to the Coral Sea, over 2,500km (1,500 miles) each way.  

Humpback Whales are an extremely popular species to spot on our Australian whale watching tours, known for their spectacular breaching of their bodies that weigh up to 40 tonnes. They can be observed on their annual migrations from our popular East Coast whale watching destinations such as Sydney Harbour, Phillip Island, Wilsons Promontory and the Great Barrier Reef.

There is also fabulous West Coast Whale Watching with Bremer Bay on the south coast of Western Australia, boasting one of the most astonishing aggregations of marine life. From January to April, travellers can reliably encounter Killer Whales (Orcas) with Sperm Whales, Long-finned Pilot Whales and rare Beaked Whales also sighting opportunities.

In the Margaret River region, the picturesque seaside town of Augusta is one of the best locations in Australia to view Humpback Whale Watch from late May, with Dunsborough also providing the opportunity to see Humpback Whales and the largest animal on earth, the Blue Whale, as they escort calves born in Australia’s north-west back to Antarctica. Recently, the Australian Government permitted approved operators to swim with Humpbacks across various regions including Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia.

Southern Right Whales also migrate from June-August from the far Southern Ocean feeding close to Antarctica. They are common to the Great Australian Bight, Western Eyre Peninsula and Southwest Western Australia in the Margaret River region, but can also be seen sporadically off Phillip Island and Kangaroo Island. Orcas, False Killer Whales, Minke Whales and Pilot Whales can also be seen occasionally during whale watching tours across these regions.

Below you will see a signature collection of Australian Wildlife Journey’s whale watching tours. We have a diverse range of experienced tour guides that accommodate some of the most popular whale watching Australia spots, who are passionate about educating travellers about actions that we can all take to preserve these amazing marine mammals.

Wildlife Map Directory

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For further information about species that you can encounter across different seasons and regions, visit our Marine Mammals section.