Where to Look

The natural topography of Australia's South West provides many coastal vantage points ideal for spotting whales. Try some of these land-based lookout points. Remember to take your binoculars and be patient.

Dunsborough, Geographe Bay

The southern migration of the humpback whale takes them back to their feeding grounds in Antarctica and brings them closer to the west coast. From September until early December they are a common sight in Geographe Bay, with large numbers of mothers and calves congregating in the protected waters to rest before they continue on into the Southern Ocean.

Cape Naturaliste Whale Lookout Platform
13km from Dunsborough
1.3km return-walk from the lighthouse car park.

Shelley Cove, part of Bunker Bay
13km from Dunsborough
Walk from the car park to the viewing platform above the limestone cliffs.

Sugarloaf Rock Viewing Platform
13km from Dunsborough
A short flight of stairs leads from the car park to the lookout.

Canal Rocks Rotary Lookout
4km south of Yallingup
400 metre return-walk from the car park.

North Point, Gracetown
Easily accessible car park overlooking Gracetown and Cowaramup Bay.

Redgate Beach
South of Margaret River
Easy access to several lookout points.

Hamelin Bay
18km north of Augusta
South of the boat ramp, follow the boardwalk (part of the Cape to Cape Walk Track) up to the limestone headland.

Augusta, Flinders Bay

Humpback and southern right whales begin appearing in Flinders Bay from early June. Unusual whale activity that contradicts previous research is often observed in Flinders Bay, making it a unique whale-watching area. Calves are often seen as early as July and interaction between the humpback and southern right whales has been observed.

There are numerous vantage points along Leeuwin Road which leads from the Augusta township to the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse.

Point D'Entrecasteaux
South of Northcliffe
Sealed access-friendly walk trail around the headland with several lookout platforms.

Conspicuous Cliffs
15km east of Walpole
Short walk to a cliff top viewing platform.

Ocean Beach, Denmark
There are two vantage points to choose from, Wilson Head and Lions Lookout.

Albany, King George Sound

The southern right whale’s breeding ground is on the southern coastline near Albany and the calves are born here between July and October. Humpback whales are also a common sight in the natural harbour of King Georges Sound. Albany was the last place in Australia to stop commercial whaling and it is a wonderful sight to see them frolic in a place where they were once hunted.

Whale World
22km from Albany
Provides uninterrupted views over King George Sound.

Sandpatch
15km from Albany
Easy walking along a boardwalk to a series of lookouts.

Rotary Lookout
3.5km from Albany
Elevated platform above the boardwalk with uninterrupted views of King George Sound.

Tooleburrup Hill, Bremer Bay
The lookout here is the highest point in Bremer Bay, providing the perfect vantage point for locating the whales before taking a closer on the coast.

Point Ann, Fitzgerald River National Park
65km east of Bremer Bay
On the south coast there is no place more magical than Point Ann in the Fitzgerald River National Park. From mid July to November southern right whales use the area to calve and can be seen from two viewing platforms or from the shore. Up to 40 whales have been sighted in the area in a single day. This area is one of two places in Australia where southern right whales calve, the other is the Head of the Bight in South Australia.