Whale Spotting: Where to See the Annual Migration

In winter, we can see humpbacks and Southern Right whales in Flinders Bay, Augusta. The humpbacks are beginning their long journey north, meanwhile, Southern Right whales live in the cooler waters and take a shorter journey each season.

They migrate between Antarctica and the south coast of Australia, usually spending winter between Augusta and Esperance in Western Australia, before heading south in spring.

Whale watching boat tours operate from Augusta Harbour in June, July and August. It’s about a 30-minute drive south of Margaret River. Four operators offer twice daily tours, generally departing around 10am and 2pm.

The whales leave the feeding and breeding grounds of the Southern Ocean near Antarctica in winter, and travel north to the warm waters of the Kimberley region where they give birth to live young.

They suckle their calves, in the protected waters of Camden Sound Marine Park, the “maternity ward” for around 35,000 humpback whales. Calves are nurtured in the tropical waters while they build up strength for the 3000km+ journey back to the Antarctic.

Then in spring we see humpback whales in Geographe Bay and along the Cape to Cape coast. By this stage the whales have had their young, and as they are often travelling with a calf on the southern migration they tend to stay much closer to the shore than they do when heading north.

The whales follow the continental shelf, hugging the coast as they travel south through the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, playfully breaching, diving and showing off their water-skills. They often come so close to shore that you can see them with binoculars or the naked eye from several lookout points.

The southerly ocean current hugs the coast, so they tend to do a clockwise tour of Geographe Bay, passing Bunbury, Busselton, Dunsborough and Cape Naturaliste.

Whale watching tours of Geographe Bay depart Dunsborough and Busselton from the beginning of September to mid December.

Hear the male humpback whales’ songs in the BBC video below.

• All Sea Charters Whale Watching & Deep Sea Fishing
• Legend Charters
• Naturaliste Charters
• Whale Watch Western Australia 

• Cape Leeuwin & Flinders Bay, Augusta – Numerous vantage points are along Leeuwin Road and enjoy fantastic views from the top of the lighthouse.
• Hamelin Bay – 18km north of Augusta, south of the boat ramp, follow the boardwalk up to the limestone headland.
• Gnarabup – If you are lucky see them leaping whilst sipping a coffee at White Elephant Café or venture up the dunes behind Grunters for a higher viewpoint.

• Cape Naturaliste Lookout Platform and Lighthouse – Take the walk trail to the whale watching lookout, it’s 1.3km return from the lighthouse car park.
• Point Picquet – A fantastic rocky point above deep water where rare blue whales have been known to swim past very close. It’s where the local conservation group does its whale monitoring.
• Shelley Cove, Bunker Bay – Walk from the car park to the viewing platform above the limestone cliffs.
• Yallingup, Rabbits Lookout – Continue past Dawson Drive into the National Park for an elevated lookout spot.
• Canal Rocks Rotary Lookout – 4km south of Yallingup, take the 400m walk from the car park.