Right along the beautiful nsw coast, theres plenty of top spots to explore. Find where the whales are, submit your own sightings and share your coastal adventure with our social gallery. From tweed to eden, the nsw coast provides perfect vantage points to. Whether you are a local or a visitor, whale watching in sydney on the iconic sydney harbour and surrounding coastline is a magical experience. Whale watching in sydney highlights from destination nsw on vimeo. Whale watching sydney 2020 all you need to know before you. Whale watching season officially over with large numbers spotted along.
Some people are lucky to see very rare brydes whales, killer whales or else known as orcas, also false killer whales, minke whales. About whales your sydney whale watching guide captain. Whale watching cruises in sydney go whale watching. We promote responsible and respectful whale watching whale season is go whale watching sydney s favourite time of the year. Tuesday june 1 was the official start to the nsw whale watching season and the first ones spotted where 2. Your tour will be relaxed, friendly and informative. Japan slaughters more than 120 pregnant whales for research. From circular quay this openwater cruise will take you through the entrance of sydney harbour and into the open pacific in search of whales. Australians have seven days to download coronavirus app ahead of key. Manly whale watching has been part of the sydney whale watching industry for over 10 years, providing tours and great service for all of sydney, manly and the northern beaches. Whales stop to feed in the calm, nutrientrich waters of twofold bay and its one of the best places to see killer whales. Download wild about whales and enjoy it on your iphone, ipad and ipod touch. Best time for whale watching in australia about australia. Whales migrate in their thousands along the nsw coast, which stretches more than 2,000 km.
Whales often cruise close to shore, so they are easy to spot, and have even been known to pop up inside sydney harbour. Sydney s whale watching season typically runs from may into december, when thousands of whales migrate through the area. Each year, from may to november, more than 30,000 whales make their way along the humpback highway, a migration route from antarctica to the pacific that runs along the coast of nsw. All whales are warmblooded mammals and migrate to tropical waters to mate, usually around hervey bay off the queensland coast, where whale watching tours also operate. But whale watching season differs throughout the country and so do the kinds of whales youll see.
At about 6am three pilot whales and a pod of dolphins started playing within metres of us. It is not the most tourist season in sydney, but you should try whale watching if you are visiting the city during this period. Weve been walking sydney s coastline for years, so here are our tips on how to take advantage of nature to get the best out of your whale. Even there were several whales swimming close to the ferry. Has anyone been on the cruise before any interesting tipscomments to share ill be going with 3 kids in tow. Interested in the latest whale sightings off the nsw coast. Whale watching sydney 2020 all you need to know before. For more info about whales in sydney download the about whales whale watching guide. Once a major whaling town, eden is now a whale watching hub. See magnificent humpback and southern right whales at play on a sydney whalewatching cruise. 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. Whale watching in sydney australia contented traveller. Whale watching is a popular activity in sydney, so to receive the best rates on a whalespotting cruise try looking on the outskirts of the season, meaning early april and late november.
You should also be aware that during the mating season, males competing for females. They use the inshore northern current a north flowing counter current to the eeast australian current to get to. It has been provided free of charge for you to get out and enjoy nsws coastal national parks during the annual whale migration season from may to november. Choose from a whale watching cruise, sydney new years eve or boxing day cruise. South coast whale watching 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. Best custom built, fast and spacious vessels to give you the best day possible out at sea. The best time for whale watching in this region, however, is between july and september. The best whale watching in sydney where you are more likely to spot whales from the shore is during winter when as many as 20,000 of them migrate along the new south wales coastline. Thousands of whales will pass sydney may to november 2020. Whale watching sydney offers daily whale watching cruises from mid may to the end of november departing from darling harbour and circular quay. Mar 24, 2020 best time to see whales in sydney, weatherwise. We are passionate about whales and enjoy sharing this with our passengers.
There is a 30k coast walk, skirting the parks eastern edge along the towering sandstone cliffs. We received a voucher for a return visit in the 2016 season all 3 weeks thats left, but the voucher is nontransferable despite the lady at the kiosk on the wharf saying it would be fine to transfer it to friends who live here in sydney. North head in sydney harbour national park, which also has free parking. So were going to see more humpback whales passing sydney harbour this year, more humpback whales passing the whole east coast of.
Whale watching in nsw nsw environment, energy and science. Whale watching wild about whales nsw national parks. This app is the official whale watching guide to new south wales developed by the nsw national parks and wildlife service. Whale watching in australia has grown tremendously over the last decade. Humpback whales have been spotted off the coast of port macquarie in recent weeks. Humpback whales are the most watched species for us with about 20. New south wales national parks and wildlife took an active role in 2010 during the peak southern whale watching season between may and november with the launch of its whale watching site. Download the wild about whales app so you can follow the whales progress during the migration, and report any you see.
Get the latest sightings, learn whale facts and plan your next coastal adventure. But before you begin your adventure be sure to check out our tips and guidelines for the ultimate whale watching experience and discover more about the species of whale, dolphins and porpoises found in australian waters. The long whale season in australia between may and november no doubt contributes to its growing popularity. Whales have been entering the beautiful headlands of sydney harbour since long before sydney became the bustling city it is today. You can also spot minke whales, orcas, pilot whales, and southern right whales, as well as common and bottlenose dolphins around sydney, and if youre visiting later in the season you might even see some whale calves swimming and playing alongside their.
Latest news and comment on the australian state of new south wales 30 april 2020 coronavirus australia news. Wild about whales is a celebration of whales along the nsw coastline. Cape solander is undoubtedly one of sydneys best whale watching spots. Humpbacks and southern right whales are the most commonly seen whales along australias coastline, but some other cetaceans marine mammals that you may see include. Warriewood, whale beach and mona vale headlands all offer fantastic birds eye views over nearby safe harbours where the whales regularly call in to rest. About whales whale watching season info whale watching. The migrating population is named the group 5 southern hemisphere humpback whale population or the australian east coast humpbacks. Whale watching is the practice of observing whales and dolphins in their natural habitat. Whale watching sydney offers daily cruises from darling harbour and circular quay to watch humpback whales. Whale watching is a popular pastime in sydney in the winter and spring. Join go whale watching sydney from may to november.
Whale watching sydney runs cruises from may to december and youre almost guaranteed to see a whale. Dec 10, 2019 while we had a nice cruise through sydney harbor and on the open ocean, we didnt see any whales on our trip. If youre lucky you wont even need to look far whales have been known to swim as close as 200m from the coast. A pod of whales launch the watching season in sydney. From headlands, whales may often be seen making their migration south. Royal national park is an hours drive from the cbd. Tips for whale watching season sydney 2018 edit duration.
Summer and fall are the best times to go whale watching in nova scotia. Sydney ferries services to darling harbour depart circular quay wharf 5 every half hour. Whale watching sydney has over 25 years of experience watching whales. The 2019 whale watching season operates approximately 18 may to 30 october. Video sydney whale watching with commentator vanessa back to whale watching about whales. Once a major whaling town, eden is now a whalewatching hub. They then return south in warmer currents around october the other bookend to sydney s whale watching season.
May 30, 2019 there are two distinct whale watching seasons in sydney. The whale species you are most likely to see along the coastline of new south whales are the. The wild about whales website and app lists all the best viewing locations. On the oregon coast, several whale species, especially gray whales, may be seen yearround, and the state trains volunteers to assist tourists in the winter months, during whale migration season. Your breath will be taken away when a whale breaches the oceans surface, lunges out of the waves, and reenters with a loud smack and plume of water.
Nsw whale watching season wild about whales nsw national. Whale watching season officially over with large numbers spotted. Forget boring old whale watching cruises, ocean extreme offers the most exciting and most personal whale watching experience in sydney. I didnt have any expectations about this, but what i did discover was that seeing whales in their own environment was incredibly unique. Being the fastest commercial vessel in sydney meant we got to the whales faster which helped with the whale watching hierarchy of first in best dressed and had incredible fun in between including racing alongside. There are a number of different migration and whale seasons. They are the main species of whale migrating past the coast of sydney from may to december. Whale season attracts humpback and dwarf minke whales between may and september to the warm waters of the great barrier reef. 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.
In sydney, the whale migration goes between may and november. 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. 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. Jun 28, 2015 multiple sightings of humpback whales in sydney, during their northern migration. The humpback whale migration passing sydney takes place between april and december each year. Jump on board this sydney speed boat for your encounter with the whales. Best fleet of purpose built, comfortable and fast whale. Jul 21, 2015 we were very pleased to have had the unique experience of whale watching in sydney australia. Departing circular quay, you will first be taken across the harbour to pick up more passengers from manly wharf. More than 120 pregnant whales were slaughtered in the latest japanese whale hunt in antarcticas southern ocean, new documents show. To give yourself the best chance of spotting whales is to go with an expert.
The ultimate guide to whale watching in sydneys waters. Between may and november, thousands of majestic humpback and southern right whales make their way along the coast in an incredible annual migration. Jul 09, 2018 324 got invited on a whale watching cruise in sydney by fantasea. Long reef on sydney s northern beaches has a viewing platform, and nearby is a swimming beach, barbeques and toilets. May 08, 2019 6 best whale watching places in sydney. Whale watching season starts in nsw abc news australian. Find yourself aboard a whale watching tour with lively commentary and local tales as you watch for any of the 12 species of whales that visit nova. Last season, a playful mother whale and calf were sighted from there stopping everyone in their drinking tracks. Whales in australian waters at least 45 species of whales, dolphins and porpoises can be found in australian waters. So were going to see more humpback whales passing sydney harbour this year, more humpback whales passing the whole east coast of australia, and thats an. Manly whale watching is able to book tours from a range of providers in order to. Whale watching in nsw every year, whales migrate along the nsw coastline.
Humpbacks on the move off nsw with 2019 migration season. 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. The season is split into two distinct sections depending on the direction of travel of the majority of whales at that time. Totally wild gets to where the whales are in just 20 minutes, quicker than other tours. In sydney you can see other kind of whales too, but are much rare then humpback whales or southern right whale.
However, i only saw whale once as we could only stand at the back of the ferry or inside the ferry and too many people on the ferry. Oct 01, 2015 in sydney you can see other kind of whales too, but are much rare then humpback whales or southern right whale. Aug 31, 2017 whale watching in sydney is one of most interesting attractions during winter season. I joined two companies for whale watching at sydney. Plan your next coastal adventure with australias first official whale watching guide to new south whales. Humpback whales are the most likely whales you will spot during the sydney whale watching season in 2018, however you may be among the lucky to spot orcas and. In california, good whalewatching can be found yearround on the southern california coast. There are two distinct whale watching seasons in sydney. In may humpback whales begin passing by sydney on their northern migration coming from antarctic waters in the south. Find the best whale watching locations, cruises, whale sightings and coastal. Available for android and ios, download the wild about whales app and log. Whale watching in sydney official sydney tourism website. You can go whale watching all winter and spring may november in sydney. We are lucky enough to witness one of the longest whale migrations in the world off the coast of sydney.
About whales download a copy of the whale watching guide. Whales love a harbour and sydney has one of the best. Success rate is 98% and all cruises are guaranteed to see whales. The openair viewing decks on board the catamaran offer unobstructed views and the best opportunities for spotting and watching the whales. Junejuly is the best time to see humpback whales as they migrate to warmer waters.
You most likely also will see pacific and bottlenose dolphins. Whale watching season sydney best time for whale watching. Best fleet of purpose built, comfortable and fast whale watching boats. Welcome to one of the longest whale watching seasons in the world. Both our 2hr adventure cruise and 3hr discovery cruise maximize whale watching time with a quick trip less than 15min from circular quay to the open ocean. Book online and use the promo code earlybird2020 to receive a 50% discount.
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 coast and. Leaving from darling harbour the totally wild whale watch is a thrilling 2 hour whale watching tour for those who enjoy a bit of adventure or for those with limited time to see the whales. The most commonly sighted whales are humpbackssome 20,000 of them traverse australias eastern coastline during their annual migration. Whale watching in sy dney is one of most interesting attractions during winter season. During whale watching 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.
The ultimate guide to whale watching in sydneys waters this. Learn about the areas rich history at the eden killer whale museum and dont miss the annual eden whale festival in november. Tips for whale watching season sydney 2018 edit youtube. Whale watching nsw whale watching season, activities. For more info about whales in sydney download the about whales whale. 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. Pm says if you want to go to the pub, you need to download the coronavirus app. Every year, whales migrate along the nsw coastline. 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. Whales only join up with the coast at about sydney, mr millar said. They offer daily cruises from darling harbour and circular quay from mid may to the end of november. Each day we record whale sightings which can be viewed online below, or view a selection of last season s reports here. An interesting time of the season with whales going both directions. Daily whale sightings cruise info and bookings whale watching.