Good spots for whale watching
Cape Solander
Want to go whale watching in Sydney? Cape Solander is undoubtedly one of Sydney's best whale watching spots.
June/July is the best time to see humpback whales as they migrate to warmer waters. If you’re lucky you won’t even need to look far – whales have been known to swim as close as 200m from the coast.
Named after botanist Daniel Solander, Cape Solander features a lookout with a viewing platform – the perfect vantage point – along with information on whales seen in Sydney waters. Friendly volunteers are there to provide information throughout the season.
If you plan on a coastal walk through the park, then Cape Solander is a good starting point. It’s also a great spot for birdwatching or simply gazing at the clear horizon.
During the whale watching season, Cape Solander is also the site of a long-running volunteer program, where enthusiasts have been counting whales for a couple of months each year for more than a decade.
Activities: whale watching, photography, sightseeing, birdwatching
Location:
shown on Kurnell map
Getting there: Upon entering Kamay Botany Bay National Park continue travelling along Cape Solander Drive towards the Kurnell section of the Park.
Road access: Sealed road - 2WD vehicles.
Facilities: lookout
Contact:
Kurnell (Kamay Botany Bay National Park), Phone: 02 9668 2000
Good tracks and trails for whale watchers
Cape Baily Coast Walk
- 8km
Walking (medium difficulty, 2 hours 30 minutes)
General information
This spectacular coastal walk is 4 kilometres each way, taking you around sand dunes, heathlands and hanging swamps. You'll see great clifftop views, spring wildflowers and Cape Baily Lighthouse. You may also be lucky enough to spot some of the area's diverse wildlife - including terns, kestrels and sea eagles. Between May and November you might even catch a glimpse of a migrating whale.
The walk starts at the end of Cape Solander Drive (or if you're feeling fit, you can add another 2 kilometres by setting out from the Visitor Centre and walking along the Yena Track first). Once you reach Cronulla Beach, you'll need to retrace your steps, or walk another 5 kilometres along the beach to Cronulla Station. The exposed coastline around Cape Baily offers no facilities or shelter from the elements, and is frequently windy. Check on the weather before you head out, and make sure you carry enough water and protective clothing.
Plant communities: heathlands, freshwater wetlands
Location:
shown on park map
Muru and Yena Tracks
- 2.5km
Walking (easy, 1 hour )
General information
These two tracks form a loop, taking you from the Visitor Centre out to the cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean and back again. You could also include a detour along the Banks-Solander Track, which branches off from the Yena Track. You'll see a wide variety of the plant species which make up Sydney's characteristic coastal scrub.
Plant communities: heathlands
Location:
shown on Kurnell map
