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Sydney Whale Watching and Migration – All You Need to Know

an animal swimming in the water

Whale watching is one of the most surreal experiences of life. Being this close to a natural phenomenon where hundreds of whales are migrating in search of warmer waters is astounding. If you haven’t done it yet, then you must do it this year because it is an experience of a lifetime.

Here is all you need to know about Sydney whale watching and migration.

Whale Migration to Australia

The whale migration season in Australia begins in late May and continues until the end of November each year. Mid May to Mid November is considered the whale watching season as hundreds of whales can be seen swimming in the waters and if you are lucky, you may also see some of them breaching and jumping.

People from all over the world travel to Sydney in these months to catch a glimpse of these migrating whales. Sydney is considered one of the best whale watching destinations in Australia because of the countless whale watching tours and land based locations.

Whale Migration Route

During the Australian autumn months, orca whales, humpback whales and other species migrate to the temperate waters of Australia. They are escaping the cold waters of Antarctica where they spend the rest of the year. In the warm waters of Australia, these whales give birth to their young ones. They later travel back to the Antarctic waters to feed.

Whales migrate to Australian waters for a variety of reasons. One is that moving into warmer waters is necessary for breeding. Another because young calves cannot survive the freezing cold water of the Antarctic region.

Some whales pass through New Zealand or travel around the bottom of Australia on their way north. This takes place around May and June and continues until around mid August. After that, the whales start heading towards the Antarctic waters.

There are various whale watching destinations in Australia which are flocked by tourists in the whale watching season. You can join a whale watching cruise from Sydney Harbour which provides you with up close and personal  access to this stunning spectacle.

Sydney Whale Watching

The migrating whales can be seen from the heads of Sydney Harbour itself and coastal beaches. But if you are looking for an up-close experience, then you should opt for a whale watching tour. The whale watching culture in Sydney is robust. You will see thousands of tourists flock the harbour and beaches each day during the whale watching season in Sydney. With so many tourists, it can become difficult to book a tour. Therefore, it is recommended that you book a tour beforehand before availability runs out.

Book your Sydney whale watching tours and experience the migration of these stunning creatures first hand. You are never going to forget this stunning natural feat and will surely come back to witness it again.

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