Whale-watching on Crown land a sight to sea
Keen whale-watchers are encouraged to take advantage of free land-based vantage points on Crown land as the annual whale migration season commences.
Whales begin their annual migration along the NSW coast via the route known as the Humpback Highway, and coastal Crown land locations provide some of the best vantage points for spotting whales surfacing and breaching in nearshore waters.
People are encouraged to bring their binoculars and visit Crown land lookouts to view these extraordinary creatures. Locations include:
On the far South Coast, a series of Crown land coastal vantage points around the state’s most southerly town, Eden, provide viewing opportunities as whales first enter NSW waters and again later in the season on their return journey south. These locations have long been recognised for their role in marking the southern gateway of the migration.
Further north, Short Point and Long Point Lookouts at Merimbula offer broad views across Merimbula Bay, where sightings can occasionally include southern right whales, and where pods can often be seen continuing their steady movement north along the coast.
On the Central Coast, the Norah Head lighthouse precinct provides elevation and wide ocean exposure, making it a reliable location as whales migrate. Its elevated position allows observers to scan open water for pods travelling steadily past the headland.
In the Hunter region, Boat Harbour Headland in stunning Port Stephens provides an elevated Crown land vantage point, supported by the Boat Harbour Whale Watching path with interpretive markers and a series of natural lookout points. The proximity of the coastline to deep water means whales are often observed travelling close to the shoreline, allowing extended land-based viewing along this exposed section of the migration route.
Continuing north, the Yamba lighthouse sits on a high, exposed grassy headland overlooking the Clarence River mouth, where whales are known to slow, rest and surface as they move further north along the coast. Its broad outlook makes it a well-known place to observe whales as the migration progresses.
At the NSW–Queensland border, the Tweed’s Fingal Head features a viewing platform on a prominent rocky headland positioned close to the northbound migration path, offering an up-close, land-based perspective as whales pass along the coastline on the final stretch of their journey north.
Together, these Crown land lookouts, headlands and coastal reserves form a connected network of publicly accessible whale-watching places up and down the NSW coast.
Whale sightings are often easier earlier in the day or later in the afternoon when ocean conditions are calmer, with tell-tale signs such as blows, breaches or surface splashes helping draw the eye.
Binoculars can be useful from elevated viewpoints, while nearby coastal walks, rock platforms and beaches can also help keep kids engaged as families wait for whales to appear.
Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:
“Whale season is one of the great natural spectacles along the NSW coast, and it’s always impressive to see just how close these magnificent giants of the sea travel remarkably close to the shoreline.
“Many of the best land‑based viewing spots are on Crown land, from headlands and coastal lookouts to nearby public reserves and holiday parks.”