Best Places To Swim With Whales Around Australia

Here is our guide to the best places to swim with southern right whales, dwarf minke whales, humpbacks and orca whales around Australia.

Swimming with whales has become a popular activity in Australia as the majestic mammals make their way up and down the Australian coastline during their annual migration. Here are the best places to take the plunge and swim with whales around Australia.

Swim with whales off Jervis Bay

a woman relaxing by tthe edge of an infinity pool at Bannisters By the Sea — Spot whales from the infinity pool at Bannisters By the Sea.

You don’t have to swim with whales while on the NSW South Coast. You can clock them, cocktail in hand, by the pool bar when staying at Bannisters By the Sea .

But those feeling a tad more adventurous should book a Mollymook Migration package during their stay at the boutique South Coast property.

As part of the package, the Mollymook hotel has partnered with Woebegone Free Dive to offer a watery wonderland escape that includes a swim with whales. Dylan Boag and Lara Hindmarsh, of Woebegone Free Dive, are passionate about conservation, sustainability, ethical tourism and marine life.

Jervis Bay is halfway along the 5000-kilometre-long migration route and the whales often pull in for a pitstop to rest and play with newborn whales. It’s because of this that Jervis Bay is one of the best locations in Australia to see whales.

a whale spotted along Jervis Bay — Swim with whales near Jervis Bay. (Image: Destination NSW)

Best time to go: June to October
Eco credentials: Woebegone Free Dive takes its responsibilities with the environment seriously and tries to minimise its impact. The tour group operates a community clean-up event once a month and hosts a charity event for to raise funds for South Coast wildlife rescue Float 4 Wildlife. There’s a strict ‘no touch and no harassment’ policy during the tours. No single-use plastic items are onboard and lunch is plant-based.

Swim with whales in Shoalhaven

humpback whales migrating off the south coast of NSW — Humpback whales migrate off the Shoalhaven coast. (Image: Jordan Robins)

Between May and November, tens of thousands of humpback whales migrate from Antarctica through the stunning turquoise waters off the Shoalhaven coast. From winter through to spring, they travel to warmer northern waters to give birth and nurse their calves. Seeing them swim alongside their newborn calves is a truly unforgettable experience.

Join one of Dive Jervis Bay ’s small group tours and jump in the waters of Jervis Bay Marine Park, located on the Humpback Highway. This thrilling 4–6 hour adventure gets you up close to gentle giants and playful seals, while a local expert shares the history of whaling in Jervis Bay, current conservation efforts and fascinating facts about whales to enrich the experience.

If you want to combine whale watching and fishing, book a tour with Ulladulla Fishing Charters , which offers excellent whale watching opportunities from the pristine waters off Ulladulla.

Best time to go: May to November

Eco credentials: Dive Jervis Bay is Sea Shepherd approved and operates under strict NSW permits. They follow regulated, non-invasive whale interaction practices. Their tours are small-group and education-focused, with a strong emphasis on marine conservation and wildlife respect.

Swim with humpbacks off Hervey Bay

a humpback whale submerged underwater with its head poking out of the water at Hervey Bay — Hervey Bay is a haven for humpback whales. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

The waterways around Hervey Bay are one of the best places to swim with whales in Australia. It wasn’t on a whim that the World Cetacean Alliance named Hervey Bay as the world’s first Whale Heritage Site at the World Whale Conference in 2019.

The Fraser Coast region jumps out as a haven for humpback whales because of its unique geography and ecology. In fact, it’s the only place on Earth that provides landfall between the feeding grounds and the breeding grounds with K’gari on one side and the Queensland coastline on the other.

an aerial view of a boat during a whale-watching tour off the coast of Hervey Bay — Embark on a whale-watching tour off Hervey Bay. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Dive Hervey Bay operates the region’s only dedicated ‘swim with whales’ experience and is one of the best places in the world to see humpback whales.

a humpback whale flipping above the water at Hervey Bay — See humpback whales up close. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Best time to go: Mid-July to late October.
Eco credentials: Guest numbers are strictly limited and the tour operator’s core philosophy is to interact with whales on their terms and to approach a whale at a 100-metre distance.

Swim with humpback whales off K’gari

two humpback whales poking their head out of the water — Spy on K’gari’s majestic giants. (Image: Michael Dawes)

The world’s largest sand island draws visitors to its shores for a multitude of reasons.

Now, guests staying at the Kingfisher Bay Resort can board a tour from the jetty for a jaunt out to the sheltered waters of Platypus Bay for the chance to frolic in the water with humpback whales.

Hervey Bay Whale Watch has partnered with Kingfisher Bay Resort to offer a package aimed at those who want to slide in the water with the whales .

a humpback whale swimming underwater — Have the chance to frolic in the water with humpback whales. (Image: denisbin)

Best time to go: Between July and early September.
Eco credentials: The vessel used for the tours is purpose-built for whale watching, is wheelchair-friendly and has a cap on numbers. The whale swims are at the whim of the whales.

Swim with minke whales off Port Douglas

whales slightly submerged in the water at Port Douglas — The Ribbon Reef region off Port Douglas is the only place in Australia to swim with dwarf minke whales. (Image: Tourism Australia)

The Ribbon Reef region off Port Douglas is the only place in Australia to swim with dwarf minke whales. And according to scientist Dr Alastair Birtles it’s one of the longest wildlife interactions with whales on offer.

The Ribbon Reef region, some 240 kilometres north of Cairns, attracts up to 80 minke whales during the season and the whales come very close as they are ‘extraordinarily curious’ says Dr Birtles.

The tourism vessels licensed to conduct swims with the whales include Mike Ball Dive Expeditions , Silverseries , Pro Dive and the Spirit of Freedom .

Best time to go: June and July.
Eco credentials: Chasing whales is outlawed. Interactions are decided by the whales. Tours allow visitors to contribute to ongoing research and conservation efforts to protect them.

Swim with humpback whales on the Sunshine Coast

a whale jumping out of the water, Sunreef Mooloolaba — Spot these gentle giants from the Sunreef Mooloolaba boat.

Humpback whales are drawn to the nutrient-rich waters off Mooloolaba during their annual migration. And now, Sunreef Mooloolaba offers visitors to the Sunshine Coast the chance to swim with these majestic marine creatures .

Snorkellers are given the opportunity to hold a rope off the back of the Sunreef Mooloolaba boat to eyeball the whales as they swim along the Pacific (Ocean) highway.

If swimming with whales is not your thing, you can still enjoy spotting the whales throughout the season. The pioneering Swim with Whales experience celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2024.

a whale swimming underwater at the Sunshine Coast — The humpback whale migration on the Sunshine Coast starts in early June. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Best time to go: From July to mid-October
Eco credentials: The boat operates under a strict code of conduct to protect both whales and swimmers in accordance with the Australian National Guidelines for whale and dolphin watching.

Swim with humpback whales (or whale sharks) on WA’s Coral Coast

divers as seen above humpback whales underwater — Swim with whales in Ningaloo. (Image: Brooke Pyke Photography and Live Ningaloo)

Ningaloo Marine Park is the only place in Western Australia where you can have an in-water interaction with humpbacks on a tour.

An estimated 40,000 humpback whales embark on the annual migration along the coastline each year which means there’s a 78 per cent in-water interaction success rate.

In addition to the in-water interaction tours, visitors can embark on a whale-watching tour off the coast from Exmouth and Coral Bay on the Coral Coast.

Best of all: humpback whale in-water interaction includes onboard education from dive instructors, many of whom are marine biologists or scientists.

a tail of a humpback whale sticking out of the water in Ningaloo — Witness majestic whales. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

While a whale shark is not a whale but a filter-feeding shark, it’s also possible to swim with these gentle giants off the WA coast.

Check out Ningaloo Whaleshark Swim , 3 Islands Shark Dive , Aussie Marine Adventures , Ningaloo Discovery , Ocean Eco Adventures , Coral Bay Ecotours , Live Ningaloo , Exmouth Dive and Whalesharks Ningaloo and Ningaloo Blue Dive .

a freediver swimming with a whale shark underwater in Ningaloo — Go freediving with whale sharks in Ningaloo. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Best time to go: Between July and October
Eco credentials: The humpback whale and whale shark interaction guidelines have been modelled on the world’s best practice for whale shark swim tours to have minimal impact on the whales. Swimmers are not allowed near mothers and calves.

Winding down in the Yarra Valley, where ‘work from home’ becomes ‘work from wine country’.

Steam from my morning coffee curls gently into the cool valley air, mist-veiled vineyards stretch out in neat rows below me. Magpies warble from trees, and the morning’s quiet carries the soft bleating of lambs from a nearby paddock. Midweek in the Yarra Valley has its own rhythm. It’s slower, quieter, with more empty tables at cafes and cellar doors, and walking trails I can claim all to myself. It’s as if the entire region takes a deep breath once the weekend crowd leaves.

walking trails in the Yarra Valley — You’ll find walking trails are less crowded during the week. (Image: Visit Victoria)

I haven’t come here for a holiday, but to do a little work somewhere other than my home office, where I spend too much time hunched over my desk. Deadlines still loom, meetings still happen, but with flexible work evolving from ‘work from home’ to ‘work from anywhere’, I’m swapping the view of my front yard to the vineyards.

A quiet afternoon at Yarra Valley Dairy

holding a glass of wine at Yarra Valley Dairy — Wine time at Yarra Valley Dairy, where you can enjoy a toastie or bagel in the cafe. (Image: Visit Victoria)

With the Yarra Valley just over an hour from the CBD, many Melburnians could drive here in their lunch break. I arrive late in the afternoon and am delighted to discover the Yarra Valley Dairy still open. On weekends, I’ve seen queues spilling out the door, but today there’s only one other couple inside. There’s no need to rush to secure a table; instead I browse the little store, shelves stacked with chutneys, spices, artisan biscuits and gorgeous crockery that would look right at home in my kitchen. It’s hard not to buy the lot.

a cheese tasting plate atYarra Valley Dairy — A cheese tasting plate at Yarra Valley Dairy.

I order a coffee and a small cheese platter, though the dairy has a full menu, and choose a wooden table with bentwood chairs by a wide window. The space feels part farm shed, part cosy café: corrugated iron ceiling, walls painted in muted tones and rustic furniture.

Outside, cows meander toward milking sheds. If pressed for time, there’s the option of quick cheese tastings – four samples for five dollars in five minutes – but today, I’m in no rush. I sip slowly, watching a grey sky settle over the paddock. Less than an hour ago I was hunched over my home-office desk, and now my racing mind has slowed to match the valley’s pace.

Checking in for vineyard views at Balgownie Estate

Restaurant 1309 at Balgownie Estate has views across the vines.

As my car rolls to a stop at Balgownie Estate , I’m quietly excited, and curious to see if my plan to work and play comes off. I’ve chosen a suite with a spacious living area and a separate bedroom so I can keep work away from a good night’s sleep. I could have booked a cosy cottage, complete with open fireplace, a comfy couch and a kettle for endless cups of tea, but as I am still here to get some work done, I opt for a place that takes care of everything. Dinner is served in Restaurant 1309, as is breakfast.

oysters at Restaurant 1309, Balgownie Estate — Oysters pair perfectly with a crisp white at Restaurant 1309.

On my first evening, instead of the usual walk about my neighbourhood, I stroll through the estate at an unhurried pace. There’s no need to rush – someone else is preparing my dinner after all. The walking trails offer beautiful sunsets, and it seems mobs of kangaroos enjoy the view, too. Many appear, grazing lazily on the hillside.

I wake to the call of birds and, after breakfast, with the mist still lingering over the vineyards, I watch two hot-air balloons silently drift above clouds. Perched on a hill, Balgownie Estate sits above the mist, leaving the valley below veiled white.

kangaroos in Yarra Valley — Spotting the locals on an evening walk. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Exploring the Yarra Valley on two wheels

the Yarra Valley vineyards — Swap your home office for a view of the vineyards. (Image: Visit Victoria/Cormac Hanrahan)

Perhaps because the Yarra Valley is relatively close to where I live, I’ve never considered exploring the area any way other than by car or on foot. And with a fear of heights, a hot-air balloon is firmly off the table. But when I discover I can hop on two wheels from the estate and cycle into Yarra Glen, I quickly realise it’s the perfect way to step away from my laptop and experience a different side of the region.

COG Bike offers pedal-assist e-bikes, and while the bike trail and paths into town aren’t particularly hilly, having an extra bit of ‘oomph’ means I can soak up the surroundings. Those lambs I heard calling early in the morning? I now find them at the paddock fence, sniffing my hands, perhaps hoping for food. Cows idle nearby, and at a fork in the bike path I turn left toward town.

It’s still morning, and the perfect time for a coffee break at The Vallie Store. If it were the afternoon, I’d likely turn right, in the direction of four wineries with cellar doors. The ride is about 15 kilometres return, but don’t let that put you off. Staying off the highway, the route takes you along quiet backroads where you catch glimpses of local life – farmers on tractors, weathered sheds, rows of vines and the kind of peaceful countryside you don’t see from the main road.

A detour to the Dandenong Ranges

legs hanging over the sides of the train, Puffing Billy Railway — The iconic Puffing Billy runs every day except Christmas Day.

The beauty of basing myself in the Yarra Valley is how close everything feels. In barely half an hour I’m in the Dandenong Ranges, swapping vineyards for towering mountain ash and fern-filled gullies. The small villages of Olinda and Sassafras burst with cosy teahouses, antique stores and boutiques selling clothing and handmade body care items.

I’m drawn to RJ Hamer Arboretum – Latin for ‘a place for trees’. Having grown up among tall trees, I’ve always taken comfort in their presence, so this visit feels like a return of sorts. A stroll along the trails offers a choice: wide open views across patchwork paddocks below, or shaded paths that lead you deeper into the quiet hush of the peaceful forest.

The following day, I settle into a quiet corner on the balcony of Paradise Valley Hotel in Clematis and soon hear Puffing Billy’s whistle and steady chuff as the steam train climbs towards town. Puffing Billy is one of Australia’s most beloved steam trains, running through the Dandenong Ranges on a narrow-gauge track. It’s famous for its open carriages where passengers can sit with their legs hanging over the sides as the train chugs through the forest. This is the perfect spot to wave to those on the train.

After my midweek break, I find my inbox still full and my to-do list not in the least shrunken, just shifted from one task to another. But I return to my home office feeling lighter, clearer and with a smug satisfaction I’d stolen back a little time for myself. A midweek wind-down made all the difference.

A traveller’s checklist

Staying there

Balgownie Estate offers everything from cellar door tastings to spa treatments and fine dining – all without leaving the property.

Playing there

the TarraWarra Museum of Art, Yarra Valley — Visit the TarraWarra Museum of Art. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Wander through Alowyn Gardens, including a stunning wisteria tunnel, then explore the collection of contemporary artworks at TarraWarra Museum of Art . Cycle the Yarra Valley with COG Bike to visit local wineries and cellar doors.

Eating and drinking there

Olinda Tea House offers an Asian-inspired high tea. Paradise Valley Hotel, Clematis has classic pub fare, while the iconic Yering Station offers wine tastings and a restaurant with seasonal dishes.

seasonal dishes at the restaurant inside Yering Station — The restaurant at Yering Station showcases the best produce of the Yarra Valley. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Where to swim with whales around Australia