When is Whale Watching season in Albany?

Nothing quite prepares you for the first blow on the horizon. You are standing on a granite headland with a takeaway coffee, the Southern Ocean heaving below, and then a plume of spray hangs in the cold air like smoke. A back rolls, a fluke lifts, and everyone on the lookout goes quiet at once. This is winter in Albany, and for a few months each year the whales make King George Sound one of the most reliable places in the country to see them.

This guide is for anyone planning a winter escape to the Great Southern who wants to actually see whales, whether that means a boat trip out into the Sound or a warm coat and a clifftop lookout. If you have been typing "Albany whale watching", "where to see whales in Albany" or "whale watching season Western Australia" into a search bar, this is the practical, local answer. Albany is a genuinely special place to watch these animals because the same sheltered waters that made it Australia's last whaling town now bring the whales back every winter, close to shore and easy to reach.

When is whale watching season in Albany?

Albany's whale watching season runs from around late May through to early October, with the middle of winter into early spring being the sweet spot. Humpback whales are most reliably seen from June through August as they rest in the Sound on their southern migration, and southern right whales are most commonly sighted later in the season, from August through to October, when they move into the sheltered bays to calve. That overlap in August and September is why so many visitors time their trip for the tail end of winter: you have a real chance of seeing both species in the one stay.

Because the season is weather-dependent and the animals are wild, no two days are the same. A still, clear morning after a front has passed often gives the calmest water and the best viewing, both from a boat and from the clifftops. If you are building a trip around the whales, allow a few days rather than a single afternoon so you can pick the best conditions. It is one of the reasons a longer, slow-travel stay works so well here, and why so many guests use their time to fold in other seasonal happenings around town, from markets to gallery shows. It is always worth checking what's on in Albany before you arrive so a wet morning still has a plan.

Which whales will you see in King George Sound?

The two species you are most likely to see in Albany are humpback whales and southern right whales, and they behave quite differently. King George Sound acts as a resting area for humpbacks on their southern migration and as a calving ground for southern rights, which is exactly why the whales come in so close to Albany's shores rather than passing far out to sea.

Humpback whales

Humpbacks are the acrobats. They are the ones you see breaching, slapping the water with a pectoral fin, or lifting their tail flukes as they dive. Around Albany they are most active from June to August, and on a good day out in the Sound you can watch mothers and calves resting close together. Their tall, bushy blow is often the first sign you will spot from a lookout.

Southern right whales

Southern rights are the gentle giants of the calving season. They come into the calmer, more protected bays from August onwards to give birth and nurse their young, and because they hug the coast they are often the easier of the two to see from land. You can recognise them by the pale patches, called callosities, on their heads and by their distinctive V-shaped blow. Seeing a southern right calf turning slow circles beside its mother, close in to a sheltered beach, is one of those quiet Albany moments people remember for years.

Can you see whales from land in Albany?

Yes, Albany is one of the best places in Australia to watch whales from land, and you do not need to book anything to do it. The coastline south and east of town is high, rugged and faces directly into the migration path, so a good pair of eyes, a warm coat and a little patience are often all you need. Land-based watching is free, family-friendly and perfect for a morning when the sea is too rough for boats.

Torndirrup National Park

Torndirrup National Park, about a 20 minute drive from the Albany town centre, is the headline act. The Gap and Natural Bridge sit within the park, and the elevated viewing platform that reaches out over the ocean gives you a superb vantage point to scan for humpbacks and southern rights. Nearby, the lookout above Salmon Holes is another excellent spot, and the broader coastline here, from the Blowholes to Bald Head, is prime whale-watching country. These clifftops are among the most dramatic of Albany's attractions in any season, but in winter they take on a second life as natural whale hides.

Middleton Beach and the Ellen Cove Boardwalk

Closer to town, Middleton Beach and the Ellen Cove Boardwalk are lovely, low-effort places to keep an eye on the water, especially for southern rights that move into the sheltered bays. You can walk the boardwalk with a coffee from one of the beachside cafes and scan the horizon as you go. It is the kind of easy, unhurried whale-watching that suits families and anyone who would rather not spend a morning on a boat.

Heritage Park lookouts and Marine Drive

The lookouts within Albany Heritage Park, including Padre White Lookout and Convoy Lookout on Mount Clarence, give you height and a wide sweep of King George Sound, and the Marine Drive lookouts on the way out towards Torndirrup are worth a slow-down too. Bring binoculars if you have them, because from these higher points the whales can be a fair way out, and give yourself time: whale watching rewards the patient far more than the rushed.

What is the best whale watching boat tour in Albany?

The best whale watching tour is the one that gets you out into King George Sound on a calm morning, and Albany has several well-regarded operators to choose from. Going out on the water lets you get closer to the action and see behaviour that is hard to appreciate from a clifftop, and most tours combine the whales with the history and scenery of the Sound. Departure times and prices vary with the season, so book ahead and confirm the details directly at the time of writing.

• Albany Ocean Adventures runs cruises during the season, typically with morning and early-afternoon departures, subject to numbers and weather.
• Albany Whale Tours operates aboard a twin-hulled sailing catamaran, with an eco-friendly, low-emission focus and a whale-sighting guarantee that offers a free return if no whales are seen.
• Naturaliste Charters departs from the Albany Waterfront Marina with morning and afternoon tours during the season.
• King George Sound Safari runs whale-watching and scenic boat safaris around King George Sound and Princess Royal Harbour.

If you are prone to seasickness, choose a calmer day, take something before you board, and pick a seat mid-vessel where the movement is gentlest. A morning tour often gives you the smoothest water and the best light for photos, and it leaves your afternoon free to explore the coast. Past guests often tell us the boat trip was the highlight of their winter stay, and you can read what past guests say about basing themselves here for it.

Discovery Bay and Albany's whaling story

To understand why the whales matter so much to Albany, it helps to know that the town was once at the centre of the industry that hunted them. Discovery Bay, out at Frenchman Bay about a 25 minute drive from town, is the former Cheynes Beach Whaling Station, now preserved as Albany's Historic Whaling Station. The company began operating here in 1952, and when it closed in November 1978 it was the last whaling company to cease operations in Australia. The site opened as a tourism attraction in 1980 and is now home to an interactive museum on whales and whaling.

It is a confronting and fascinating place, and it adds a real depth to a whale-watching trip. Standing where the old station worked, then driving back around the coast to watch living whales roll through the Sound, gives you a sense of how far Albany has come. It is also a good rainy-day option and a natural pairing with a morning of land-based watching along the same stretch of coast. Entry fees apply, so check current pricing directly before you go.

A whale-watching day in Albany

Here is a simple, flexible plan for a single big whale day, easy to shuffle depending on the weather and your boat booking.

Visiting from Ocean Mist Villa

Ocean Mist Villa is an ideal base for a winter whale-watching trip because it puts you right on the water and close to everything on this list. The fully self-contained Albany accommodation sits about a 100 metre stroll from Middleton Beach, so you can be scanning the Ellen Cove Boardwalk for southern rights within minutes of waking. Torndirrup National Park, the Albany Waterfront Marina and Frenchman Bay are all an easy drive away, which means you can chase the best conditions each morning rather than committing to a single plan.

Being self-contained matters more than usual in winter. You can cook a warm breakfast before an early boat, dry your jackets and boots between outings, and soak in the private outdoor spa under the stars after a cold day on the clifftops. It is the kind of comfortable Albany accommodation that lets you stay a few nights and take the season at its own pace. If you are weighing up where to stay, our team is happy to help you plan the trip, so feel free to get in touch, and when you are ready, book direct for the best rate.

Frequently asked questions about whale watching in Albany