Western Australia sits astride one of the great whale migration routes on earth. The Humpback Highway — as the west coast migration corridor is known locally — carries more than 35,000 humpback whales past the state’s coastline each year, travelling north from their Antarctic feeding grounds in winter and returning south again in spring. Southern right whales, blue whales and minke whales also move through these waters seasonally.
The distances involved are significant: Western Australia’s coastline stretches for more than 12,000 kilometres, and the whale season varies by location. But the state offers an extraordinary range of encounters — from a two-hour cruise from suburban Perth to swimming with humpbacks in the open ocean off Ningaloo Reef. Here are the main locations, south to north.
Augusta and Cape Leeuwin
Augusta sits at the southwestern tip of Australia, where the Indian Ocean meets the Southern Ocean at Cape Leeuwin — the most southwesterly point of the continent. Humpback and southern right whales pass through this convergence zone from May onwards, heading north, and again from October onwards on their return. Blue whales are also occasionally sighted in the offshore waters here.
The proximity of deep water to the cape means whales are sometimes visible from the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse headland without a boat. But the dedicated cruises from Augusta’s harbour give a considerably better perspective. An Augusta whale watching eco tour departs in search of humpbacks and southern rights with a naturalist guide on board, plus seals, dolphins and seabirds as regular accompanying sightings. If no whales are spotted, a free return trip is offered. The season runs from May to December, with the best whale activity in June through September northbound and October through December southbound.
Augusta is a three-hour drive south of Perth along the coast road, passing through the Margaret River wine region — making it a natural stop on a southwest road trip rather than a standalone day trip from the city.
5 great Margaret River region experiences worth booking
- 🍷 Hop between world class wineries on a classic Margaret River wine tour.
- 🍺 Go beyond the wine-tasting with a wineries, breweries and distilleries tour.
- 🚙 Take a 4WD tour to the region’s natural highlights, uncovering the local secrets.
- 🏄 Learn how to catch a wave with a beginner’s surfing lesson.
- 🛶 Enjoy a canoe tour through the forest along the Margaret River.
Dunsborough and Geographe Bay
Geographe Bay, the sheltered bay between Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin on WA’s southwest coast, is a significant resting and nursing ground for humpback whales during the southern migration. The relatively calm, protected waters attract mothers with calves in particular, who use the bay as a break from the open-ocean journey south.
This makes Dunsborough one of the most reliably intimate whale-watching locations in the state. Calves are inquisitive and often approach vessels, while mothers surface repeatedly in close proximity. Blue whale sightings are a particular feature of the Dunsborough season — one of only a handful of accessible locations in Australia where blue whales are regularly seen from tour vessels.
A Dunsborough whale watching eco tour departs from the beach with a marine biologist on board, covering humpback, southern right and blue whale behaviour in expert detail. The purpose-built boat has indoor seating and a flybridge observation platform. Drinks and biscuits are included; if no whales appear, a return trip is offered free of charge. Tours run daily from September to early December.
A whale watching tour departing from either Augusta or Dunsborough offers flexibility for visitors based anywhere in the southwest region, covering both sides of the cape depending on departure point. Seals, dolphins and seabirds round out the wildlife count on most departures. An optional VIP lounge upgrade is available for a more comfortable crossing on rougher days.
Perth and Fremantle
Perth sits on the Humpback Highway. Each year from September through November, thousands of humpbacks pass through the waters off the city’s Sunset Coast as they head south toward Antarctic feeding grounds. The scale of the migration at its peak — multiple whale sightings on virtually every departure — makes Perth one of the most accessible and reliable whale-watching cities in Australia.
A two-hour whale watching cruise from Hillarys Boat Harbour, north of the city, ventures into the Indian Ocean on a purpose-built vessel with three viewing decks. A marine biologist provides commentary throughout. Reviewers report seeing 20 or more whales on single departures during peak season, with breaching, tail-slapping and mothers with calves among the commonly reported behaviours. Hotel pickup is available. The season runs from September to the end of November.
A half-day whale watching cruise from Hillarys uses a specially designed vessel with a water-level viewing area and an underwater microphone — allowing passengers to hear whale vocalisations as well as watch the animals at the surface. The acoustic dimension adds a layer to the experience that standard cruises don’t offer.
Perth is also the departure point for the ferry to Rottnest Island, where the crossing itself — particularly in October and November — frequently produces whale sightings en route to the island’s famous quokkas.
5 great things to do in Perth
- 🚲 Take the ferry to Rottnest Island – then cycle to the beaches and quokkas.
- 🌌 Dine in the desert and go stargazing – on an evening Pinnacles tour.
- 🐬 Swim with wild dolphins – on a wildlife adventure to Rockingham.
- 🍷 Combine a Swan River cruise with wine-tasting in the Swan Valley.
- 🏟️ Go behind the scenes – on an Optus Stadium tour.
Exmouth and Ningaloo Reef
Exmouth, on the North West Cape some 1,200 kilometres north of Perth, is the most extraordinary marine wildlife destination in Australia. The Ningaloo Marine Park — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — hugs one of the world’s largest fringing coral reefs within swimming distance of the shore. Whale sharks gather from March to August; humpback whales migrate through from August to November; manta rays, dugongs, sea turtles and dolphins are present year-round.
The defining feature of Exmouth whale watching is that it is not merely watching. Swimming with humpback whales in the open ocean is offered by licensed operators here — one of very few places in the world where this is legally permitted. A spotter plane locates the animals; a small group enters the water at a respectful distance; the whales, which are inquisitive animals, sometimes investigate the swimmers directly.
A swim with humpback whales tour on Ningaloo Reef uses a spotter plane to locate the animals before deploying a small group into the water with an experienced guide. Multiple in-water encounters are standard, with snorkelling on the reef between whale swims. Buffet lunch, champagne, professional photos and hotel pickup are all included. Groups are capped at 14. Reviewers describe hearing the whales singing underwater as an experience that defies adequate description. Available August to October.
For those who prefer to observe from the vessel rather than enter the water, or who want to combine humpback watching with the whale shark season, a full-day Ningaloo Reef snorkelling and whale tour covers both whale sharks (April to August) and humpbacks (September to November) across the season on a 65-foot vessel with comfortable shade and observation decks. Buffet lunch, wetsuit and snorkel gear are included, along with hotel transfers from Exmouth.
Exmouth is at the top of the Coral Coast, and requires planning. The nearest major airport is at Learmonth, served by flights from Perth. Most operators run from the Exmouth Marina or Tantabiddi boat ramp depending on the season. Accommodation books out well in advance during whale shark season — reserve everything early.
Practical tips for seeing whales in Western Australia
When to go, where
The northbound migration passes Augusta and Dunsborough from May to September. The southbound return passes Perth and the southwest from September to December. At Exmouth, humpback whale swimming is available from August to October, overlapping the tail end of the whale shark season. Perth offers the most accessible season, running September through November with high frequency departures from Hillarys.
Species to expect
Humpbacks are the dominant species at all locations and the most acrobatic — breaching, tail-slapping and spy-hopping regularly. Southern right whales are deeper and slower-moving, with distinctive callosities on the head. Blue whales are most consistently seen around Dunsborough and Augusta, particularly in September and October. Minke whales appear in the Ningaloo waters year-round.
Motion sickness
The waters off Augusta, Cape Leeuwin and the open ocean off Perth can be rough, particularly on winter mornings. Motion sickness medication taken well before boarding makes a significant difference for susceptible passengers. The sheltered waters of Geographe Bay around Dunsborough are gentler. At Ningaloo, conditions are calmer but open-ocean swells are still possible.
