Brisbane whale watching tours guide

Guide

By Jamie Wilton

Whale watching season | Brisbane tours | Best vantage points

Did you know you can go whale watching in Brisbane? Each year, as many as 35,000 humpback whales make their way along the Eastern Seaboard and through the waters off Brisbane and its surrounding islands en route to warmer waters in the north.

While joining a local whale watching tour is undoubtedly the best way to witness the amazing sight of these majestic leviathans on their massive journey – at 5,000 kilometres, it’s the longest animal migration in the world – you can also spot the first pods making their migration from one of many vantage points on land.

Hervey Bay, the whale watching capital of the world, is well-known as the premier place to join a whale watching tour. But what isn’t as well known is that Brisbane (and southern neighbour, the Gold Coast) boast Australia’s longest continuous whale watching season. If you’re holidaying here during this time, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to witness humpback whales migrating, as well as the opportunity to see the whales exhibit different behaviours.

At the start of the season in June, the migration is largely females and young calves (born the previous year), then heading into July and August when the migration peaks, you’ll see larger pods pass through with males competing for the attention of females. In September, these majestic creatures start their migration and over October, you’ll have the chance to see females with their newborn calves.

Brisbane whale watching season

Whale watching season in Brisbane and along the Gold Coast is from June to October, but the best time to spot a migrating mammoth on the ‘Humpback Highway’ is in August, when the annual migration is at its peak.

During whale watching season, tours run daily from Brisbane and Redcliffe, as well as Mulgumpin's (Moreton Island) Tangalooma Resort, with a variety of tour options and departure times available to suit everyone’s travel itineraries and plans.

Brisbane whale watching tours

humpback whale fully breaches out of the water — Brisbane Whale Watching, Redcliffe, Brisbane

Departing from Redcliffe Jetty, a 45-minute drive from the Brisbane CBD, whale watching tours in Redcliffe are provided by Brisbane Whale Watching. Jump onboard and cruise through the waters of Brisbane’s Moreton Bay where you can watch humpback whales breach, blow and play just metres from the ‘Eye Spy’, their advanced whale watching vessel.

Tangalooma Island Resort Day Cruises offers whale watching tours from Moreton Island (Tangalooma) and Brisbane City aboard Australia’s largest dedicated whale watching vessel. They offer several cruise options (Classic Day Cruise, Dolphin Viewing Day Cruise and Premium Dolphin Feeding Day Cruise) to which you can add a whale watching tour inclusion, with all tours offering return launch transfers and a light lunch, along with a selection of free resort activities.

Where to see whales from land

Pack a pair of binoculars, sunscreen, and head out on a clear, cloud-free day to spot humpback whales from land.

While Brisbane's mainland presents few whale whatching opportunities, head beyond Moreton Bay to these adventure-packed sand islands for ocean views and spout sightings galore.

Cape Moreton, Mulgumpin (Moreton Island)

Family look out at ocean from Cape Moreton Lighthouse, Moreton Island — Cape Moreton Lighthouse, Mulgumpin (Moreton Island), Brisbane

Located on the northeastern tip of Mulgumpin (Moreton Island), Cape Moreton offers sweeping ocean views. Home to the Cape Moreton Lighthouse, visitors will have excellent visibility out over the ocean where whales are regularly spotted during the season, and dolphins, sharks and turtles are seen all year-round.

Cape Moreton is accessible by 4WD from both North Point Beach and the eastern beach.

Point Lookout, Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island)

With migrating whales regularly seen just a few hundred metres off the coast of North Stradbroke Island, Mulumba - also known as Point Lookout - is one of the best land-based whale watching locations in the region.

Start with the Gorge Walk and continue along part of the ‘Discover Stradbroke Whale Trail’, a shaded walk with vantage points and raised platforms with excellent visibility, Point Lookout is located halfway between Cylinder and Frenchmans Beach. When construction is complete, Yalingbila Bibula will be an immersive cultural and ecotourism experience that will share the stories of the Quandamooka People, the island's Traditional Custodians.