7 best spots to see whales in SA

Ready to have a whale of a time?

By Jeremy Rochow and Samuel Smith
Published: Friday, May 31, 2019

Fill a flask with coffee, pack your binoculars and head for the coast – whale watching season is here.

Each year from June to September, whales flock to South Australia as part of their migration from Antarctica.

Here are 7 of the best places to catch a glimpse of these majestic giants as they breach, dive and slap their tails in the water.

1. Kangaroo Island

Kangaroo Island is surrounded by marine life, so it shouldn’t come as surprise that the isolated area sees dozens of whales each year.

About a 30-minute flight from Adelaide or a 4-hour drive and ferry trip, Kangaroo Island boasts a number of locations where you can spot our ocean’s gentle giants. If you’re lucky enough, you might even see some during the 45-minute ferry trip out to the island.

Visit Hog Bay at Penneshaw, Kingscote, or Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary for the best chance to see the mammoth mammals in all their glory.

Self-drive, hire a guide or join a Kangaroo Island Ocean Safari.

Extend your stay: Book a night at Emu Bay Stay where you could catch a glimpse of a whale from the balcony.

Rocks, sand and water at Hog Bay on Kangaroo Island.
Kangaroo Island's Hog Bay. Image: SATC

2. Hallett Cove Conservation Park

The boardwalk encircling Hallett Cove Conservation Park is known for its beautiful coastal views, but from June to September, it’s also a great spot to watch southern right whales.

So, next time you’re strolling along the dramatic clifftops or dreaming of the ricotta hotcakes you’ll devour at Hallett Cove’s Boatshed Café afterwards, make sure to pause for a second and watch the ocean.

Hallett Cove Conservation Park is an easy 30-minute drive from Adelaide’s CBD. With plenty of parking, all you need to do is put on your walking shoes and follow the trail to the ocean.

Extend your stay: Turn your trip into a whale watching weekend at McCloud House in Port Noarlunga. The self-contained apartments are the perfect home away from home, right by the ocean.

A view of the Hallett Cove Boardwalk with the ocean in the background.
Sugarloaf at Hallett Cove Conservation Park. Image: SATC

3. Middleton

It’s common to see dozens of whale watchers standing on the Middleton foreshore to view the whales visiting the area. You can park your car on Miami Blvd and walk just a few metres before seeing the ocean’s giants in the distance. It’s also worth checking out other whale-watching spots at Surfers Beach and Middleton Point.

Simply enjoy the road trip to Middleton Beach, park along the coast and hit the sand. Whales can be seen anywhere along the lengthy shoreline, so keep your eyes peeled.

Extend your stay: After spotting our ocean’s gentle giants at Middleton, treat your taste buds at nearby McLaren Vale. Our top spots include Kimbolton Wines, Maxwell Wines and Mollydooker Wines.

Aerial view of a whale and its calf.
Whales frolicking off the coast at Middleton. Image: SATC

4. Victor Harbor

Victor Harbor is home to the South Australian Whale Centre and it’s easy to see why. There are so many whale-watching spots throughout Victor Harbor worth visiting.

Walk across to Granite Island and you might be able to spot a southern right or humpback while they’re on their annual migration. If you’re keen to get out on the water, rug up and jump aboard a Big Duck Tour. See sea lions, dolphins, and whales as well as beautiful islands and coastline.

Extend your stay: Why not see the best of Victor Harbor and the wider Fleurieu Peninsula on Victor Harbor and McLaren Vale Highlights tour?

Tourists on a boat taking photos of dolphins.
Spotting dolphins on a Big Duck Boat Tour. Image: SATC

5. Encounter Bay

Bring your bike when you visit the Fleurieu Peninsula and ride along the stunning Encounter Bikeway. It will take you all the way from Goolwa to Encounter Bay, past gorgeous coastal scenery and through charming towns. Along the way, you’ll pass so many spots where you can get a glimpse of frolicking whales.

Some of the best include the stunning Waitpinga Cliffs, Kings Head and The Bluff.

Extend your stay: Don’t have your own wheels? No problem. Surf & Sun’s Middleton shop is mere steps away from the Encounter Bikeway. Pop in and hire a bike for the day, then hit the track and start exploring.

View from the air of The Bluff in Encounter Bay.
The Bluff in Encounter Bay. Image: SATC

6. Fowlers Bay

If you’re on the Eyre Peninsula and want to see southern right and humpback whales, which migrate to the area each winter to mate and nurse their calves, visit Fowlers Bay.

Once the site of a whaling station, the waters around Fowlers Bay are now packed with these gentle giants from June to September. The peaceful bay is also a fantastic fishing location, and boasts towering sand hills, perfect for sandboarding.

Extend your stay: One of the best ways to see whales at Fowlers Bay and nearby Head of Bight is on a tour. Ancient Land Tours will take you to some of the Eyre Peninsula’s top whale watching spots, offering once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to visit remote beaches, get off the beaten track and witness nature at its freest and finest.

A whale in the Great Australian Bight raising its tail.
Whales at Fowlers Bay. Image: SATC

7. Head of Bight

The Eyre Peninsula’s Head Bight is arguably the most significant whale watching spot in South Australia. Here, throughout June and July, southern right whales converge to give birth in the protected waters.

From the boardwalk atop the cliffs at the Head of Bight Whale Watching Centre, you can marvel at the southern right whales that call the area home over winter.

If you listen carefully, you might even hear the call of the whales as they swim within the bay.

Extend your stay: If you’re looking to hit the road and want to stay a few nights, hire a caravan from the Eyre Peninsula’s Getaway Caravan Hire.

Whale watching from Head of the Bight. Image: SATC

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