Here are the top spots to see the ocean’s gentle giants.
Sydney
Sydney is well-regarded as a whale-watching hub — there are vantage points all along the city’s coastline.
Visit Barrenjoey Headland at Palm Beach, where the whales wave farewell before continuing up the coast or explore North Head in Manly and watch for the tell-tale burst of spray in the water down below.
On the other side of Harbour, keep your eyes peeled for whales as you walk the South Head Heritage Trail in Watsons Bay or head further south to Kamay Botany Bay National Park’s Cape Solander, a top whale-watching spot with informational signs about the migration.
For on-the-water experiences, Whale Watching Sydney, FantaSea Cruising, Sydney Princess Cruises and Manly Ocean Adventures are just some of the whale-watching cruise boats that leave from Circular Quay, Darling Harbour and Manly. Jump aboard one of these cruises and you might see humpback, southern right, minke, Bryde’s, blue and orca whales. The giants of the deep cruise close to the coast and have even been known to pop up inside Sydney Harbour.
North Coast
The North Coast of NSW is one of the best places in Australia to observe humpback whales. The country’s most easterly point, Cape Byron, is a renowned land-based vantage point for spotting these cetaceans.
A half-hour-drive south of Byron Bay, Ballina is home to the Ballina Head and Black Head lookouts — both good for spotting whales — and whale-watching cruise company Out of the Blue Adventures who tour with a marine biologist.
How about swimming alongside humpback whales? At Jetty Dive in Coffs Harbour, a 5.5-hour drive north of Sydney, you can don a wetsuit, mask and fins, and slide into the water alongside whales. The curious creatures often glide right up to swimmers to take a closer look.
Port Macquarie is the halfway point between Sydney and Byron Bay (four hours from either) and has a 9-kilometre Coastal Walk that is dotted with lookouts perfect for whale spotting. Cruise on Port Jet Cruise Adventures or get a bird’s-eye view with Port Macquarie Seaplanes.
In Port Stephens, 2.5-hour’s drive from Sydney, grab your binoculars and head to Tomaree Head or Stockton Beach and cruise with Moonshadow-TQC Cruises or Aquamarine Adventures.
In the city of Newcastle, two hours north of Sydney, Coast XP heads out to spot whales and other marine life in the open water. For great views from dry land, head to Shepherds Hill lookout, a popular spot with locals.