Whale watching sydney 2020 all you need to know before. The wild about whales website and app lists all the best viewing locations. The best way to experience these magnificent mammals and view famous sydney landmarks is from onboard a whale watching sydney cruise. The sea is not calm and bumpy in the end of the whale watching season. If you want to see whales without having to travel far from sydney, this tour is the option youre looking for. The whale watching season in sydney is quite long maynovember, but it is not always very busy. In total, about 3000 whales migrate past and sometimes come inside sydney harbour so youve got a great chance of spotting one or two over the season. High whale numbers nearly 12,000 per year which pass by the region and an extended whale watching season on the nsw midcoast combine to offer plenty of chances for visitors to embark on whale watching tours too, with whale watching trips typically departing from the nearby launch point of nelson bay around a 10 minute drive away from port. Each day we record whale sightings which can be viewed online below, or view a selection of last seasons reports here.
Sydney whale watching offers 100% whale sighting rates, and guarantees a free return cruise if you dont see a whale. Whale watching is a popular activity in sydney, so to receive the best rates on a whalespotting cruise try looking on the outskirts of the season, meaning early april and late november. Best custom built, fast and spacious vessels to give you the best day possible out at sea. Jul 19, 2012 in total, about 3000 whales migrate past and sometimes come inside sydney harbour so youve got a great chance of spotting one or two over the season. She is the perfect whale watching vessel as she has complete walk around lower decks allowing you to get so much closer to the whales. Whale watching, discovery travel adventures insight guide. Sydneys whalewatching season typically runs from may into december, when thousands of whales migrate through the area.
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. With so many options and discounts available to you, you should really try whale watching. Also, see other marine wildlife such as dolphins, albatross, seals and the beautiful coastline of sydney. Jul 21, 2015 oz whale watching departs from king st wharf 9 darling harbour, approx. The best whale watching viewing times are early morning or late afternoon. The best whale watching in sydney where you are more likely to spot whales from the shore is during winter when as many as 20,000 of them migrate along the new south wales coastline. Oct 01, 2015 the whale watching season in sydney is quite long maynovember, but it is not always very busy. The best spot for whale watching is the gap, an ocean cliff on the south head peninsula. The season is split into two distinct sections depending on the direction of travel of the majority of whales at that time. For more info about whales in sydney download the about whales whale watching guide. Whale watching season in sydney is incredible, and its something you need to see for yourself. Here is a chart with weekly humpback whale sightings in sydney between 2010 and 2012. Sydney s best whale watching cruises with more than 25 years of experience.
The ultimate guide to whale watching in sydneys waters this. An interim report prepared at the end of the 2016 whale watching season. From may to november, the pacific coast migration goes from south to north and back again as the whales seek warmer water for the winter months. The whale watching sydney season 2018 and the humpback whale migration passing sydney takes place between april and december each year. Plus, theres even a whalesighting guarantee if you dont see whales on your cruise youre entitled to another cruise in the same whale watching season entirely free.
Pdf blue whale habitat selection and withinseason distribution in. Choosing a whale watching company needs to be a carefully considered. 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. Aug 31, 2017 whale watching in sydney is one of most interesting attractions during winter season. Whales and whale watching in iceland, mark carwardine, isbn 997951129x.
Whale watching in sydney australia is a unique experience. 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. The distance from the coast of the whales is believed to be. 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. Whale watching cruise departs darling harbour, sydney. We received a voucher for a return visit in the 2016 season all 3 weeks thats left, but the voucher is nontransferable despite the lady at the kiosk on the wharf saying it would be fine to transfer it to friends who live here in sydney. The best time for whale watching in this region, however, is between july and september. Our coastline offers some of the best places to see whales up close, with superb tours departing locations around the nation, including sydney, perth, gold coast, sunshine coast, melbourne and more. While we had a nice cruise through sydney harbor and on the open ocean, we didnt see any whales on our trip. The 2016 whale watching season is in full swing and to celebrate the tremendous migration these beautiful creatures make each year, why not attend an upcoming whale watching event or tour guided by an npws ranger and held in a stunning nsw national park. Check out our pick of the best whale watching vantage points, tours and accommodation in nsw.
Subscribe to naturescapes for the latest news from nsw national. Climb to the top to gaze over the tasman sea and sydney harbour. Whale watching season is upon us, and the new south wales coast is one of the best spots in the world to catch these majestic creatures in action. You can go whale watching all winter and spring may november in sydney. Since humpbacks tend to swim closer to the shore than most other species, its. 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 in nsw nsw environment, energy and science. This is annual migration to the temperate waters, and a return trip to antartica. Whale watching sydney season sydney harbour boat hire get. The ultimate guide to whale watching in sydneys waters. Has anyone been on the cruise before any interesting tipscomments to share ill be going with 3 kids in tow.
One of the best things about winter and spring is that its whale watching season. Whales have been entering the beautiful headlands of sydney harbour since long before sydney became the bustling city it. Humpback whales are the most likely whales you will spot during the sydney whale watching season in 2018, however you may be among the lucky to spot orcas and. Whale watching in sydney official sydney tourism website. This can be a beautiful gift for those who love nature. Sydney whale watching tour and lunch package experience oz. Whales often cruise close to shore, so they are easy to spot, and have even been known to pop up inside sydney harbour. 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. Get the latest sightings, learn whale facts and plan your next coastal adventure. The 2020 whale watching season operates approximately 23 may to 28 october. Dec 10, 2019 while we had a nice cruise through sydney harbor and on the open ocean, we didnt see any whales on our trip. Each day we record whale sightings which can be viewed online below, or view a selection of last season s reports here.
Alight at town hall or wynyard stations and head down market st or king st approx. 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. Best time for whale watching in australia about australia. The sa whale centre has gathered important whale watching guidelines. May 08, 2019 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. In october 2012, lucky whale watchers also caught a glimpse of the largest animal on earth, the incredible blue whale, just off south head. The much anticipated 2016 whale watching season commences in may 15th, just short of two weeks from today. A study prepared for international fund for animal welfare in 2009 estimated that million people went whale watching globally in 2008. Weve been walking sydney s coastline for years, so here are our tips on how to take advantage of nature to get the best out of your whale. Every september, whale watching cruise season in sydney begins with the whales swimming out from the.
Sydney ferries services to darling harbour depart circular quay wharf 5 every half hour. How to play whale trail on the australian museum games app. On the trail of the whale, mark carwardine, isbn 1899074007. You can purchase sydney eco whale watching tour gifts, which although seasonal, is a unique gift idea. Whale watching in sydney is one of most interesting attractions during winter season. Nsw whale watching season wild about whales nsw national. Each and every one of our team members loves what we do, and therefore, we strive to make our tours as memorable as possible. Manly whale watching is able to book tours from a range of providers in order to offer you the widest variety of vessels. The whale watching cruise crew is awesome and give us very good service. May 03, 2017 high whale numbers nearly 12,000 per year which pass by the region and an extended whale watching season on the nsw midcoast combine to offer plenty of chances for visitors to embark on whale watching tours too, with whale watching trips typically departing from the nearby launch point of nelson bay around a 10 minute drive away from port.
Whale watching in sydney more than 45 species of whales, dolphins and porpoises can be found in waters surrounding australia. Grab yourself a great a 3for1 deal and combine a sightseeing harbour cruise with breakfast or lunch and a unique whale watching. More viewing decks than any other sydney whale watching vessel. 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.
Manly whale watching has been part of the sydney whale watching industry for over 10 years, providing tours and great service for all of sydney, manly and the northern beaches. Your cruise begins on beautiful sydney harbour, departing either darling harbour or circular quay. Weve been preparing our two boats, niels jonsson and sandvikin, the last couple of weeks after the now finished winter fishing season. Whale watching is the practice of observing whales and dolphins in their natural habitat. Currently, a 20% discount is offered for online bookings. Forty five species of whales and dolphins live in or migrate through australian. Plan your next coastal adventure with australias first official whale watching guide to new south whales. Each cruise is approximately 23 hours please check our cruises for the exact times at each pickup and dropoff.
Jun 15, 2018 the whale watching sydney season 2018 and the humpback whale migration passing sydney takes place between april and december each year. Finally, you can buy gift certificates for whale watching tours for a loved one if you wish, too. Get a free return trip if you dont see whales on your first cruise. In less than 20 minutes we are exiting the heads and into whale watching waters. Whales migrate in their thousands along the nsw coast, which stretches more than 2,000 km. It is not the most tourist season in sydney, but you should try whale watching if you are visiting the city during this period. Jul 09, 2018 324 got invited on a whale watching cruise in sydney by fantasea. Whether you are a local or a visitor, whale watching in sydney on the iconic sydney harbour and surrounding coastline is a magical experience. The migrating population is named the group 5 southern hemisphere humpback whale population or the australian east coast humpbacks. The tours just started midmay, but the boat operator reported seeing whales every day so far. May 30, 2019 the best spot for whale watching is the gap, an ocean cliff on the south head peninsula. Whale watching on the gold coast if youd rather keep your feet on the ground but still yearn for the special experience of seeing a whale, australias east coast is the best place to spot whales from the beach.
Find australias best whale watching cruises this whale watching season. Pdf blue whales balaenoptera musculus aggregate to feed in a regional upwelling system during novembermay between the great australian bight gab. For history around the site and the migration, the maritime museum is open 10am to 4pm daily and is well worth a visit. She also has outdoor seating great for up close whale viewing. We miss some at the start of the season and some at the end but theres a 99 percent success rate in the middle of the season, says richard ford, the owner of whale watching sydney, who brought the tours to sydney a decade ago. It is extraordinary to think that right in the heart of australias largest city you can have a unique whale watching experience. 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. Aug 27, 2016 whale watching tour in sydney australia august 2016. Apart from whales, dolphins and turtles also migrate through this way and are regularly spotted from the cape. Its been another awesome year for whale watching off the nsw coast in 2016, and to celebrate weve captured season highlights and fun facts.
Watching whales from vessels can also be fun and exciting, you can go with a tour or skipper yourself. 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. We are committed to minimising our impact upon the environment, our engine emissions are extremely low and our fuel burn is also very efficient. Success rate is 98% and all cruises are guaranteed to see whales. Daily whale sightings cruise info and bookings whale watching. South australian whale watching guidelines sa whale centre. Whale watching sydney harbour cruises captain cook cruises. Whale watching in sydney australia contented traveller. Hervey bay even hosts an annual ocean festival to mark the beginning of the whale watching season. Explorer is a custombuilt 17 metre powered catamaran with three unobstructed 360 degree viewing decks. I seen more than half of the passenger onboard was. Departure is from circular quay or darling harbour and there are morning and afternoon sessions. Im planning a trip to sydney and melbourne in december. This is the closest natural wildlife experience to sydney cbd within 1 hours travelling time.
Learn more about the australian museums collection and enhance your visit through the museum with. 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. Whale watching is a major tourist attraction in australia and with that comes a lot of people and a lot of whale watching operators. Best fleet of purpose built, comfortable and fast whale watching boats. Humpback makes spectacular leap but whale watchers looking. Whale watching is mostly a recreational activity cf. All along australias coastline are fantastic spots to see whales. In july 20, a blue whale was again spotted cruising off cape solander in kamay botany bay national park, in sydneys south.
The most commonly sighted whales are humpbackssome 20,000 of them traverse australias eastern coastline during their annual migration. 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. 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. During whale watching 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. Whale watching trips in north america, patricia corrigan, isbn 1559716835. Whale watching sydneysydney harbour cruisevagabond cruises. Wild about whales is a celebration of whales along the nsw coastline. Whale watching season whale watching iceland tours. The site booms during whale season, when the migration is caught in action from this great vantage point. Under the national parks and wildlife regulations 2016, anyone flying a. Whale watching tour in sydney australia august 2016.
965 452 657 1351 863 1392 1060 1218 1042 1249 940 1447 986 353 174 1200 1209 293 881 709 1294 1300 731 976 1180 151 8 1023 650 1091 21 529 930 1263 1431 536 612 1153 1498 29 830 1418 710 993