Whale Watching Season Returns to Sydney This May
Each May, the annual whale watching season begins in Sydney as humpback whales start their migration along Australia’s east coast. After spending summer feeding in Antarctica, the first whales begin travelling north towards warmer breeding waters, passing the Sydney coastline along the way.
For Sydneysiders and visitors alike, May marks the beginning of one of the city’s most anticipated wildlife experiences. Over the coming months, thousands of humpback whales will travel past Sydney, creating incredible whale watching opportunities both from the shoreline and on the water.
May marks the start of the annual humpback whale migration past Sydney. As ocean temperatures cool, whales leave their Antarctic feeding grounds and begin travelling north towards Queensland’s warmer breeding waters.
Sydney sits directly along this migration route, placing the city in a prime position for whale watching throughout the season. While whale numbers build steadily over the coming months, the first sightings often begin appearing from May.
For whale watching enthusiasts, the start of the season is an exciting reminder that the migration is underway once again. If you’d like to learn more about the journey these whales undertake each year, explore our guide to humpback whales along the Sydney coastline.
The beginning of the whale watching season offers a different experience to the peak winter months.
During May and early June, whales are typically focused on travelling north. Sightings may involve individual whales, pairs, or small groups moving steadily along the coastline.
Passengers may still witness behaviours such as breaching, tail slapping and pectoral fin movements, but every sighting is unique. Early season tours provide an opportunity to observe the migration as it begins, before the larger numbers arrive later in winter.
Many of these behaviours become easier to understand once you know what they mean. Read more about humpback whale behaviour during the Sydney migration and what you might observe on the water.
One of the reasons Sydney is such a popular whale watching destination is its location along the migration route.
Tours departing from Circular Quay travel through Sydney Harbour before reaching offshore waters beyond the heads, where humpback whales pass throughout the season. This combination of iconic harbour scenery and direct access to the migration corridor creates a whale watching experience unlike anywhere else in Australia.
With departures from the heart of the city and direct access to the migration path, Sydney offers one of the most accessible whale watching experiences on Australia’s east coast.
While the season begins in May, whale numbers generally increase throughout June, July and August as more humpback whales move north.
The migration continues through spring as whales return south, often accompanied by calves. This means whale watching opportunities extend well beyond the start of the season, with different experiences available throughout the migration period.
You can explore the full whale watching season in Sydney to see what each stage of the migration has to offer.
The arrival of May signals the beginning of another whale watching season in Sydney. As humpback whales begin their journey north, there is no better time to get out on the water and experience the migration first hand.
Whether you’re joining your first whale watching cruise or returning for another season, the coming months offer countless opportunities to observe these remarkable animals as they travel past Sydney.
Ready to start the season? Book your Sydney whale watching tour and experience the migration from the water.