Whales can be sighted from land or boat. Any headland in NSW with an unobstructed ocean view can provide a good vantage point. Take some good binoculars. Look along the horizon for blows.
When you can see whales in NSW
Whales can be seen off the NSW coast during their migrations:
- between May and July, heading north and
- from September to November, on their way back to the Antarctic.
Wild about Whales
Wild about Whales offers information about current sightings and cruises.
Find the top whale watching spots along the NSW coast.
Mobile app: Download the app for iPhone or Android
Twitter: @WildAboutWhales
Facebook: Wild About Whales on Facebook
Volunteer to help whale research
If you would like to help whale research, you can participate in NPWS' annual whale count in Kamay Botany Bay National Park.
Land-viewing locations
In the Sydney area
- Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park (Barrenjoey Headland)
- Sydney Harbour National Park (North Head and South Head)
- Botany Bay National Park (Cape Solander and Cape Banks)
Along the NSW coast
- Cape Byron, Byron Bay
- Mutton Bird Island Nature Reserve, off Coffs Harbour
- Crackneck Lookout (Wyrrabalong National Park) near Bateau Bay
- Jervis Bay headlands
- Green Cape (Ben Boyd National Park) near Eden.
About whales
Humpback and southern right whales migrate annually along the NSW coast. The best months to see them are June to July (when they are heading north) and September to November (heading south).
Other species that may be seen in NSW are:
- minke whale
- blue whale
- sei whale
- fin whale
- false killer whale
- orca (killer whale)
- sperm whale
- pygmy right whale
- pygmy sperm whale
- Brydes whale.