Albany and the Great Southern is famous for these beautiful Antarctic visiors that grace our shores between late May and October. 

Many people flock from far and wide to see the Humpback and Southern Right whales that come close to our coastline for calving.

If you want to watch these graceful whales frolicking in the bay there are many ways to do so. With your choice of spotting them from land, peering over them from above and getting up close from the water, theres something for everyone and their wallets.

For more information on the types of whales and sea life that visit our southern shores, visit the page Whales & Seals Visiting the South Coast of WA

How would you like to see them?

• By Land

 

• By Sea

 

• By Air

Rotary Lookout (Marine Drive)

Easy accessed by all, the Rotary Lookout is an elevated site giving an uninterrupted view of King George Sound.

Both Humpbacks and Southern Right whales can be seen, with the Southern Right often seen close to the rocky shoreline directly below the lookout.

5 mins from Albany centre

Whaleworld (Frenchman Bay Rd, 20km from Albany)

A whale museum located on the site of Australia's last whaling station

offers unbroken views of King George Sound.

Learn more about the relationship between whales and humans while you're there, with guided tours through the museum available.

30mins from Albany centre

Sandpatch (Accessed via Princess Ave, off Frenchman Bay Rd)

With the windfarm as a backdrop, you can watch the whales from the boardwalk and lookouts on the Bibbulmun Track. Humpbacks can be seen along the coast, and the Southern Right wales play just outside the reef in shore.

20 mins from Albany centre

Bremer Bay (John Cove accessed at end of the main rd into Bremer Bay)

Southern Right whales are often found less than 70 metres from the beach at picturesque John Cove.

A short drive to the "Rock Cairn" lookout provides panaroamic views of the cove, where the humpbacks can be seen offshore.

More information on Bremer Bay can be found here.

2 hrs from Albany centre

Point Ann (Located within Fitzgerald River National Park)

Point Ann is known to be the main calving area for the Southern Right whales. Watch the whales meters from shore from a specially builty platform. 

Facilities in the area include a day use picnic area with BBQs, shelters and toilets. If you want to listen to the whales snoring at night, the nearby St Mary Campsite has sheltered sites for overnight stays.

3 hrs from Albany centre

Visiting the whales up close is more dependent on weather (namely winds and swell) rather than time of day.

Whale Tours

To see the whales up close in style and comfort, visit the Whale Watching directory for more information on whale tours operating out of Albany.

Whale Tours operate from the Albany Town Jetty 7 days of the week, weather permitting. For specific details, please contact the individual companies direct.

Doing It Yourself

If you are planning on taking your own boat, or a non-registered whale watching boat out into the open seas in search of these creatures, then it is important to follow the rules as set out by the Department of Environment and Conservation. Please note that it is an offence to harrass whales- and if they are continually disturbed they are known to permanently abandon an area.

Rules for Whale Watching

• Only persons with vessels licensed by DEC are to operate commercial vessel tours involving whale watching.
• Persons on private vessels (including everything from surfboards and kayaks to yachts and launches) do not require whale watching licences, but must adhere to these rules and guidelines governing whale watching.
• Aircraft are not permitted to fly within 300 metres of a whale, except by special authorisation.
• Swimming with, feeding or touching whales is not permitted. Such actions may cause stress to the whale and are dangerous to people. If you are in the water and a whale approaches, you must endeavour to keep a minimum of 30 metres distance between yourself and the whale.
• Any marine vessel, whether powered by a motor, paddle or sail that is within a distance of 300 metres from a whale is within the whale's contact zone. The following special rules apply within the contact zone.

1. A vessel must not cause a whale to alter its direction or speed of travel.
2. A vessel must not disperse or separate a group of whales.
3. A vessel, whether under power or drifting, must not approach a whale from a direction within an arc of 60° of the whale's direction of travel or an arc of 60° of the whale's opposite direction of travel (see Figure 1).
4. A vessel must not approach a whale within a distance of 100 metres (except licensed 'RESEARCH' vessels in particular circumstances).
5. Where a whale approaches a vessel and the distance between the whale and the vessel becomes less than 100 metres, the vessel master must place its motor or motors in neutral or move the vessel at less than five knots away from the whale until the vessel is outside the contact zone.
6. A vessel must not block the direction of travel of a whale, or any passage of escape available to a whale, from an area where escape is otherwise prevented by a barrier, shallow water, vessel or some other obstacle to the whale's free passage.
7. A vessel master must abandon any interactions with a whale at any sign of the whale becoming disturbed or alarmed.

Remember:

If whales are diving for prolonged periods or swimming evasively, you are disturbing and upsetting them. Leave them alone. As said above, it is an offence to harass whales, and they may permanently abandon an area if continually disturbed.

Above information supplied by the Department of Environment and Conservation.