Top whale watching spots
Find the perfect whale watching spot in a NSW national park or reserve near you.
Read more about Top whale watching spots
You can see whales during their annual migration from May to November every year, and many coastal national parks and reserves in NSW offer a huge range of viewing opportunities. From lookouts and picnic areas, to beaches and walking tracks, explore our parks, go whale watching and discover what there is to see and do.
Byron and Tweed
Spot whales from the spectacular beaches and headlands of the Byron and Tweed coast.
- North Head walking track in Brunswick Heads Nature Reserve
- Cape Byron Lighthouse in Cape Byron State Conservation Area
- Broken Head picnic area in Broken Head Nature Reserve
- Cape Byron Information Centre in Cape Byron State Conservation Area
- Three Sisters walking track (Broken Head) in Broken Head Nature Reserve
- Tallow Beach in Arakwal National Park
- Palm Valley in Cape Byron State Conservation Area
- Iluka Bluff lookout in Bundjalung National Park
- Captain Cook lookout and picnic area in Cape Byron State Conservation Area
- Broadwater Beach picnic area in Broadwater National Park
Coffs Harbour
Discover pristine beaches, unbeatable surf and great opportunities to see whales from land and sea around the beautiful Coffs Coast.
- Yuraygir coastal walk in Yuraygir National Park
- Angophora grove walking track in Yuraygir National Park
- Solitary Islands coastal walk in Coffs Coast Regional Park
- Freshwater track in Yuraygir National Park
- Eastern Side lookout in Muttonbird Island Nature Reserve
- Dammerels history walk in Moonee Beach Nature Reserve
- Arrawarra Headland in Coffs Coast Regional Park
- Angourie walking track in Yuraygir National Park
- Angourie Bay picnic area in Yuraygir National Park
- Woolgoolga Beach and Headland in Coffs Coast Regional Park
- Wilsons Headland walking track in Yuraygir National Park
- Wilsons Headland picnic area in Yuraygir National Park
- Rocky Point walking track in Yuraygir National Park
- Look At Me Now Headland walk in Moonee Beach Nature Reserve
- Angourie to Brooms Head in Yuraygir National Park
Port Macquarie and Forster
Head out for a paddle or venture along a rainforest boardwalk—you just might spot a whale.
- Front Beach in Arakoon National Park
- Port Macquarie coastal walk in Sea Acres National Park
- Little Bay to Smoky Cape in Hat Head National Park
- Korogoro walking track in Hat Head National Park
- Charles Hamey lookout in Kattang Nature Reserve
- Smoky Cape picnic area in Hat Head National Park
- Cape Hawke lookout in Booti Booti National Park
- Wallabi Beach in Saltwater National Park
- Smoky Cape Lighthouse in Hat Head National Park
- Rainforest walking track in Hat Head National Park
- Perpendicular Point walking track in Kattang Nature Reserve
- Mermaid lookout track in Crowdy Bay National Park
- Little Bay picnic area in Arakoon National Park
- Kinchela Trig lookout walk in Hat Head National Park
- Jack Perkins walking track in Hat Head National Park
- Headland walking track in Saltwater National Park
- Green Island walking track in Hat Head National Park
- Geebung picnic area in Crowdy Bay National Park
- Diamond Head Loop walk in Crowdy Bay National Park
- Connors walking track in Hat Head National Park
- Abbey Creek picnic area in Crowdy Bay National Park
Port Stephens and Newcastle
Just two hours north of Sydney, in Port Stephens and the Newcastle region, are great places to start your whale watching adventure.
- Tomaree Head Summit walk in Tomaree National Park
- Coastal walking track in Wallarah National Park
- Fort Tomaree walk in Tomaree National Park
- Hole in the Wall picnic area in Myall Lakes National Park
- Wreck Beach walk in Tomaree National Park
- World War II gun emplacements in Tomaree National Park
- Tea Tree picnic area and lookout in Munmorah State Conservation Area
- Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse in Myall Lakes National Park
- Point Stephens Lighthouse and Fingal Island in Tomaree National Park
- Fishermans Bay foreshore in Tomaree National Park
- Elizabeth Beach picnic area in Booti Booti National Park
Sydney and surrounds
Sydney and the surrounding coastline offer many great vantage points for whale watching and an incredible opportunity to see whales migrating past Australia’s largest city.
- Cape Solander in Kamay Botany Bay National Park
- Fairfax walk in Sydney Harbour National Park
- North Head in Sydney Harbour National Park
- The Coast walking track in Wyrrabalong National Park
- The Coast track in Royal National Park
- South Head Heritage trail in Sydney Harbour National Park
- South Head in Sydney Harbour National Park
- Pelican Beach Road lookout in Wyrrabalong National Park
- Mount Bouddi walking track in Bouddi National Park
- Maitland Bay track in Bouddi National Park
- Hornby Lighthouse in Sydney Harbour National Park
- Grotto Point Aboriginal engraving site in Sydney Harbour National Park
- Governor Game lookout in Royal National Park
- Gerrin Point lookout in Bouddi National Park
- Curra Moors loop track in Royal National Park
- Crackneck lookout in Wyrrabalong National Park
- Bouddi coastal walk in Bouddi National Park
- Bateau Bay Beach picnic area in Wyrrabalong National Park
- Barrenjoey Lighthouse in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
- Arabanoo lookout at Dobroyd Head in Sydney Harbour National Park
Jervis Bay and Shoalhaven
Immerse yourself in the stunning beauty, powdery white sands and marine life haven of Jervis Bay and the Shoalhaven region.
- Seven Mile Beach in Seven Mile Beach National Park
- White Sands walk and Scribbly Gum track in Jervis Bay National Park
- Greenfield Beach picnic area in Jervis Bay National Park
- Bull Hole lookout in Jervis Bay National Park
- Hammerhead Point picnic area in Jervis Bay National Park
Batemans Bay
Batemans Bay and the Eurobodalla coast is home to several large stretches of pristine coastal wilderness from Ulladulla to Narooma, while offshore a huge number of whales make an appearance here on their annual migration.
- Stokes Island picnic area in Meroo National Park
- Snapper Point lookout in Murramarang National Park
- Pretty Beach to Snapper Point walking track in Murramarang National Park
- Pretty Beach to Snake Bay walking track in Murramarang National Park
- Pretty Beach to Durras Mountain walking track in Murramarang National Park
- Pretty Beach in Murramarang National Park
- Pot Holes walking track in Meroo National Park
- Nuggan Point walking track in Meroo National Park
- North Head lookout in Murramarang National Park
- Mystery Bay lookout in Eurobodalla National Park
- Myrtle Beach walking track in Murramarang National Park
- Moruya Heads lookout in Eurobodalla National Park
- Montague Island walking track in Montague Island Nature Reserve
- Montague Island Lighthouse in Montague Island Nature Reserve
- Meroo Head lookout walking track in Meroo National Park
- Conjola Beach picnic area in Narrawallee Creek Nature Reserve
- Burrawang track - Conjola Beach to Buckleys Point in Narrawallee Creek Nature Reserve
- Bingi Dreaming track in Eurobodalla National Park
Eden and surrounds
Just a short drive from Eden, Merimbula and Bega, an unforgettable whale watching experience awaits you on the Sapphire Coast. Grand coastal vistas alongside fascinating Aboriginal and whaling heritage sets the scene for fantastic opportunities to see whales as they migrate along the NSW coast.
- Wajurda Point walking track in Mimosa Rocks National Park
- Wajurda Point lookout in Mimosa Rocks National Park
- Green Cape lookout in Ben Boyd National Park
- Boyds Tower walking track in Ben Boyd National Park
- Terrace Beach and Lennards Island in Ben Boyd National Park
- Saltwater Creek to Bittangabee Bay walking track in Ben Boyd National Park
- Pinnacles loop walking track in Ben Boyd National Park
- Nadgee wilderness walk in Nadgee Nature Reserve
- Middle Lagoon walking track in Mimosa Rocks National Park
- Light to Light walk in Ben Boyd National Park
- Kangarutha walking track in Bournda National Park
- Haycock Point to Barmouth Beach walking track in Ben Boyd National Park
- Greenglade picnic area in Nadgee Nature Reserve
- Disaster Bay lookout in Ben Boyd National Park
- Boyds Tower to Saltwater Creek walking track in Ben Boyd National Park
- Bittangabee Bay to Green Cape walking track in Ben Boyd National Park
- Bittangabee Bay in Ben Boyd National Park
- Barmouth Beach in Ben Boyd National Park