Commercial whale watching tours run daily through the humpback seasons and can be boarded at darling harbour, circular quay and other wharfs around sydney harbour. Whale watching sydney harbour cruises captain cook cruises. Get the latest sightings, learn whale facts and plan your next coastal adventure. Download wild about whales and enjoy it on your iphone, ipad and. Relax while you see the sights of sydney from the water as you cruise around sydney harbour and dine on a bbq buffet lunch or breakfast satsun only served on board. It is extraordinary to think that right in the heart of australias largest city you can have a unique whale watching experience. Department of biology, hampdensydney college, united states insight mar. All along australias coastline are fantastic spots to see whales. Sydney s whalewatching season typically runs from may into december, when thousands of whales migrate through the area. You can go whale watching all winter and spring may november in sydney.
You can also spot minke whales, orcas, pilot whales, and southern right whales, as well as common and bottlenose dolphins around sydney, and if youre visiting later in the season you might even see some whale calves swimming and playing alongside their. Whale watching sydney 2020 all you need to know before. Northern migration edit from april to mid august the humpbacks are heading north to give birth and mate in. The views over pittwater and the mouth of broken bay are breathtaking and 180degree ocean views as far as the eye can see give you a great chance to spot the whales spouts as they pass by. Being able to be this close to this wonderful animals was just stunning. All cruises depart on time, therefore we require you to arrive 20 minutes before departure, with your booking paperwork. Northern migration edit from april to mid august the humpbacks are heading north to give birth and mate in the waters of the coral sea. Whales 9news latest news and headlines from australia. Check out our pick of the best whale watching vantage points, tours and accommodation in nsw. Weve been walking sydneys coastline for years, so here are our tips on how to take advantage of nature to get the best out of your whale watching time. Sydney s best whale watching cruises with more than 25 years of experience.
The sea is not calm and bumpy in the end of the whale watching season. Best places for whale watching in sydney, australia webjet. The whale watching cruise is too much bumpy when sailing and maybe we are in the end of the whale watching season and the sea is not so calm but we still manage to see some whale. If youre looking for the cheapest time to go whale watching on a cruise, youre best to stick to the start and end of the season, meaning early april. Best fleet of purpose built, comfortable and fast whale watching boats. The wild about whales website and app lists all the best viewing locations. As we begin 2017, wed like to give you a sense of how our major whale populations are doing and what we are expecting in terms of whale watching in 2017. Whale watching season has commenced and from now until december thousands of humpback whales will pass the coastal shores of sydney in the biggest mass migration in the world. Nsw whale watching season wild about whales nsw national. During whalewatching season, youll see these majestic mammals from many headlands in sydney and at destinations from byron bay in the north to eden in the south more than 50 per cent of the planets species of cetaceans whales, dolphins and porpoises. The tour departs daily between june and november and the 2. Sydneys sunny fringing suburbs and many lookout points make it a prime spot for whale watching. Southern resident killer whales the southern resident killer whales srkw, a protected group of orcas, consisting of a large extended family, or clan, comprised of three pods. With a choice of nine whale watching cruises from reputed sydney operators, take your pick and get an exclusive opportunity to spot pods of whales right from humpbacks, southern right and more as they migrate to warmer climes, north of sydney.
Whale watching in sydney more than 45 species of whales, dolphins and porpoises can be found in waters surrounding australia. Keep your eyes peeled at the annual whale census nsw. One of the best things about winter and spring is that its whale. Whale watching in sydney official sydney tourism website.
Setting out from darling harbour, youll cruise past luna park, the harbour bridge, circular quay, sydney opera house, kirribilli house, fort denison. Whale watching cruise departs darling harbour, sydney. As a smaller company we have a strong focus upon customer service from the point of booking to the time we say goodbye after your cruise. Your cruise begins on beautiful sydney harbour, departing either darling harbour or circular quay. A photographer captured the astonishing moment a pair of humpbacks breached in perfect unison off sydney. A photographer captured the astonishing moment a pair of. Humpback whale migration takes place between april and december each year, meaning theres no better time to head out and soak up sydneys spectacular views as you try and catching whales as they make their way down the coast. In less than 20 minutes we are exiting the heads and into whale watching waters. Go whale watching sydney is owned by merimbula marina.
Whale watching and sydney harbour cruise departs darling harbour. Sydney harbour discovery, oz whale watching oz whale watching was awarded the new south wales gold and silver tourism awards for 2015. Migrating whales have already been spotted along the nsw coast from eden to kingscliff as the 2017 whale watching season kicks off in earnest. This super fast cruise is our most thrilling which is best suited for the more adventurous at heart. The most commonly sighted whales are humpbackssome 20,000 of them traverse australias eastern coastline during their annual migration. Take a hike sydneys mostnorthern tip is barrenjoey headland in kuringgai chase national park. Whale surface behaviours, why whales do what they do observations from our experienced whale watching team on board go whale watching sydney boats the whales are here. With the whale watching sydney companion app you have all the information about our cruises at your finger tips. The 2017 nsw whale migration season wrapup wild about. Whale watching in sydney is one of most interesting attractions during winter season. Keen whalewatchers are invited to head to one of five national parks.
Manly whale watching 2020 all you need to know before you. Record whale numbers move north wild about whales nsw. The ultimate guide to whale watching in sydneys waters. Equipped with state of the art technology, comfortable indooroutdoor seating and viewing decks over 3 levels. Success rate is 98% and all cruises are guaranteed to see whales. We are the only sydney whale watching company that offers live commentary, whale watching experience, a sydney harbour cruise and a bbq buffet lunch all included in the one great package. I wanted to go whale watching whilst i was in sydney but there were so many options i had no idea where to start.
Whales have been entering the beautiful headlands of sydney harbour since long before sydney became the bustling city it. The whale watching season in sydney is between may and november each year but some times are better than others to increase your chances of seeing whales. Each tour travels out to the open waters surrounding sydney to view the humpback whales in their natural environment. Download the free wild about whales app to find the top whale. To celebrate the end of the 2017 whale watching season we have captured the season highlights and fun facts our infographic. Whales often cruise close to shore, so they are easy to spot, and have even been known to pop up inside sydney harbour. Sydney whalewatching cruise including lunch or breakfast. Book a ross sea trip to antarctica from hobart or bluff nz and you can see all the whales you wish to in december they are migratory creatures who have a very specific travel pattern year after year. Best time for whale watching in australia about australia. A whale has been freed from a fishing net or drum line it became entangled in off sydney s northern beaches. Whale watching australia 2017 sydney, gold coast, hervey. Join the crew at go whale watching sydney as we make our way from darling harbour, taking in the famous sydney harbour land marks and out to the open ocean for an epic whale watching experience. Responsible whale watching whale watching cruises in sydney.
The annual migration of gawura, the eora word for whale, signifies revitalisation and the birth of a new generation as the whales return to guru, the deep waters. Also, see other marine wildlife such as dolphins, albatross, seals and the beautiful coastline of sydney. A variety of species of whale can be found in the waters around australias coast, from sydney and jervis bay to perth and exmouth. A whale has been freed from a fishing net or drum line it became entangled in off sydneys northern beaches. Experience the excitement of whale watching aboard ocean dreaming ii. Join one of sydneys most popular whale watching companies for a combined tour and bbq lunch package that will allow you to see the whales off sydney heads and enjoy a great meal all in one.
Park near the surf club and climb the 3040 minute trail up to barrenjoey lighthouse. Depart from the eastern pontoon circular quay, sydney, head out for four hours total of whale watching cruising to see these gentle ocean giants up close. It is not the most tourist season in sydney, but you should try whale watching if you are visiting the city during this period. During whale watching season there are plenty of opportunities to jump on whale watching cruises and see these majestic marine mammals up. Whether youre a swimmer and ready for the once in a lifetime experience of swimming with whales, or if youd rather keep your feet on the ground and see whales frolic in the ocean from the beach or a cruise, theres a spot in australia perfect for your style of whale watching. The best way to experience these magnificent mammals and view famous sydney landmarks is from onboard a whale watching sydney cruise.
Our premium three hour discovery cruise provides the ultimate whale watching experience on the best boat in sydney. Australian national guidelines for whale and dolphin. Whale watching in sydney, and sydney harbour, in particular, is a special experience as you not only get to see various species of whales aboard a range of quality vessels but also what is basically a great marine sightseeing tour of the harbour on the way. Including a city sights cruise with live commentary on sydneys history both past and present, bbq lunch and whale watch experience on the ultimate sydney harbour cruise. While dolphin watching tends to occur all year round, the highest intensity whale watching activities are. I seen more than half of the passenger onboard was.
Whales beached in new zealand hours after volunteers re. You can even download the smartphone app thatll help you find the best. On this whale watching cruise youll spend around two hours and 45 minutes out on the water, enjoying an unbeatable view of sydneys iconic landmarks and the migrating humpback whales. The national guidelines for whale and dolphin watching 2017. Wild about whales is a celebration of whales along the nsw coastline. In nsw, its common to see humpback whales, southern right whales and dolphins, but you may also spot orcas, blue whales, minke whales and sperm whales. Whether you are a local or a visitor, whale watching in sydney on the iconic sydney harbour and surrounding coastline is a magical experience.
Each cruise is approximately 23 hours please check our cruises for the exact times at each pickup and dropoff. Best custom built, fast and spacious vessels to give you the best day possible out at sea. Every september, whale watching cruise season in sydney begins with the whales swimming out from the. The whale watching cruise crew is awesome and give us very good service. Sydney whale watching tour and lunch package experience oz. Australian national guidelines for whale and dolphin watching 2017. A new pod of 240 whales beaches itself on a remote new zealand beach just hours after weary volunteers managed to refloat a different group of whales following an earlier mass stranding. The annual whale festival encourages you to participate in a journey fostering relationships between gadigal and sydney living museums to preserve, interpret and share this heritage. We believe in responsible and respectful whale watching practices. Whales migrate in their thousands along the nsw coast, which stretches more than 2,000 km. This is sydneys only true 3 in 1 whale watching cruise. Whale watching adventures in south coast nsw visit nsw.