Us South Australians are in luck this winter, with three of the best vantage points for watching Southern Right Whales migrate to warmer waters!
Depending on where you live and how personal you want your whale watching adventure to be, you’re spoilt for choice. If it’s on your bucket list, you can get up close and personal with these magical giants every year from June to October — and better yet, you can see their calves tagging alongside Mum, too. The best spots to see all the action and take pictures are the Eyre Peninsula, Kangaroo Island and the Fleurieu Peninsula.
Here are just some of your world- class whale watching options…
Image Credit :: SATC / Gary Riley
Eyre Peninsula
For five months of every year, Southern Right Whales take up residence within a 15-kilometre stretch of South Australian coastline at Head of Bight. Land-based whale watchers will find a comfortable position along the cliffs or dedicated viewing areas at this premium whale watching location, complete with wheelchair access.
From the boardwalk, you won’t just see the upper 10 percent of whale sticking above the surface — iceberg style — you’ll see the whole ball of wax! You’ll also see lots of playful activity; with mums and bubs lopping, diving, spy hopping and even performing slow-motion somersaults. And if you listen carefully, you might even hear them “chatting” to each other as they swim around the bay.
Image Credit :: SATC / Hayden Richards
Best way to see them
One of the most unique whale watching experiences in Australia would have to be kayaking around Fowlers Bay at sunrise or sunset. It’s only a 90-minute flight from Adelaide to Ceduna, and from there, EP Cruises take you the rest of the way to Fowlers Bay for this once-in-a- lifetime experience.
If you have more than a day set for your adventure, dial it up a notch with a three-day extravaganza for up to 11 people with Untamed Escapes. Departing from Adelaide, you’ll fly into Ceduna, en route to your two-hour sea cruise with some very large special guests. On day two, the tour travels along the famous Bunda Cliffs.
And this is your golden opportunity to take to the skies and see these beautiful creatures from above, with Chinta Air Tour options ranging from 20 minutes, up to a full hour. Then on day three, enjoy the freshest oysters you’ll ever eat, plucked straight out of the briny at Smoky Bay.
The granddaddy of Eyre Peninsula whale watching adventures is with Australian Coastal Safaris — over five days, you’ll cover Fowlers Bay, Head of Bight, Bunda Cliffs, Port Lincoln National Park, Smoky Bay, Perlubie, Streaky Bay, Point Labatt, Murphy’s Haystacks, Talia Cave and Elliston.
Image Credit :: SATC / Hayden Richards
Fleurieu Peninsula
If you’re in Adelaide, you’re only an hour away from whales. The best time of year to take a scenic drive down the coast is June to September, when you have extremely high chances of seeing Southern Right Whales frolicking in the warmer waters around the sleepy seaside town of Victor Harbor.
Some of the best viewing spots are Encounter Bay, The Bluff and Middleton Bay. If you’re feeling really fit, follow the cobblestone path from Horseshoe Bay in Port Elliot, round Lady’s Beach, Rocky Bay, Green Bay and finish at Knights Beach. At this point, Freemans Lookout becomes your natural amphitheatre for whale watching.
If you haven’t had your whale fix by then, or it’s just too cold for the kiddos, you can always learn everything you need to know at the South Australian Whale Centre — a hands-on interactive display, packed with information and tips from local whale watching experts.
Best way to see them
If you’re serious about seeing the whales up close, why not book a 90-minute Southern Ocean Adventure Tour with Big Duck Boat Tours departing from the iconic Granite Island Causeway? You’ll be able to cram as many Southern Right Whales, New Zealand Fur Seals, Australian Sea Lions and both Common and Bottlenose Dolphins as your memory card can handle, but remember to take a jacket because it gets blowy around these parts!
Image Credit :: SATC / Hayden Richards
Kangaroo Island
The waters surrounding KI are packed with wildlife, year- round. But it’s May through to October when you can see 90-tonne gentle giants on their annual migration. For the ‘landlubbers’, there are endless options to see the whales from the island, with preferred spectator spots in Penneshaw and Kingscote. And for the ‘seadogs’, you can visit them on their level, out on the water.
Best way to see them
Aboard Kangaroo Island Ocean Safari, take a 75-minute coastal and wildlife tour, visiting Dolphin Cove, Kangaroo Head and Snapper Point, as whales, dolphins, seals and seabirds entertain you from the comfort of the Gemini Waverider.
