Whale Watching Tours in Australia
By Hayi Mansoor

One of the most majestic creatures on the planet is the whale. Most people go their entire lives without catching a single glimpse of these amazing mammals but if you're planning a trip to Australia you don't have to be one of them. The island continent is one of the best places on Earth to view these amazing animals in action.

Seeing the Whales

The best way to connect with the whales is through a whale watching tour. There are many organizations that offer these tours so if you are staying near the coast you'll probably be able to find one fairly easily.

On the tour, you'll be taken out into the ocean to areas where the whales are most likely to be. The best time for the tours is around noon because that's why they are the most visible. Be sure to bring along a camera and your binoculars so you can not only see the whales close up but can preserve the memory forever.

Depending on when you visit Australia, you'll have the best luck finding whales in different parts of the ocean. An experienced tour guide will know this information and will make sure you end up in the best spot possible for whale watching. For example, in April and May you're more likely to find the whales in the northern part of the ocean while in August look for them in the south.

Whales You'll See

The nice thing about Australia's whale watching is that you can see a number of different species of whales from off its coast. Humpback whales, for example, are one of the most commonly spotted. You can also see the southern right whale. Unfortunately, the numbers of this whale are dwindling so you'll want to see it while it's still around.

Even more impressive is that some whale watching tours may even give you a change to see the awesome blue whale. Remember the blue whale is thought to be the largest animal that has ever existed on Earth. Seeing just a part of that massive body will be able to put that statement into new perspective for you.

Where to Go to See Them

Although you'll find plenty of places offering whale watching tours and cruises along the coast, if you don't like the idea of hitting the water in search of these giants of the ocean you can also watch the water from vantage points along the coast. Some of the best spots are Exmouth, Denham, Geographe Bay, and Albany.

You can also go to Ningaloo Marine Park between March and June. There you can go snorkeling with whale sharks so you can get an up-close and personal view of them that you simply can't find anywhere else.

When to See Them

Although whales can spotted in Australia throughout the year, you will have more luck in some places at some times than others. For example, the whale watching is amazing in King George Sound between mid-summer and early autumn. Of course, if you want to see the blue whales, your window of opportunity is pretty narrow. You should visit Australia in September and go to Dunsborough. There you can sometimes even spot baby blue whales.