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The arrival of winter in Western Australia signifies the beginning of an epic migration, as around 40,000 humpback whales leave Antarctica and begin their long journey to warm waters for calving.
With WA having the longest whale-watching season in Australia, there are plenty of opportunities to get a glimpse of these majestic creatures no matter where you are in the state – even if you're a beginner.
RELATED: Meet the orcas of Bremer Bay »
So, it’s time to grab your binoculars – here are 10 of the best whale-watching spots in WA.
NORTH
1. Ningaloo Reef in Exmouth
The Ningaloo Coast, and in particular the Exmouth Gulf, hosts the highest density of humpback whales in the Southern Hemisphere during their annual 11,000km migration from Antarctica. While travelling the ‘Humpback Highway’, the whales travel along the Ningaloo coastline on their way to their breeding grounds off the Kimberley coast.
In addition to whale watching tours, in Exmouth and Coral Bay, you can also take a tour to swim with humpbacks. This region is the only place in WA where you can get into the water to swim with humpbacks.
Humpbacks are a very active whale species, so you’ll often find them rolling on the surface, slapping their fins and tails and breaching clear of the water. The large amount of other whale species sighted offshore, along with the significance of the Humpback Highway, cement Ningaloo as one of Australia’s premier whale watching destinations.
Time of year: June to November.
Land-based viewing: Town Beach, Sunrise Beach, Exmouth Gulf and Bundegi Beach, Vlamingh Head Lighthouse.
Whale species: Blue, short-finned pilot, humpback dwarf, minke, bryde's and killer whales.
2. Kimberley Coast
The tropical waters of the Kimberley Coast are the breeding and birthing grounds for thousands of humpback whales making their annual migration from Antarctica. The protected bays of Camden Sound Marine Park, in particular, have become a safe nursery for the whales, and are an ideal location for newborn humpback calves to build up the blubber they need for their return journey.
Time of year: June to November.
Land-based viewing: Camden Sound Marine Park, Cape Leveque and Middle Lagoon.
Whale species: Humpback, pilot, pygmy blue and killer whales.
3. Broome
The Kimberley coast is the end point of the whales’ epic journey from Antarctica, to warmer waters and Broome offers some great land-based vantage points as well as chartered whale watching tours. During this phenomenal annual event, you can watch a mixture of behaviours from the whales; including energetic breaching, playful antics and nurturing periods between mother and calf whales as they learn to swim and breathe.
Time of year: July to September.
Land-based viewing: Gantheaume Point and Roebuck Bay.
Whale species: Predominantly humpback whales.
PERTH
4. Perth coast
Thousands of humpback whales migrate through Perth’s waters and you can get up close on a boat tour departing from Hillarys Boat Harbour or Fremantle.
Tour companies such as Rottnest Fast Ferries and Whale Watching Western Australia can take you out to get the perfect view of these playful whales.
From March to May, Whale Watching Western Australia also offers the only dedicated tour offshore to the Perth Canyon to see endangered blue whales.
Time of year: Humpbacks September to November, blue whales March to May
Tour locations: Tours departing from Fremantle and Hillarys Boat Harbour.
Whale species: Humpback, southern right and blue whales.
5. Rottnest
There are plenty of whale watching opportunities on Rottnest in the colder months. Humpback whales pass through the waters just off Rottnest each September, and can be viewed easily by boat or on land at a number of the island’s vantage points.
The Perth Canyon Marine Park just off Rottnest hosts the largest gathering of blue whales in Australia. The park is a unique feeding site for blue whales and is open to the public for boat charters and tours.
Time of year: September to November.
Land-based viewing: West End, Cape Vlamingh and the Perth Canyon Marine Park.
Whale species: Pygmy blue, humpback, dwarf minke and blue whales.
SOUTH
6. Dunsborough
After having their calves, the whales, humpbacks in particular, return to Geographe Bay near Dunsborough to rest and nurse their young.
One of the best places to spot whales near Dunsborough is at Canal Rocks. There are plenty of great vantage points, including the centrally located Rotary Lookout, so you’ll be able to easily spot spouts, blows and flipping tail flukes in the water at the optimal times of year.
If you’d prefer a higher whale watching vantage point, head to the Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse’s viewing deck to enjoy sweeping views of whales in the ocean around Geographe Bay – where you’ll often spot mothers nursing their young before the journey south.
Time of year: September to early December.
Land-based viewing: Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse, Shelley Cove and Canal Rocks Rotary Lookout.
Whale species: Humpback and southern right whales.
7. Margaret River
Margaret River is most well-known for its world-class wineries and surf breaks, but it’s also a fantastic place to go whale watching. Nestled between Augusta and Dunsborough, Margaret River offers more great vantage points from which to view the whales on their annual migration.
South of Margaret River, a great vantage point is at Boranup Lookout within the Boranup Karri Forest. Remember to pack your binoculars for this lookout, or if you’d like to get a little closer, head to Hamelin Bay beach, which offers plenty of coastal walk trails and lookouts.
Time of year: Late May to late November.
Land-based viewing: Boranup Lookout in the Boranup Karri Forest and Hamelin Bay Beach.
Whale species: Blue, humpback and southern right whales. Beaked, minke and sperm whales may also be spotted.
8. Augusta
Augusta's Flinders Bay is one of few places in the world where you can witness southern right and humpback whales interact as they court, mate, play and give birth to their young. As they migrate north near Cape Leeuwin, the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse is one of the best vantage points, plus, its viewing deck is fitted with binoculars.
If you’re looking to get a little closer to the whales, the Augusta Boat Harbour is home to a handful of different whale watching tour operators, with tours running regularly during the season.
Time of year: Late May to September.
Land-based viewing:Cape to Cape track, Hamelin Bay and Flinders Bay, Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse.
Whale species: Humpback and southern right whales.
9. Albany
The port city of Albany is home to the last operating whaling station in the southern hemisphere, which was converted into a museum after operations ceased in 1978. Today, you’ll find mammoth pods of humpback and southern right whales off Albany’s coast during each southern migration.
One of the best spots for whale watching in Albany is King George Sound, a sheltered harbour offering two passages to the Great Southern Ocean. In fact, local tour guides and whale experts often remark that it's strange to enter the Sound without encountering any whales.
Time of year: Late May to early October.
Land-based viewing: King George Sound, Albany’s Historic Whaling Station, and Torndirrup National Park.
Whale species: Humpback and southern right whales.
10. Bremer Bay
Although they are technically part of the dolphin family, it would be hard to talk about WA's diverse marine life without mentioning the orcas of Bremer Bay.
The small, coastal township of Bremer Bay is home to the largest congregation of orca in the southern hemisphere – and it’s the only place in Australia that you’ll be guaranteed to meet these apex predators. Over 150 orca traverse the Bremer Marine Park to feed on prey from January to April each year.
And it’s not just orca that you’ll find in the canyon. Sperm, pilot and beaked whales also utilise these nutrient-rich waters as feeding grounds. The whales feed predominantly on giant squid in the area. For those wanting to get up close with the bay's whales, daily orca research expeditions depart from Bremer Bay from late January to April.
Time of year: Late-January to October for whales.
Tour locations: Bremer Canyon and Bremer Bay Boat Harbour.
Whale species: Sperm, pilot and southern right whales.
