Find the best whale watching locations, cruises and other coastal activities within nsw national parks. May 08, 2019 the whale watching season in sydney is between may and november each year but some times are better than others to increase your chances of seeing whales. Whale watching is a popular pastime in sydney in the winter and spring. Thats when boat charters and tour groups will start taking people out to view the whales, and tourists flock to places. Get wild about whales and plan your coastal whale watching adventure now. Would be nice to include day tours and boat trips in sydney.
This sydney cruise departs from darling harbour and passes many of sydneys famous landmarks on its way out of the heads to take you whale watching on weekends the harbour is alive with colourful sailing boats and the cruise will take you past luna park, the harbour bridge, circular quay, sydney opera house, kirabilly house, fort denison, bradleys head and the mansions of rose bay. Whale watching in australia has grown tremendously over the last decade. Click here to read an intimate story about narooma and its whales. Commercial whale and dolphin watching operators form an important naturebased industry that attracts a large number of tourists to coastal towns. Whales migrate in their thousands along the nsw coast, which stretches more than 2,000 km. They head north to the warm coastal waters of queensland and the coral sea to mate and give birth from late april to august, and return southwards from around september to november. Since late april this year, we have spotted the humpback whales of the coast of mooloolaba. Nsw whale watching season wild about whales nsw national. Get the latest sightings, learn whale facts and plan your next coastal adventure. Mar 24, 2020 best time to see whales in sydney, weatherwise. During whalewatching season, youll see these majestic mammals from many headlands in sydney and at destinations from byron bay in the north to eden in the south more than 50 per cent of the planets species of cetaceans whales, dolphins and porpoises. Whale watching in nsw every year, whales migrate along the nsw coastline. Off the coasts of california, there is no shortage of whale watching tours available for whale season.
The closest point from brisbane to see the humpback whales. Between may and november, thousands of majestic humpback and southern right whales make their way along the coast in an incredible annual migration. Whale watching adventures in south coast nsw visit nsw. Whale watching season is about to kickoff on the central coast. Whale watching in australia is a popular recreational pursuit and a tourist activity along various coasts. Best custom built, fast and spacious vessels to give you the best day possible out at sea. Private whale watching tours northern nsw and gold coast.
Take the plunge and explore our parks, go whale watching and discover what there is to see and do. From tweed to eden, the nsw coast provides perfect vantage points to see these majestic ocean giants. Whale and dolphin watching department of agriculture, water. Whales often cruise close to shore, so they are easy to spot, and have even been known to pop up inside sydney harbour. We saw migaloo for the first time in 2014 and in 2011 we were lucky enough to see an all white humpback whale calf, so chances have doubled to see an all white whale. Great whale watching opportunities mixed with the added bonus of being in one of australias best holiday destinations. The warmest times to go will be during the beginning and end of the season, as theyre not in the deepest part of. Between may and november, thousands of majestic humpback and southern right whales make their. New south wales, queensland, western australia and victoria all offer great whale spotting opportunities. See how the season progresses with the whale sightings counter.
Whale and dolphin watching department of agriculture. The first day of winter today marks the official start of the whale watching season around sydney and the new south wales east coast. In the winter and spring months, you can catch a glimpse of the whale migration from the coast track, along the cliff tops just east of bundeena. Whale watching in nsw nsw environment, energy and science. A whale watching trip i went on elsewhere couldnt get closer than a couple of hundred metres to the whales. New south wales whale watching whale watch tour bookings. Home topics wildlife top 8 whale watching sp ots in nsw top 8 whale watching sp ots in nsw from may to november each year, australias east coast transforms into a whale watching hot spot, with vast numbers heading north to breed after a summer spent feeding in antarctic waters. Winter getaways are great for families as accommodation prices are low, yet there is still plenty to do and see. However, it is important to do your research before embarking, as not all whale watching tours are created. In nsw, its common to see humpback whales, southern right whales and dolphins, but you may also spot orcas, blue whales, minke whales and sperm whales. Many of these coastal parks and reserves provide excellent viewing opportunities for whale watching. From whalewatching cruises to clifftop lookouts in scenic national parks, there are many ways to enjoy whale watching season on the beautiful nsw south coast.
Whale watching nsw whale watching season, activities. The migrating population is named the group 5 southern hemisphere humpback whale population or the australian east coast humpbacks. Whale watchers have already logged over 3000 whale sightings on our free wild about whales app, so its shaping up to be a great whale watching season. The ultimate guide to whale watching in sydneys waters this. Thousands of whales are seen from highlight locations including.
Jervis bay, sydney, port stephens, port macquarie and byron tweed heads. Up to 6,000 humpback whales migrate past moreton island each season. Our big, beautiful friends are beginning their migration north to the warmer waters of the pacific to. Top 8 whale watching spots in nsw australian geographic. Sydneys best whale watching cruises with more than 25 years of experience. The truth is, all offer the chance to see these incredible animals in their natural habitat, usually with some amazing scenery to enjoy from the. Not far from the historic whaling town of eden, this lighthouse at the tip of green cape is probably the best whale watching point in nsw. Sunreef mooloolaba offers australias first swim with humpback whales experience, from july to october each year, premiere whale watching aboard the iconic whale one from june to november as well as local reef dives, snorkelling trips and diving on the exhmas brisbane as well as a wide variety of hire gear from jetskis. Wild about whales is a celebration of whales along the nsw coastline. The long whale season in australia between may and november no doubt contributes to its growing popularity. This app is the official whale watching guide to new south wales developed by the nsw national parks and wildlife service. Download the wild about whales app so you can follow the whales progress during the migration, and report any you see. Governmental regulations limit any whale watching tours to this time period.
From 2hour trips to multiday cruises, whale watching during whale season is a highly popular activity. With its unspoiled beaches and lush vegetation, the coffs coast is an idyllic spot for a whale watching adventure. Until the next whale season check back soon for more whale news whale watching check out our pick of the best whale watching vantage points, tours and accommodation in nsw. The best spot for whale watching is the gap, an ocean cliff on the south head. Interested in the latest whale sightings off the nsw coast.
Whale watching tours and coastal activities take place at nsw national parks all. The whales are a little early for the official whale watching season which begins on july 1, when whales head north for breeding. There are a number of different migration and whale seasons. Humpbacks on the move off nsw with 2019 migration season. Aug 31, 2017 whale watching in sydney is one of most interesting attractions during winter season. The whale watching season in sydney is quite long maynovember, but it is not always very busy. The ultimate guide to whale watching in sydneys waters. Here is a chart with weekly humpback whale sightings in sydney between 2010 and 2012. Whaling in australia took place from 1788 to 1978 and was once commercially successful. You can go whale watching all winter and spring may november in sydney. Whale watching season whale watching nsw reflections. Here on our beautiful west coast, from may december the humpback, southern right whales and the rare blue whales, can be seen on their epic migration, from the foodrich southern ocean, as they hug the.
Whale watching weekends away in nsw hello sydney kids. Download wild about whales and enjoy it on your iphone, ipad and ipod touch. Kelbys whale season is a sharp and funny novel made up of equal parts comic adventure and serialkiller inspired mayhem. May 30, 2019 the best places to go whale watching in sydney. Weve been walking sydneys coastline for years, so here are our tips on how to take advantage of nature to get the best out of your whale watching time. You can also download the free wild about whales app to help locate whales. Experience a truly unforgettable whale watching trip and get up close and personal to humpbacks and many other marine species such as southern rights, orcas and minke whales, dolphins, seals, fairy penguins and albatross. Humpback whale breaching off the coast of sydney, nsw. Plan a weekend around a couple of boat trips or cliff viewing hotspots as well as other familyfriendly activities. And some of the best spots are closer to you than you might think.
Whale watching day cruise whale watch tour bookings. From whale watching cruises to clifftop lookouts in scenic national parks, there are many ways to enjoy whale watching season on the beautiful nsw south coast. You might also be lucky enough to see dolphins, turtles and a number of sea birds as part of the cruise. Whale watching in nsw more than 30,000 whales make their way along the nsw coast from may to november each year. Whale watching in sydney is one of most interesting attractions during winter season. In the rollicking tradition of carl hiaasens tourist season, with the heart of garrison keillors lake wobegon, and peopled by the kind of colorful characters who would be quite at home in any tom robbins novel, n. The ten best spots for whale watching on the nsw coast.
Heres a post by olivia bourke about the best places in nsw to visit if youd like to spot whales. The much anticipated 2016 whale watching season commences in may 15th, just short of two weeks from today. Whale watching australia 2017 sydney, gold coast, hervey. Destination nsw has come up with a list of the ten best lookouts, foreshores and national parks where you can engage with a whale. Whale app app wild about whales nsw national parks. The humpback whale migration passing sydney takes place between april and december each year. Welcome to one of the longest whale watching seasons in the world. Whale watching season whale watching iceland tours. But whale watching season differs throughout the country and so do the kinds of whales youll see. Just 25km south of the cbd and only 20 minutes from sydney airport, the shire as the area is affectionately known, delivers all the best sydney has to offer. Oct 01, 2015 the whale watching season in sydney is quite long maynovember, but it is not always very busy here is a chart with weekly humpback whale sightings in sydney between 2010 and 2012. Whale watching from land, south coast nsw eurobodalla.
Why not see one of natures great ocean migrations for yourself. From may to november, visitors can often spot a variety of different whale species including humpbacks, southern rights, minkes and pilots. With a range of whale watching trips to choose from, which area is best is a matter of opinion. From eden in the south to byron in the north each location is witness to the majesty of the humpback whale migration. Jervis bay geographically sits right in the middle of the whale migration path and as such, our region is lucky to experience a lengthy whale watching season each year.
During whalewatching season, youll see these majestic mammals from many headlands in sydney and at destinations from byron bay in the north to eden in the south. Weve been walking sydneys coastline for years, so here are our tips on how to take advantage of nature to get the best out of your. Jun 15, 2017 whale watching season is about to kickoff on the central coast. Known as the humpback highway, humpback and southern right whales are the most commonly sighted, but you may also spot orcas, blue whales, minke whales and sperm whales. Select a region to find the perfect whale watching spot for you. Moonee beach and the nearby look at me now headland walk are standout whale watching spots. These majestic creatures of the blue make their yearly migration from june to november gracing us with their presence while they jump, splash and spray about the ocean. The whale watching season in sydney is between may and november each year but some times are better than others to increase your chances of seeing whales. You can also stretch out your sea legs with a whale watching tour from coffs harbour. Best time for whale watching in australia about australia. The wild about whales website and app lists all the best viewing locations. Whale watching season in banderas bay and the pacific ocean near puerto vallarta officially begins december 8 th and runs through the winter until march 23 rd. Whale watching season is upon us, and the new south wales coast is one of the best spots in the world to catch these majestic creatures in action.
The warmest times to go will be during the beginning and end of the season, as theyre not in the deepest part of winter, but a sunny day in winter. Not far from the historic whaling town of eden, this lighthouse at the tip of green cape is probably the best whalewatching point in nsw. Northern migration whale watch from sydney whalefree. Whale watching season sydney best time for whale watching.
Our winter whale season has finally arrived, and we are so excited to share even more of these absolutely magical experiences with you. National parks make up almost 50% of the nsw coastline and provide some of the best vantage points to spot whales on their annual migration. Nsws coastal national parks during the annual whale migration season from may to november. Whale watching in sydney more than 45 species of whales, dolphins and porpoises can be found in waters surrounding australia. Whale watching in sydney official sydney tourism website. Whale watching season starts in nsw abc news australian. The season is split into two distinct sections depending on the direction of travel of the majority of whales at that time. I understand there are reasons but it was still massively underwhelming. This brisbane whale season, try tangalooma resort whale watching.
Each whale swims past the sydney coast over a 6 hour period, so they may pass us in the night time when no one is watching. Matthew bendt theyre amazing animals and you dont always get the chance to see them like. It is not the most tourist season in sydney, but you should try whale watching if you are visiting the city during this period. From whale beach to bondi, there are plenty of chances to see these grand monarchs of the deep. Whale watching season off the popular gold coast region begins around the end of may until october. Available for android and ios, download the wild about whales app and log. Each year, we pause to celebrate the launch of australias whale watching season, and this year were kicking things up a notch with indepth whale watching guides, great deals on whale watching tours and cruises, and a handful of awesome giveaways that could see you and the family heading out to see the whales with some of the countrys top.
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