Canberra is the only Australian capital without a coastline. It is also one of the easiest cities in the country to go whale watching from, because the humpbacks come to you.
Every year from May, tens of thousands of them travel north along the New South Wales coast. Whale watching near Canberra puts you within easy reach of two of them, and we run both: Batemans Bay Wild and Jervis Bay Wild.
Whale watching near Canberra, from two bays
Batemans Bay Wild
Batemans Bay sits at the end of the Kings Highway, on the coast Canberrans have been driving to for generations. Our Batemans Bay whale watching tour leaves from the middle of town and runs for two hours.
You head out aboard Sensational, a rigid inflatable vessel built for speed, stability and manoeuvrability, tracking the coastline where the whales pass close to shore. Our crew share the local marine life, the landscape and the history of the area as you go.
Cruises depart daily from the Public Pontoon at 12 Clyde Street, opposite the Bridge Plaza on the waterfront, with parking about 100 metres away. Arrive 30 minutes before departure.
Jervis Bay Wild
A little further up the coast is Huskisson, about two and a half hours from Canberra. Our Jervis Bay whale cruise also runs two hours, heading out towards the towering sea cliffs and ancient sea caves of the Beecroft Peninsula.
Jervis Bay is a marine park with some of the clearest water in the country, so the cruise tends to become a broader wildlife day. Fur seals haul out on the rocks, sea eagles work the cliffs, and a resident pod of more than 100 bottlenose dolphins lives here year round and loves to surf the bow.
Cruises depart 10am and 1pm daily, including public holidays, from the terminal inside Fishermens Wharf at 15 Field Street. Check in 30 minutes before your cruise time.
One migration, two bays
Both cruises put you among the same humpbacks on the same journey up the coast. Two hours on the water, an experienced crew who are out there every day of the season, and a genuine chance to watch one of the great wildlife events on the planet happen right in front of you.
Some Canberrans have a favourite. Plenty do both across a season, because they are different bays, different boats and different days out. Whichever you choose, you are on the water with us.
When the season runs
Whale season on the South Coast runs from around May through to November, and it comes in two halves.
- May to August, the northern migration. Humpbacks heading for warmer breeding waters. Lean, fast and travelling with purpose. This is when you see tail slaps, pec slaps, full breaches, and sometimes a heat run, where several males chase a female at speed.
- September to November, the southern migration. The whales come back down with newborn calves alongside them, and they slow right down. Encounters run longer, closer and more playful.
Both halves are worth the drive. They are simply different shows.
What to bring
It is always cooler on the water than it is in the car park.
- A weather jacket or a jumper, and a beanie
- Sunglasses and sunscreen. Winter glare off the water is stronger than people expect
- Drinking water
- A camera with a bit of zoom, if you have one
Make a day of it
Both towns are built for exactly this kind of trip. Batemans Bay puts you on the Clyde River with the beaches and the oysters right there. Huskisson gives you white sand, Collingwood Beach off the edge of town, and good food a short walk from the wharf.
Either way, you can be back in Canberra the same evening.
Book your cruise
The season is short and the weekends fill early. Pick your bay and lock the day in.
