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Top whale watching spots

Find the perfect whale watching spot in a NSW national park or reserve near you.

Read more about Top whale watching spots

You can see whales during their annual migration from May to November every year, and many coastal national parks and reserves in NSW offer a huge range of viewing opportunities. From lookouts and picnic areas, to beaches and walking tracks, explore our parks, go whale watching and discover what there is to see and do.

Byron and Tweed

Spot whales from the spectacular beaches and headlands of the Byron and Tweed coast.

  1. North Head walking track in Brunswick Heads Nature Reserve
  2. Cape Byron Lighthouse in Cape Byron State Conservation Area
  3. Broken Head picnic area in Broken Head Nature Reserve
  4. Cape Byron Information Centre in Cape Byron State Conservation Area
  5. Three Sisters walking track (Broken Head) in Broken Head Nature Reserve
  6. Tallow Beach in Arakwal National Park
  7. Palm Valley in Cape Byron State Conservation Area
  8. Iluka Bluff lookout in Bundjalung National Park
  9. Captain Cook lookout and picnic area in Cape Byron State Conservation Area
  10. Broadwater Beach picnic area in Broadwater National Park

Coffs Harbour

Discover pristine beaches, unbeatable surf and great opportunities to see whales from land and sea around the beautiful Coffs Coast.

  1. Yuraygir coastal walk in Yuraygir National Park
  2. Angophora grove walking track in Yuraygir National Park
  3. Solitary Islands coastal walk in Coffs Coast Regional Park
  4. Freshwater track in Yuraygir National Park
  5. Eastern Side lookout in Muttonbird Island Nature Reserve
  6. Dammerels history walk in Moonee Beach Nature Reserve
  7. Arrawarra Headland in Coffs Coast Regional Park
  8. Angourie walking track in Yuraygir National Park
  9. Angourie Bay picnic area in Yuraygir National Park
  10. Woolgoolga Beach and Headland in Coffs Coast Regional Park
  11. Wilsons Headland walking track in Yuraygir National Park
  12. Wilsons Headland picnic area in Yuraygir National Park
  13. Rocky Point walking track in Yuraygir National Park
  14. Look At Me Now Headland walk in Moonee Beach Nature Reserve
  15. Angourie to Brooms Head in Yuraygir National Park

Port Macquarie and Forster

Head out for a paddle or venture along a rainforest boardwalk—you just might spot a whale.

  1. Front Beach in Arakoon National Park
  2. Port Macquarie coastal walk in Sea Acres National Park
  3. Little Bay to Smoky Cape in Hat Head National Park
  4. Korogoro walking track in Hat Head National Park
  5. Charles Hamey lookout in Kattang Nature Reserve
  6. Smoky Cape picnic area in Hat Head National Park
  7. Cape Hawke lookout in Booti Booti National Park
  8. Wallabi Beach in Saltwater National Park
  9. Smoky Cape Lighthouse in Hat Head National Park
  10. Rainforest walking track in Hat Head National Park
  11. Perpendicular Point walking track in Kattang Nature Reserve
  12. Mermaid lookout track in Crowdy Bay National Park
  13. Little Bay picnic area in Arakoon National Park
  14. Kinchela Trig lookout walk in Hat Head National Park
  15. Jack Perkins walking track in Hat Head National Park
  16. Headland walking track in Saltwater National Park
  17. Green Island walking track in Hat Head National Park
  18. Geebung picnic area in Crowdy Bay National Park
  19. Diamond Head Loop walk in Crowdy Bay National Park
  20. Connors walking track in Hat Head National Park
  21. Abbey Creek picnic area in Crowdy Bay National Park

Port Stephens and Newcastle

Just two hours north of Sydney, in Port Stephens and the Newcastle region, are great places to start your whale watching adventure. 

  1. Tomaree Head Summit walk in Tomaree National Park
  2. Coastal walking track in Wallarah National Park
  3. Fort Tomaree walk in Tomaree National Park
  4. Hole in the Wall picnic area in Myall Lakes National Park
  5. Wreck Beach walk in Tomaree National Park
  6. World War II gun emplacements in Tomaree National Park
  7. Tea Tree picnic area and lookout in Munmorah State Conservation Area
  8. Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse in Myall Lakes National Park
  9. Point Stephens Lighthouse and Fingal Island in Tomaree National Park
  10. Fishermans Bay foreshore in Tomaree National Park
  11. Elizabeth Beach picnic area in Booti Booti National Park

Sydney and surrounds

Sydney and the surrounding coastline offer many great vantage points for whale watching and an incredible opportunity to see whales migrating past Australia’s largest city.

  1. Cape Solander in Kamay Botany Bay National Park
  2. Fairfax walk in Sydney Harbour National Park
  3. North Head in Sydney Harbour National Park
  4. The Coast walking track in Wyrrabalong National Park
  5. The Coast track in Royal National Park
  6. South Head Heritage trail in Sydney Harbour National Park
  7. South Head in Sydney Harbour National Park
  8. Pelican Beach Road lookout in Wyrrabalong National Park
  9. Mount Bouddi walking track in Bouddi National Park
  10. Maitland Bay track in Bouddi National Park
  11. Hornby Lighthouse in Sydney Harbour National Park
  12. Grotto Point Aboriginal engraving site in Sydney Harbour National Park
  13. Governor Game lookout in Royal National Park
  14. Gerrin Point lookout in Bouddi National Park
  15. Curra Moors loop track in Royal National Park
  16. Crackneck lookout in Wyrrabalong National Park
  17. Bouddi coastal walk in Bouddi National Park
  18. Bateau Bay Beach picnic area in Wyrrabalong National Park
  19. Barrenjoey Lighthouse in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
  20. Arabanoo lookout at Dobroyd Head in Sydney Harbour National Park

Jervis Bay and Shoalhaven

Immerse yourself in the stunning beauty, powdery white sands and marine life haven of Jervis Bay and the Shoalhaven region.

  1. Seven Mile Beach in Seven Mile Beach National Park
  2. White Sands walk and Scribbly Gum track in Jervis Bay National Park
  3. Greenfield Beach picnic area in Jervis Bay National Park
  4. Bull Hole lookout in Jervis Bay National Park
  5. Hammerhead Point picnic area in Jervis Bay National Park

Batemans Bay

Batemans Bay and the Eurobodalla coast is home to several large stretches of pristine coastal wilderness from Ulladulla to Narooma, while offshore a huge number of whales make an appearance here on their annual migration.

  1. Stokes Island picnic area in Meroo National Park
  2. Snapper Point lookout in Murramarang National Park
  3. Pretty Beach to Snapper Point walking track in Murramarang National Park
  4. Pretty Beach to Snake Bay walking track in Murramarang National Park
  5. Pretty Beach to Durras Mountain walking track in Murramarang National Park
  6. Pretty Beach in Murramarang National Park
  7. Pot Holes walking track in Meroo National Park
  8. Nuggan Point walking track in Meroo National Park
  9. North Head lookout in Murramarang National Park
  10. Mystery Bay lookout in Eurobodalla National Park
  11. Myrtle Beach walking track in Murramarang National Park
  12. Moruya Heads lookout in Eurobodalla National Park
  13. Montague Island walking track in Montague Island Nature Reserve
  14. Montague Island Lighthouse in Montague Island Nature Reserve
  15. Meroo Head lookout walking track in Meroo National Park
  16. Conjola Beach picnic area in Narrawallee Creek Nature Reserve
  17. Burrawang track - Conjola Beach to Buckleys Point in Narrawallee Creek Nature Reserve
  18. Bingi Dreaming track in Eurobodalla National Park

Eden and surrounds

Just a short drive from Eden, Merimbula and Bega, an unforgettable whale watching experience awaits you on the Sapphire Coast. Grand coastal vistas alongside fascinating Aboriginal and whaling heritage sets the scene for fantastic opportunities to see whales as they migrate along the NSW coast.

  1. Wajurda Point walking track in Mimosa Rocks National Park
  2. Wajurda Point lookout in Mimosa Rocks National Park
  3. Green Cape lookout in Ben Boyd National Park
  4. Boyds Tower walking track in Ben Boyd National Park
  5. Terrace Beach and Lennards Island in Ben Boyd National Park
  6. Saltwater Creek to Bittangabee Bay walking track in Ben Boyd National Park
  7. Pinnacles loop walking track in Ben Boyd National Park
  8. Nadgee wilderness walk in Nadgee Nature Reserve
  9. Middle Lagoon walking track in Mimosa Rocks National Park
  10. Light to Light walk in Ben Boyd National Park
  11. Kangarutha walking track in Bournda National Park
  12. Haycock Point to Barmouth Beach walking track in Ben Boyd National Park
  13. Greenglade picnic area in Nadgee Nature Reserve
  14. Disaster Bay lookout in Ben Boyd National Park
  15. Boyds Tower to Saltwater Creek walking track in Ben Boyd National Park
  16. Bittangabee Bay to Green Cape walking track in Ben Boyd National Park
  17. Bittangabee Bay in Ben Boyd National Park
  18. Barmouth Beach in Ben Boyd National Park

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