Yamba Whale Watch Ocean Adventures, YambaCredit: Destination NSW
Humpback whales migrating north off the coast of Yamba on the state's North Coast.
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From May to November, thousands of whales migrate along the New South Wales coast from Antarctica to the South Pacific and back again. From Tweed Heads in the north to Eden in the south, you can observe the ‘Humpback Highway’ from lookouts on land (see the Wild About Whales website to find the best vantage points), or hop aboard a cruise to see these gentle giants up close.
Spot whales on the North Coast
In far northern NSW, hop aboard the catamaran George Bass to spot whales with Coolangatta Whale Watch, boarding in Tweed Heads, an 8.5-hour drive (or 1.5-hour flight) north of Sydney.
Spot whales from Cape Byron, the Australian mainland’s most easterly point, a 40-minute drive south of Tweed Heads, and on small cruise tours such as Whale Watching Byron Bay and Blue Bay Whale Watching, which departs from the pretty village of Brunswick Heads. If watching whales from a kayak is more your thing, head out with Go Sea Kayak Byron Bay or Cape Byron Kayaks.
A half-hour drive south of Byron Bay, Ballina is home to the Ballina Head and Black Head lookouts — both good for spotting whales. Or join a cruise with Out of the Blue Adventures, accompanied by a marine biologist.
At Iluka Bluff, an hour’s drive south of Ballina, you’ll find a dedicated whale-watching platform with outstanding views. Wooli Deep Sea Tours takes visitors out on the water to spot whales and explore the beautiful Solitary Islands Marine Park.
How about swimming alongside humpback whales? At Jetty Dive in Coffs Harbour, a 5.5-hour drive north of Sydney, you can don a wetsuit, mask and fins, and slide into the water alongside whales. The curious creatures often glide right up to the swimmers to take a closer look.
Port Macquarie is the halfway point between Sydney and Byron Bay (four hours from either) and has a 9km Coastal Walk that is dotted with vantage points perfect for whale spotting. Cruise on Port Jet Cruise Adventures’ Wave Rider, one of the fastest commercial whale-watching boats around, or get a bird’s-eye view with Port Macquarie Seaplanes.
At Port Stephens, 2.5 hours from Sydney, grab your binoculars and head to Tomaree Head, Barry Park at Fingal Bay, Fishermans Bay, Birubi Point or Boat Harbour Headland. Cruise operators include Moonshadow-TQC Cruises, and Aquamarine Adventures.
In the city of Newcastle, two hours north of Sydney, NOVA Cruises heads out to spot whales in the open water. For great views from dry land, head to Shepherds Hill lookout, popular with locals.
Whale watching, Newcastle Credit: Newcastle Council
Whale watching at Newcastle harbour
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Whale watching, Newcastle Credit: Newcastle Council
Whale watching at Newcastle harbour
Whale Watching Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Whale watching off-shore in Sydney.
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Whale Watching Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Whale watching off-shore in Sydney.
Watch for whales in Sydney
Sit back and watch the whales pass by from the lookouts at Sydney Harbour’s North and South Head. At the tip of the Northern Beaches, Barrenjoey Head at Palm Beach offers an elevated viewpoint. For on-the-water experiences, FantaSea Cruising, Bass & Flinders Cruises, Sydney Princess Cruises and Manly Ocean Adventures are just some of the whale-watching cruise boats that leave from Circular Quay, Darling Harbour and Manly.
See whales on the South Coast
Jervis Bay, a three-hour drive south of Sydney, is halfway along the whales’ 4,000km migration route, and whales often stop here to rest and play with newborn calves. You can swim with whales with Dive Jervis Bay, or head out with cruise operators such as Jervis Bay Wild. Head to Penguin Head at Culburra Beach or the viewing platform in Booderee National Park to watch from the shore.
Joined to the mainland by a sand bar, Broulee Island, two hours south of Jervis Bay, is another great vantage point. At Toragy Point, a panoramic lookout has information about whales and marine life as well as great views.
An hour’s drive further south, Narooma Charters runs whale-watching tours to stunning Montague Island. Also near Narooma, you can learn about the significance of whales in Aboriginal culture, through Ngaran Ngaran Culture Awareness, which includes Whale Dreaming ceremonies as part of its tours during the whale-watching season.
At the coastal town of Merimbula, Sapphire Coastal Adventures offers a 100 per cent whale spotting guarantee. It’s an 80-minute drive south of Narooma or less than six hours from Sydney.
Last but not least is Eden, half an hour south of Merimbula. Whales are a huge part of the history of this small town, which was a whaling centre for centuries before becoming a whale-watching hub. In calm Twofold Bay, calves get a rest and whales feed before their final leg back to Antarctica. Take a self-drive tour along the Killer Whale Trail that takes you to five historic whaling sites, or get out on the water with Cat Balou Cruises or Freedom Charters. The Eden Whale Festival in October–November has events including a land-based whale-spotting tour and tours of historic Davidson Whaling Station, plus food, entertainment, music, film and fireworks.
Swimming with Whales in Jervis Bay Highlights Credit: Destination NSW
Experience the once in a lifetime opportunity to Swim with Whales.
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Swimming with Whales in Jervis Bay Highlights Credit: Destination NSW
Experience the once in a lifetime opportunity to Swim with Whales.
Whale Watching, Jervis Bay Credit: Jordan Robins
Humpback whale breaching off Jervis Bay on the south coast of NSW.
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Whale Watching, Jervis Bay Credit: Jordan Robins
Humpback whale breaching off Jervis Bay on the south coast of NSW.
Ngaran Ngaran Culture Awareness, Narooma Credit: Destination NSW
Experience a Whale Dreaming ceremony on a Ngaran Ngaran Culture Awareness tour.
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Ngaran Ngaran Culture Awareness, Narooma Credit: Destination NSW
Experience a Whale Dreaming ceremony on a Ngaran Ngaran Culture Awareness tour.
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Blue Pool, BermaguiCredit: Destination NSW
The scenic Blue Pool on the Bermagui coastline.
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You’ll find spectacular ocean pools dotted along the southern coastline of New South Wales. These handmade pools, fed by the ocean’s waves, are often built into the rocks near beautiful sandy beaches, can be hidden away along the coastline and are enjoyed mostly by locals. Ocean pools are great for kids learning how to swim, lap swimming and for a dip on the days when the waves are a little too big for your liking. Here’s where to find an ocean pool on the coast south of Sydney.
In the Illawarra
You’ll find many spectacular ocean pools in the Illawarra area, from south of the Royal National Park all the way through to the popular seaside town of Kiama. These include lovely pools at Coledale, Bulli, Towradgi, Port Kembla and North Wollongong.
Take the road through the Royal National Park to Stanwell Park and onto Coalcliff Beach, where the ocean pool is set against a dramatic backdrop of the escarpment.
Nuns Pool, at Flagstaff Point in Wollongong, is one of the oldest in the state, dating back to the 1830s. (The title of oldest ocean pool goes to the Bogey Hole in Newcastle, north of Sydney. It was built by convicts in 1819.) Located below the lighthouse, the Nuns Pool (formerly known as Chain Baths and used by the nuns of St Mary’s convent) sits in a small, sheltered cove and is accessed via a narrow path chiselled into the sandstone.
Further south at Kiama, the Blowhole Point Ocean Pool offers a safe swimming spot near the area’s famous blowhole, the largest in the world, on a headland near the town centre. This beautiful, hand-cut pool is an irregular shape and has a varied depth and rock bottom – it was also once a men-only bath. You can also take the 15-minute walk around Kiama Harbour from the blowhole to Black Beach Reserve. Here you can do 50-metre laps in the Olympic-size Continental Ocean Pool.
A 15-minute drive south of Kiama is the tiny coastal town of Gerringong. Head down to Gerringong’s Werri Beach for a swim at Ourie Ocean Pool, at the southern end of the beach. This rectangular pool, carved into a flat rock shelf, has a smooth concrete bottom and is perfect for a summer’s day dip.
Bulli Rockpool, Bulli Credit: Destination NSW
Sun setting over Bulli Rockpool, Bulli.
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Bulli Rockpool, Bulli Credit: Destination NSW
Sun setting over Bulli Rockpool, Bulli.
Ourie Pool, Gerringong Credit: Destination NSW
Scenic aerial over Ourie Pool off Werri Beach, Gerringong.
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Ourie Pool, Gerringong Credit: Destination NSW
Scenic aerial over Ourie Pool off Werri Beach, Gerringong.
From the Illawarra to the Shoalhaven
Drive an hour further south into the Shoalhaven region and seek out Huskisson Sea Pool at Huskisson. This coastal town has a rich shipbuilding heritage, which you can explore at the Jervis Bay Maritime Museum after your swim.
A 45-minute drive south of Huskisson brings you to Mollymook, where you’ll find the South Coast’s famous Bogey Hole, a natural rock pool on the headland south of the beach. There’s also a lovely ocean pool at Ulladulla, a five-minute drive further down the coast.
On the Sapphire Coast
One of the state’s most famous ocean pools is found at Bermagui, a little over five hours by car from Sydney, on the Sapphire Coast. Bermagui’s Blue Pool is revered as one of the prettiest, filled with azure-hued water fading to turquoise and green. At 50 metres long it makes for a great lap-swimming pool and there’s also a shallow wading pool, ideal for kids, just next to the pool.
One of the southernmost ocean pools on the NSW coastline is the Aslings Beach Rock Pool, a hidden gem carved into the pink-and-white cliffs at Aslings Beach in Eden, a six-hour drive from Sydney. It’s only a short walk from town, but its low profile makes it hard to spot from further down the beach. Make your way over the rocks from the beach and take a dip at low tide before the waves have a chance to deposit any seaweed.
Blue Pool, Bermagui Credit: Destination NSW
The picturesque Blue Pool situated along the Bermagui coastline.
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Blue Pool, Bermagui Credit: Destination NSW
The picturesque Blue Pool situated along the Bermagui coastline.
Aslings Beach Rock Pool, Eden Credit: Destination NSW
Aerial overlooking Aslings Beach Rock Pool in Eden.
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Aslings Beach Rock Pool, Eden Credit: Destination NSW
Aerial overlooking Aslings Beach Rock Pool in Eden.