Whale watching in australia is a popular recreational pursuit and a tourist activity along various coasts. Whale sightings in sydney are common, as around 15,000 whales swim past sydney annually, making the whalespotting season an unusually long one. In july 2002, a whale and its calf swam deep into the harbour, going underneath the sydney harbour bridge, where an exclusion zone was set up by the nsw national parks and wildlife service. Anyone who has been whale watching in sydney during this annual migration cannot help but. Whale watching season off the popular gold coast region begins around the end of may until october. Whaling in australia took place from 1788 to 1978 and was once commercially successful. Surprise sighting of a mother and calf whale whilst on a. The long whale season in australia between may and november no doubt contributes to its growing popularity. Whale watching off sydney heads is an exhilarating adventure, an awe inspiring treat that you will remember forever. Japan continues to lobby the international whaling council to reintroduce commercial whaling. Merry christmas from everyone at whale watching sydney. Many of these coastal parks and reserves provide excellent viewing opportunities for whale watching. They are the main species of whale migrating past the coast of sydney from may to december. Whale watching season in sydney is incredible, and its something you need to see for yourself.
Download the wild about whales app so you can follow the whales progress during the migration, and report any you see. The migration will continue into early july, and the whales will return south between september and november. North head in sydney harbour national park, which also has free parking. A variety of species of whale can be found in the waters around australias coast and during whale watching season there are plenty of opportunities to see these majestic marine mammals up close. About whales your sydney whale watching guide captain. 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. Whales migrate in their thousands along the nsw coast, which stretches more than 2,000 km. We miss some at the start of the season and some at the end but theres a 99 percent success rate in the middle of the season, says richard ford, the owner of whale watching sydney, who brought the tours to sydney a decade ago.
You can go whale watching all winter and spring may november in sydney. 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. Whale watching season has commenced and from now until december thousands of humpback whales will pass the coastal shores of sydney in the biggest mass migration in the world. Learn about the areas rich history at the eden killer whale museum and dont miss the annual eden whale festival in november. Once a major whaling town, eden is now a whalewatching hub. Sidney whale watching all you need to know before you go. If no whales are sighted during the last few weeks of the whale watching season a voucher will be issued for the following whale watching season. Whaletrips australia the best tips for whale watching.
Weeks days 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. Get the latest sightings, learn whale facts and plan your next coastal adventure. Frequently asked questions go whale watching sydney. This allowed onlookers to photograph and watch the whales, whilst allowing them to swim where they liked and be left relatively undisturbed. Whale watching is mostly a recreational activity cf. Wild about whales is a celebration of whales along the nsw coastline. Best custom built, fast and spacious vessels to give you the best day possible out at sea. On this whale watching cruise youll spend around two hours and 45 minutes out on the water, enjoying an unbeatable view of sydneys iconic landmarks and the migrating humpback whales. The season is split into two distinct sections depending on the direction of travel of the majority of whales at that time. Whale watching is even possible at the great barrier reef, where you will mostly find minke whales but no humpbacks. Sydney skip latest whale sightings view latest whale. Whale watching cruise departs darling harbour, sydney. Whale watching in sydney official sydney tourism website. 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.
In some cases, on your whale watching sydney experience, they will come up so close to ocean extreme that you will be able to touch them. The whale watching sydney season 2018 and the humpback whale migration passing sydney takes place between april and december each year. Whale watching is the practice of observing whales and dolphins in their natural habitat. Monthly whale sightings in sydney 20102012 it is clear visible two peeks in the season. Humpback and southern right whales migrate north to warmer waters each year. Read this if you want to know what is the best time of year for whale watching in sydney and what time of the day is better for whale watching. On the way back in the captain spotted a solo whale. As a little christmas present you can book your whale watching cruise for next season already and. 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. The reasons for orange countys lively whale scene are varied, and not always fully understood, says jessica roame, marine education. Whale watching sydney 2020 all you need to know before. Whale watching australia 2017 sydney, gold coast, hervey. A study prepared for international fund for animal welfare in 2009 estimated that million people went whale watching globally in 2008. Sydney ferries services to darling harbour depart circular quay wharf 5 every half hour.
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. 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. Whale watching season sydney best time for whale watching. Each and every one of our team members loves what we do, and therefore. But whale watching season differs throughout the country and so do the kinds of whales youll see. In june and july these majestic marine mammals migrate north for breeding. Take the plunge and explore our parks, go whale watching and discover what there is to see and do. During the first, humpback whales are heading north towards warmer waters to mate and. Humpback whale sightings have continued to increase over the last decade. Whale watching nsw whale watching season, activities. Whales often cruise close to shore, so they are easy to spot, and have even been known to pop up inside sydney harbour. Join us during whale watching season as we marvel at these incredible creatures frolicking and swimming in the tranquil waters of the pacific ocean.
We get to see southern right whales around 45 times a season. The most common species are bottlenose dolphins and common pacific dolphins. The ultimate guide to whale watching in sydneys waters. Pricing valid for travel between may 2020 to november 2020 whale season. How to go whale watching in orange county orange county. The whale watching season in sydney is quite long maynovember. Great whale watching opportunities mixed with the added bonus of being in one of australias best holiday destinations. Select a region to find the perfect whale watching spot for you. Success rate is 98% and all cruises are guaranteed to see whales. Combine the sights of sydney harbour with an open water cruise through the entrance of sydney harbour to find the gentle giants of the sea. Surprise sighting of a mother and calf whale whilst on a fishing trip off the coast of sydney.
Sydney s best whale watching cruises with more than 25 years of experience. There are two distinct whale watching seasons in sydney. 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. From end of september until december they are going back south to the antarctic feeding ground for the southern hemisphere summer. The distance from the coast of the whales is believed to be. Im planning a trip to sydney and melbourne in december. The migrating population is named the group 5 southern hemisphere humpback whale population or the australian east coast humpbacks. It is not the most tourist season in sydney, but you should try whale watching if you are visiting the city during this period.
Whale watching, wildlife tours and sea kayaking tours located in the beautiful seaside town of sidney, british columbia on vancouver island. The first day of winter today marks the official start of the whale watching season around sydney and the new south wales east coast. 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. Whale watching passengers must meet minimum age of 12 years and minimum height requirement of cm. Sidney whale watching is a family owned and operated company that has been serving sidney and the saanich peninsula for over 20 years. The humpback whale migration passing sydney takes place between april and december each year. The warmest times to go will be during the beginning and end of the season, as theyre not in the deepest part of. If for some reason you dont get to see whales on this whale watching sydney tour, you will be issued with a standby ticket for another whale watching tour. Sydneys whalewatching season typically runs from may into december, when thousands of whales migrate through the area.
With over 70% of all tours starting here, the eastern coast with queensland and new south wales is australias most important region for whale watching. Whale watching season starts in nsw abc news australian. In june july humpback whales migrating north for breeding in the waters of the coral sea. Best time for whale watching in sydney vi travel tips. Whales stop to feed in the calm, nutrientrich waters of twofold bay and its one of the best places to see killer whales. Best time for whale watching in australia about australia. At go whale watching by whale sighting we mean that we successfully approach one whale and view this whale at least three times.