Top five Sydney whale watching spots

22 May 2018

With a predicted 30,000 whales currently migrating along the NSW coastline, now is the perfect time for Sydneysiders to spot a glimpse of these gentle giants as they make their way past Australia's largest city.

Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) breaching, vulnerable species

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service is encouraging people to visit a coastal national park to catch all the action and experience whales enjoying their natural playground.

Over recent weeks, whales have already been spotted around Sydney and it is expected the majority will pass through the region during June and July, as they head north to breed, before making their return journey south to Antarctica, with calves in tow.

Humpbacks and southern right whales are the most commonly sighted whales along the NSW coastline, with minke whales and orcas also occasionally spotted.

Sydney and the surrounding coastline provides some of the best whale watching vantage points from lookouts, headlands and foreshores to spot the ocean's most majestic creatures on their annual migration.

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service recommends these top five whale watching spots in and around Sydney:

Cape Solander, in Kamay Botany Bay National Park just south of the city, is one of Sydney's best whale watching spots. June and July are the best times to see humpback and southern right 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. Cape Solander features a lookout with a viewing platform, perfect for whale watchers.
North Head, at Manly, provides views across Sydney Harbour National Park towards South Head and is one of the best spots for Sydney whale watching. The paved Fairfax walk is an easy, gentle track that loops around North Head, making it a fantastic whale watching walk, with sensational ocean views.
South Head, at Watson's Bay, offers no shortage of whale watching vantage points in this picturesque part of Sydney Harbour National Park. The Gap offers some of Sydney's finest ocean views for whale watching; or you can walk the easy South Head Heritage trail to the historic Hornby Lighthouse for panoramic ocean views.
Barrenjoey Headland, at Palm Beach on Sydney's northern beaches, sits at Sydney's most northerly point in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. A walk up one of the tracks to the historic Barrenjoey Lighthouse will reward you with spectacular ocean views and a great opportunity to spot migrating whales.
The Coast Track, in Royal National Park in Sydney's south, provides countless spots to whale watch from the sandstone cliffs, headlands and lookouts along the way. The 26km track, which runs from Bundeena to Otford, can be walked in sections to allow plenty of time to enjoy the panoramic ocean views.

Whale-watchers can download the free Wild About Whales app to get real-time notifications of sightings nearby, log their own sightings, find top vantage points and much more.

Visit Wild About Whales – 2018 NSW whale watching season for all your whale watching information this season.

Wild About Whales is an annual campaign run by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service during the NSW whale watching season each year.

Join the whale-loving community

Stay connected and get the latest whale sightings and information:

Website – for all your whale info, best vantage points, tips for whale watching and coastal accommodation.

Free Mobile App – download the Wild About Whales app from the Apple Store or Google Marketplace to see the latest whale sightings and record your own

Facebook – join the whale-loving community to stay updated and share photos and experiences.

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