Make it a point to put some planning into a whale watching excursion near the Western Australian reefs and you will find it well worth your while, provided you have the coast, the species and the month in mind. For those after a straight answer: head to Ningaloo or Exmouth for humpback sightings and in-water activities of a regulated sort; the Kimberley will put on a show of migration numbers at Camden Sound; South West WA has the better tour options for unobtrusive coastal viewing.
I am Blake Morrow. In WA one learns in short order from looking at a map as large as your dining table that “nearby” is a relative term. There is no single ideal place to be whale watching here, it is a matter of what your budget and tolerance for wind, swell and a few long drives with a servo pie can stand, and how the season and road are treating you.
A Quick Overview
The state’s whale watching season is protracted but if you are putting together a trip to see marine wildlife you need to know which part of the coast you are bound for. That is where many a traveller is taken aback by the fact that regions have their own peaks. For those interested in learning more, check out the best reef visit period.
Ningaloo Reef is the way to go for boat tours, reef access and to come face to face with humpbacks under the proper conditions. Then there is the South West for the first-timer or family who would prefer to park at a lookout rather than make a lengthy offshore run in rough water.
Some Regional Facts
You can afford to be a little lazy with your planning on a coastline this size and pay for it. An off month does not preclude a good time on the beach, though your chances of seeing a whale may go from excellent to merely hopeful.
| Region | Main Whale Species | Typical Peak Window | Best For | Reality Check |
| Ningaloo Reef, Coral Bay, Exmouth | Humpback whales, whale sharks in season, the odd blue whale out at sea | Mid-year through spring for the migration | Reef and swim programs, boat tours | Boats don’t run if the swell is up |
| Kimberley, Camden Sound, Montgomery Reef | Humpback whales | Dry season, winter to early spring | Expedition type trips, big numbers | Costly and remote, nothing casual about it |
| Geographe Bay, Dunsborough, Margaret River, Flinders Bay | Humpback and southern right whales | Winter to spring | Your easy option in the South West | School holidays can be busy |
| Perth Canyon, Perth coast, Canal Rocks, Bremer Bay | Blue whales (offshore), humpbacks, orcas at Bremer Bay when in season | Depends on the species | Specialist marine or day tours from Perth | Very particular as to when you will see them |
Timing It Right
Don’t be a brochure about it, be more like a weather app. The northern half of WA brings with it wet season and cyclone risk from November to April or so. Sea state, visibility and whether a tour is on are all variable by region.
One does not get away with thinking any given month will do. The rhythm of whale watching in Perth is dictated by the migration and offshore feeding, as is the case with the strong season at Camden Sound in the north. At Ningaloo you are in line with the humpbacks making their way past Exmouth and Coral Bay.
In Practice
Paper makes it look simple to pair a snorkel on the reef with some whale and whale shark watching at Exmouth. But wait till late morning and the wind comes in and things are rough as guts. Be an early starter.
More flexibility is to be had in the South West. You can book a tour in Geographe Bay, Dunsborough or the Margaret River area and have a land-based view to fall back on should the boats be called off.
Further north in the Kimberley the stakes are higher, quite literally. If you miss the window it is not just a beach day you have altered but possibly a few thousand dollars in flights and expedition cruising down the drain.
Why Ningaloo And Exmouth
For the bona fide reef-and-whale experience you cannot do better than Ningaloo. You get the coral, the migration and some world-class in-water wildlife encounters for which you do not have to break the bank. An unvarnished view from Blake Morrow: here is the place where what you put on paper and what actually transpires will either be in perfect harmony or part company in a hurry. Do not be under any illusion that an hour’s transfer over glassy water with whales obliging you for a performance is all there is to it; you are going to want some patience, a schedule with give and take and favourable weather.
Exmouth at its best
There is a reason whale watching is done in Exmouth. The humpback run is proximate enough for good tour business and the whole area is geared to marine tourism. You will find boat tours putting out of Exmouth and marinas in the vicinity, though those who like a less ostentatious affair may head to Coral Bay.
One day is no time to be dividing your efforts between Exmouth and Coral Bay. Make Exmouth your priority. The distance between them is more than most visitors allow for and attempting both can make for a windscreen holiday of it. From Exmouth you should factor in time for the marina check-in, safety talk, seasickness precautions and the operator’s whim to alter course if the whales are up to something.
As for cost, do not think of a full-day wildlife tour in this corner of WA as an inexpensive extra. Inclusions will have a bearing on the price but it is a line item in the budget. Put aside funds for your room, fuel and food and to cover cancellations as well as the ticket.
A word on swimming
The rules in WA for getting in the water with humpbacks are strict, which is as it should be. A licensed operator is the only one who can facilitate in-water contact and they are not going to jump in because of a splash seen fifty metres off. It is not a queue at a theme park. This is ocean and wildlife, on their terms. Some are taken aback by having to wait for the right animal behaviour or being denied entry on account of conditions. I say let them be.
To see the Kimberley
For the sheer scale of it, the Kimberley has a name for itself. Camden Sound is considered prime humpback nursery ground in Australia and the way things move about there is more of a marine highway, calves and all, than a sightseeing cruise.
You need to be at ease with the remoteness and the expense, and have plans that can be bent to suit tides and weather. Do not come with half a tank and no real plan.
Camden Sound and the rest of it
Operations in Camden Sound tend to coincide with the dry season when it is safer and access is no problem. Montgomery Reef and other Kimberley waters make for an expedition, but these are premium affairs, the preserve of a cruise vessel or a remote charter. Most will link up with an organised trip after coming through Broome or another northern hub. To self-drive to an embarkation point means long hauls, road trains and seasonal road closures. In the wet you are not going anywhere. And if you are not croc-wise and properly sorted, let the operators who are out there weekly handle the rougher elements.
Those with limited mobility or a tendency to motion sickness would be ill-advised to go for a small-boat Kimberley expedition. Not a beginner’s game.
South West is simpler
Many will find South West WA to be the ideal compromise. There is infrastructure to rely on, towns that are family-friendly and you can put in a day without being offshore for all of it. For first-timers and grandparents and anyone with nervous sea legs whose notion of adventure still involves a decent coffee and a dunny that works, I would point them here. No shame in it. I am a coffee man too.
Base of operations
Geographe Bay, Margaret River, Dunsborough and Flinders Bay are the obvious choices and for cause. They are easy to get to from Perth in a car and you can do land-based viewing as well as take a boat out. A visit to Canal Rocks for some coastal scanning is fine if the conditions warrant, but “possible” does not mean you are guaranteed a close pass. Land-based is fine when the whales put in an appearance nearshore but then again some days you will be left with windburn and nothing but whitecaps on your phone.
One does not have to look hard for parking or access in the bigger South West centres as a rule, but put in an appearance on a long weekend or during school holidays and what was once an easy lookout becomes a circus. Make an early start and put on some layers; and if you are of a mind to book at the last minute, do not be under the impression your first choice of tour time will be open.
Perth And Southern Waters
For those in the city there is no shortage of whale watching in Perth’s season, provided you are after the blue whales of the Perth Canyon or humpbacks making their way along the metro coast. It is a convenient way to go for a short trip, more so than one might think, albeit a little species-specific.
Down in Bremer Bay you will find the pelagic wildlife that has made it famous, yet it is hardly a casual excursion from Perth. On the map WA may be flat as a pancake but the car makes for a long haul.
Short Trip Reality Check
With only a day to spare in Perth, make for a local departure or something on the coast rather than a marathon drive. You can put in a return to the South West if you are sufficiently motivated, but it will seem like a rush and the sea may not be worth it.
Then there are the Perth Canyon excursions, which are not your run of the mill family sightseeing cruise. Before you part with your card details, see what the operator has to say on species, duration, weather policy and where they set off. Metro types would do well to read the fine print in these instances to avoid trouble down the track.
Species And Seasonal Patterns
It all depends on what you are after. Humpbacks are what most tours in Western Australia are built around, but the presence of southern right or blue whales, or even the odd whale shark at Ningaloo, will dictate your plans. One sees visitors conflate reef trips with open-ocean itineraries; being near a reef is not the same as over it and a day with the whales is not a day for snorkelling.
Who You’re Likely To See
Humpbacks get all the attention for good reason: they are out in force and plain to see in migration season. In the south, particularly in any sheltered waters for calving, you will hear more of the southern right. The blue whale is a more specialised proposition, to be found in offshore feeding grounds like the Perth Canyon, not just by the shore.
And while a whale shark is not a whale biologically speaking, they are of interest to the traveller with a plan for Ningaloo Reef who wants to cover both. The window for a shark is not necessarily the best for a whale, so if that is the aim then be flexible with your days and have a good look at the operator’s calendar.
You will find general planning advice from RAC, Tourism Western Australia and Australia.com but year on year the wildlife and the sea can be different, so consult the individual operators.
How To Watch Sensibly
Practicality will get you better whale days than luck. Whether boat, land or in the water, each caters to a different budget and temperament.
I have been guilty of my share of ocean-day blunders and can vouch for the importance of the small things. Leaving the jacket behind when the town is warm, not giving enough thought to the swell, or having cause to regret a missed breakfast once you are well offshore. All very fixable rookie mistakes.
- Boat Tours: Where you want the crew to put things in perspective and the odds of a sighting are up. There is a risk of seasickness and the weather can alter the length of the outing.
- Land-Based Viewing: The sensible choice for families and the like. An elevated headland or lookout is called for, and don’t forget the binoculars.
- Swim Programs: Confident swimmers who can abide instructions and changing conditions will do well here. Those wanting a sure thing in the water should look elsewhere.
Safety And Local Rules
Winter fronts in the south and cyclones in the north can put paid to your plans. The Bureau of Meteorology weather forecasts and marine warnings is your official guide to boating conditions in Australia, so check their forecasts and marine warnings.
Heed the crew and give the wildlife its space. Leave the drone or tinnie at home unless the rules are clear on commercial interactions. The licences and regulations in place are there for a reason.
Booking Tips That Save Pain
In WA the booking with some breathing room is the smart one. If you are in Exmouth or Coral Bay and other towns at the mercy of the weather, put a spare day in the itinerary. People are apt to try and fit whale watching into a road-trip schedule that is too rigid and end up paying for it. A blown day can put an end to your plans and leave you with a servo sandwich and a long sulk in the car park for a backup.
So book what is most at the mercy of the weather first and put accommodation in place around it. Make for a morning departure if you can, the winds have a way of building later on. And do not pay before you have read the fine print on cancellation or rebooking.
Find out from the operator if he is all about the whales or will mix in some snorkelling and time on the reef with other marine life. “Exmouth tour” is no guarantee of a central Exmouth pickup either, so check the departure point for parking and transfer needs as well as the check-in time.
Some Operator Names
In the South West you will come across Naturaliste Charters; Whale Watch Western Australia is the name that comes to mind for Perth and its waters. There are a number of licensed operators in Ningaloo and Exmouth who put on seasonal whale programmes of one sort or another, including swims where allowed.
I would not say any one operator has universal appeal. A strong swimmer, a photographer or an older traveller will have different requirements to a family with young children. Inquire as to the boat size, the shade, toilet facilities, how the swim ladder is set up and the average hours at sea, whether it is beginner material. You will get more out of such questions than a glossy photo.
Maps, Routes And Access
WA is a state that will reward you for having your logistics in order prior to the trip rather than standing by the track with no reception. The distances involved between Kimberley launch points and Perth, Exmouth, Margaret River or Coral Bay are such that route planning makes all the difference.
Most will find driving in South West WA no trouble. But unless you fly, Exmouth is a big ask. To get to Montgomery Reef or Camden Sound you are looking at a packaged itinerary, not something you can self-drive and hop on to.
How To Route Your Trip
On a short holiday confine yourself to one zone be it the Perth coast, the South West or Ningaloo. A week or more allows you to put in the miles by car between Perth and the South West. For Exmouth a flight is preferable to enduring the kind of road days The Pilbara puts on you, unless you have the time and inclination.
Then there is Barrow Island or Dirk Hartog Island which may figure in discussions of marine wildlife but are not the go-to for most whale planners. They are better suited to a niche itinerary given the access is often more of a logistical matter than one might think.
Before you book
The easy option is to head to Ningaloo Reef and Exmouth for a whale trip with a reef angle, or the South West for good family-friendly logistics and easy sightings. If you want the migration in force and have the means, make for the Kimberley. For a city-based plan of shorter duration, Perth and the Canyon serve well enough, assuming the season is right for the species you are after.
And a word from Blake Morrow: resist the urge to over-romanticise it. Whale watching off the Western Australian reefs is fine, but you have to accept the weather and the distances and that wild animals do not keep to a timesheet. Put some room in your schedule and time it well and you are on for a day you will be talking of for years.
FAQ
Travellers will want to know if they have left it too late to book, and when the species and season are at their peak. Here are some of the ones we get asked.
Where Is The Best Place To See Whales In Western Australia?
Ningaloo Reef in the vicinity of Exmouth and Coral Bay is hard to beat for the classic reef-and-whale outing. Geographe Bay, Flinders Bay, Dunsborough and Margaret River are excellent for families wanting easy access. In the Kimberley, Camden Sound is a key area for humpback numbers in those remote nursery waters.
When Can You See Whales In Western Australia?
There is a long part of the year for whale watching in WA but the window is dictated by region and species. Humpbacks in particular set the pace for the season in the South West, the Kimberley and around Ningaloo in winter and spring. As for blue whales in the Perth Canyon, the timing is more exact and you should consult an operator’s current schedule.
What Time Of Year Is Best To See Whale Sharks In Western Australia?
They are a Ningaloo Reef thing and follow their own season which is not always in step with the humpbacks. Exmouth is where you have the best opportunity to see them both, though you may have to be flexible with a couple of days to make it work.
Are There Any Whale Sightings In Western Australia Today?
One will come across them in the course of migration season, though what is seen on a given day is a matter of where one is and the conditions and effort put in on the water. For an accurate picture of present activity there is no better recourse than to consult the latest from local operators or marine tour reports in your intended region, or to make use of visitor information services.
Whales in WA: is a tour necessary or can they be viewed from shore?
In some areas of WA you have no trouble spotting whales from the land, the headlands and South West being prime examples in the migration months. While a tour is the means to a closer look and some interpretation of the species, it is not essential; for those with a more modest budget or a disinclination for the swell, viewing from shore is quite good enough.
