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Where to swim with whales around Australia

Credit: Tourism Western Australia/Brooke Pyke

Carla Grossetti Carla Grossetti
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

Jervis Bay
Swim with whales near Jervis Bay. (Image: Destination NSW)

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.

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

whale sharks in Shoalhaven
Humpback whales migrate off the Shoalhaven coast. (Credit 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

whales in Hervey Bay
Hervey Bay is a haven for humpback whales. (Credit: 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.

Hervey Bay whales
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.

humpback whales in Hervey Bay
See humpback whales up close. (Credit: 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.

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Swim with humpback whales off K’gari

K'gari whales
Spy on K’gari’s majestic giants. (Credit: 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.

humpback whales in K'gari
Have the chance to frolic in the water with humpback whales. (Credit: 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 in Port Douglas
The Ribbon Reef region off Port Douglas is the only place in Australia to swim with dwarf minke whales. (Credit: 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

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.

humpback whale on Sunshine Coast
The humpback whale migration on the Sunshine Coast starts in early June. (Credit: 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.

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

Ningaloo sharks
Swim with whales in Ningaloo. (Credit: 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.

majestic whales in Ningaloo
Witness majestic whales. (Credit: 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.

whale sharks in Ningaloo
Go freediving with whale sharks in Ningaloo. (Credit: 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.

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Carla Grossetti
Carla Grossetti has written across print and digital for Australian Traveller and International Traveller for more than a decade and has spent more than two decades finding excuses to eat well and travel far. A prestigious News Corp cadetship launched her career at The Cairns Post, before a stint at The Canberra Times and The Sydney Morning Herald gave way to extended wanders through Canada, the US, Mexico, Central America, Asia and Europe. Carla was chief sub editor at delicious and has contributed to Good Food, Travel & Luxury, Explore Travel, Escape. While living in London, Carla was on staff at Condé Nast Traveller and The Sunday Times Travel desk and was part of the pioneering digital team at The Guardian UK.
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From coast to bush: these are Gippsland’s best hikes

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    Video credit: Tourism Australia

    From coast to mountains, hiking in Gippsland offers a stunning array of landscapes, with trails that take you deep into the region’s heritage.

    I step out onto the sand and it cries out underfoot. Kweek! I take another step and there’s another little yelp. Screet! Picking up the pace, the sounds follow me like my shadow, all the way down to the water. It’s obvious how this spot got its name – Squeaky Beach – from the rounded grains of quartz that make the distinctive sounds under pressure.

    For many, Wilsons Promontory National Park is the gateway to Gippsland, and the best way to explore it is by walking its network of hiking trails, from coastal gems such as Squeaky Beach through to the bushland, among the wildlife. But it’s still just a taste of what you’ll find on foot in the region.

    Venture a bit further into Gippsland and you’ll discover the lakes, the rainforest, and the alpine peaks, each changing with the season and offering summer strolls or winter walks. Just like that squeaky sand, each step along these trails has something to tell you: perhaps a story about an ancient spirit or a pioneering search for fortune.

    The best coastal hikes in Gippsland

    sunset at Wilsons Promontory National Park
    Wilsons Promontory National Park is a sprawling wilderness with many coastal bushland trails. (Image: Mark Watson)

    Wilsons Promontory National Park (or ‘The Prom’, as you’ll end up calling it) is an easy three-hour drive from Melbourne, but you might ditch the car when you arrive, with much of the park’s 50,000 hectares accessible only by foot. From the inky water of Tidal River (dyed dark purple by abundant tea trees), I like the easy walks along the coast, among lichen-laden granite boulders, to golden beaches and bays.

    a couple on Mount Oberon
    Panoramic views from the summit of Mount Oberon. (Image: Everyday Nicky)

    The trail to the panoramic views at the summit of Mount Oberon is a bit harder, up steep timber and granite steps, but it’s a popular 6.8-kilometre return. The more remote hikes are found through the open banksia and stringybark woodland of the park’s north, or along the multi-day Southern Circuit, which ranges from about 35 to 52 kilometres, with sunrises and sunsets, kangaroos and cockatoos, and maybe even whales.

    a golden sand beach at Wilsons Promontory National Park
    Walk ‘The Prom’s’ golden sand beaches. (Image: Tourism Australia/Time Out Australia)

    You might also see whales on the George Bass Coastal Walk, even closer to Melbourne on the western edge of Gippsland. This dramatic seven-kilometre trail along the clifftops takes in sweeping views of the wild ocean, occasionally dipping down from grassy green hills to coastal gullies and a secluded beach. It also now links into the Bass Coast Rail Trail for an extra 14 kilometres.

    the George Bass Coastal Walk
    George Bass Coastal Walk trails for seven kilometres along clifftops. (Image: Visit Victoria/Time Out Australia)

    Over at the eastern edge of Gippsland, in Croajingolong National Park, you can wander along the lakeshores beneath koalas and around goannas (I keep my distance since one chased me here!). For those who are even more adventurous, the park is also the starting point for the 100-kilometre Wilderness Coast Walk, usually done over seven days.

    the Croajingolong National Park, Gippsland
    Wander along the lakeshores in Croajingolong National Park. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    The best bush hikes in Gippsland

    the Baw Baw National Park
    The alpine heath of Baw Baw National Park. (Image: Everyday Nicky)

    Deep in the Long Tunnel Extended Gold Mine at Walhalla, mining guide Richard tells me how this small town in the mountains east of Melbourne boomed when prospectors found gold here in 1862. These days, you’ll find most of the town’s treasure – its heritage – above ground, with the Walhalla Tramline Walk a wonderful way to explore it.

    Just seven kilometres long, the walk takes you through decades of Gold Rush history, following the original rail trail from lush bushland to the mining sites, and through the charming village of just 20 residents with its wooden cottages and old shopfronts adorned with turn-of-the-century advertising posters. Blazing a trail where trailblazers once opened up the region, this is also the starting point for the 650-kilometre Australian Alps Walking Track.

    Nearby, Baw Baw National Park has walks through gnarled snow gums and alpine heaths that show off the colourful wildflowers in summer and the pristine carpet of white in winter. Several trails are perfect for snowshoes, including a 45-minute route from St Gwinear up to vast views across the Latrobe Valley.

    Further up into the mountains, the Toorongo and Amphitheatre Falls Loop Walk is an easy 2.2-kilometre path that serenades you with the sound of flowing water as you pass mossy rocks and tree ferns en route to two sets of waterfalls cascading over boulders in the remote wilderness.

    The best cultural hikes in Gippsland

    the Mitchell River National Park, Gippsland
    Hike the Mitchell River National Park. (Image: Parks Victoria/Grace Lewis)

    Across a pool in a natural sandstone amphitheatre, deep within a cave behind a waterfall, it’s said the Nargun has its lair. A fierce creature, half human and half stone, that abducts children and can’t be harmed by boomerangs or spears, the story of the Nargun has been told around the campfires of the local Gunaikurnai people for generations.

    As a culturally significant place for women, hikers are asked not to go into the Den of Nargun, but a 3.4-kilometre loop walk leads you through a rainforest gully to the entrance where you can feel the powerful atmosphere here in Mitchell River National Park, along Victoria’s largest remaining wild and free-flowing waterway.

    the bee-eaters at Mitchell River National Park
    Bee-eaters at Mitchell River National Park. (Image: Parks Victoria/Grace Lewis)

    The Den of Nargun is part of the Bataluk Cultural Trail, a series of important traditional Gunaikurnai sites through central Gippsland. Another location is Victoria’s largest cave system, Buchan Caves Reserve, with trails to important archaeological sites of human artefacts up to 18,000 years old. The FJ Wilson Interpreted Walk includes the naturally sculpted white limestone steps of the 400-metre-long Federal Cave, while the Granite Pools Walk goes among tall timber and moss-covered gullies.

    the ancient rainforest of Tarra-Bulga National Park
    The ancient rainforest of Tarra-Bulga National Park. (Image: Josie Withers)

    Also important to the Gunaikurnai people is Tarra-Bulga National Park, known for its ancient myrtle beeches and enormous mountain ash trees. Just 40 minutes return, the Tarra Valley Rainforest Walk offers a taste of this verdant landscape, while the Grand Strzelecki Track takes you deep into the lost world of forest giants on an epic 100-kilometre trail rich with tradition.

    A traveller’s checklist

    Staying there

    the WildernessRetreats in The Prom
    Wilderness Retreats in The Prom. (Image: Christian Pearson)

    Wilderness Retreats in Wilsons Promontory offers glamping-style tents with luxurious queen beds. Star Hotel is a reconstruction of a Gold Rush-era hotel from 1863 in the heart of heritage Walhalla. Caves House is a historic three-bedroom house with views over the Buchan River.

    Eating there

    the Carrajung Estate, Gippsland
    Enjoy a post-hike lunch at Carrajung Estate. (Image: Everyday Nicky)

    Kilcunda General Store serves great coffee and meals of local produce at the George Bass Coastal Walk. Alpine Trout Farm is located near Toorongo Falls in Noojee. Fish for your own lunch and barbecue it with the provided cookware.

    Carrajung Estate is a short drive from Tarra-Bulga National Park. The winery’s restaurant offers a seasonal menu of regional ingredients and you can stay at The Lodge.

    a seafood feast at Carrajung Estate, Gippsland
    The table is set for a seafood feast at the estate.

    Video credit: Tourism Australia