Tens of thousands of humpback whales travel up and down Australia’s East Coast each autumn and spring. And if you know just where to be, there’s plenty of places to go whale watching in Sydney.
Whether you’re after a location that will have you surrounded by nature with bushwalking tracks aplenty or are hoping to drive up and park within a few metres of a viewing platform, you’re in luck. There’s a spot on this list for you.
Five of the best places to go whale watching in Sydney
Cape Solander
Where is it? Kamay Botany Bay National Park, Kurnell
Often hailed as one of Sydney’s best places to see whales, Cape Solander has a whale watching platform where you can best catch all the action. Humpbacks swim by the coast here, sometimes just a few hundred metres from shore.
The walking track from Cape Solander to Cape Baily Lighthouse is lovely, too. And if you come in the second part of whale watching season, you’ll also be treated to an abundance of soft flannel flowers that bloom all along the path.
If you’re not planning on walking, driving right to Cape Solander and watching the waves is still well worth it. You’ll want to bring layers though. Being a rather exposed spot, It does tend to be a bit windy and chilly at this spot, but there’s usually a coffee van selling hot beverages and snacks to keep you warm.
How to get there: Driving is the easiest way to get to Cape Solander, and there’s a decent amount of parking here. If you don’t have a car, you can take a bus to the entrance to Kamay Botany Bay National Park and follow bushwalking trails a few kilometres to the cape.
✅ We’ve been here, and we love it! It’s a year-round walking track favourite of ours and we’ve had great luck spotting whales during the migration season here.
Wattamolla
Where is it? Royal National Park
When most people think of Wattamolla, they may think of the stunning beach or the scenic section of Royal National Park’s Coast Track. But, it’s also a fantastic place to spot whales.
Much of the 4.5km track (one way) from Wattamolla to the Eagle Rock viewpoint hugs the coastline and is up on the cliffs, offering panoramic views of the Pacific. On a clear day, you can see right down to Wollongong from here and you’ll likely spot many whale blows along the surface and even a breach or two, if you’re lucky.
How to get there: Driving is the only option to get to Wattamolla. There used to be a shuttle bus service in the park, but it’s not currently operating.
✅ We’ve been here, and we love it! While it’s pretty chilly during peak whale watching season, if you’re visiting at the beginning or end (or you’re just braver than us), we’d highly recommend going for a dip at Wattamolla Beach after.
On a whale watching cruise in Sydney
Alright, we know this one’s an obvious one, but it’s well worth it! After spotting whales along bush walks for years, we decided to treat ourselves to one last year and thought it was a great experience.
We went with Go Whale Watching, but there are plenty of similar services out there. Most are around the same price with journeys that are about the same length. What we loved about Go Whale Watching though, was that it offered a whale-spotting guarantee. If we didn’t see a whale, we would have been able to go again, completely free! But, luckily we didn’t need to take them up on that.
How to get there: Go Whale Watching’s cruises depart from Darling Harbour, which you can access by bus or train. Other companies have tours that depart from Circular Quay too, if that location works better for you.
✅ We’ve done this.
Barrenjoey Lighthouse
Where is it? At the northern end of Palm Beach
Perfect for day trips that feel like they’re out of Sydney but aren’t really, the tip of the Northern Beaches is well worth the windy roads to get here. Perched atop a hill at the northern end of Palm Beach, Barrenjoey Lighthouse sits at 91 metres above sea level and offers sweeping views of the ocean, Pittwater and the beach below.
How to get there: Drive to Palm Beach or take a bus. From here, you’ll need to walk up (and it’s a bit steep, sorry!) to the lighthouse. It’s about 1km each way.
🔜 We’ve been here, but not during whale watching season.
North Head
Where is it? Manly
Another spot that’s great for those north of the bridge, or has the potential for adventure if you’re not is Manly’s North Head. Here, you can watch the whale migration as they pass the coastline between North and South Head.
You can easily make a whole day at this spot There’s plenty of walking tracks on the headland, but the best ones to stroll along for a chance to see whales will be ones along the east side of the area, which face the open ocean rather than the harbour. Some of the lookouts along the way include Yiningma Lookout, Fairfax Lookout and Shelly Headland Upper Lookout.
How to get there: You can drive to North Head, which has a few roads with small parking areas. There’s also a bus loop (route 161) that starts at Manly Wharf with a few stops along the way. If you’re coming from the city, taking the ferry to Manly is always a treat and meets up nicely with the bus loop.
🔜 We’ve been here, but not during whale watching season
Best time of the year to go whale watching in Sydney (and actually see whales)
While the migration season lasts from May to November, June and July are the best times to spot whales from shore in Sydney. Travelling north at this time, they tend to stay closer to the shore.
If you’re on the hunt for these incredible mammals during the end of the season in October and November, you’re best to go on a whale watching cruise. On the trip back down south, they’re usually further out to sea and are harder to see when closer to the shore.
While the entire migration season lasts from May to November, they do travel all the way from the cool, Antarctic waters up to the warm seas along the Queensland coast. So, whales are best seen in Sydney at the beginning and end of the migration.
Do whales come into Sydney Harbour?
While they can and occasionally do, they’re more likely to come into the mouth of the harbour between North and South Head. There have been stories of Sydney ferries hitting whales unfortunately, but it’s quite rare.
Can you see whales at Bondi Beach, or other Sydney beaches?
Whales may pass by the beaches along Sydney’s coast (including Bondi, Coogee and Manly) close enough to be seen in autumn, when they’re heading north. But, it’s probably hard to see them from the sands due to swells.
For the best chance of seeing them from the shore, try and find some higher ground here. Along the headland walk toward Bronte or at North Bondi would be your best bet. Similarly, as we recommended above, spots like North Head in Manly are high enough to offer a better view of the water.
Is whale watching ethical?
As long as you go with a reputable provider, the companies should keep a safe distance from the animals. By law, boats need to stay at least 100 metres away from whales. If the whale swims closer to the boat, generally the boats will stay in place until the whales swim away to avoid harming them in any way.
When we joined a tour with Go Whale Watching, we felt they kept a safe distance from the animals and didn’t move until they had safely swim away.
