Between June and November, humpback whales migrate up and down the Australian East Coast, but what are the best weather conditions to spot these giant animals?

Whale migration season from June to November

The migration season varies from year to year based on predator and prey abundance, sea ice, water temperatures and locations of feeding and breeding grounds.

During the Southern Hemisphere summer, humpbacks are found near Antarctica feeding on krill. Each year, around 40-50,000 of these giants of the ocean complete a 4,000-5,000 kilometre journey north along the Australian East Coast from June to August, to their warm sub-tropical breeding ground waters. They then migrate back down south to the feeding grounds from September to November.

Proximity to the coast, for easy viewing from land, will usually depend on weather, ocean currents and temperatures, and abundance of prey and/or predators. Typically, young boisterous males lead the migration, while pregnant females/cows (northbound) and mother-infant/cow-calf pairs (southbound) close up the rear.

Image: A warm core ocean eddy sitting off the Sydney coast during much of June and July 2026 has likely meant whales have tracked north further offshore. Source: OceanCurrent/IMOS

The best whale watching weather

The best weather for spotting whales will include:

Bright, clear and sunny skies

Calm seas

Gentle winds (preferably westerly in direction and under 15 knots)

Bright, clear and sunny skies from around mid-morning (10-11:00am) to mid-afternoon (2-3:00pm) provide the highest visibility and least glare on the ocean surface.

Calm seas with small swell and gentle winds under about 15 knots keep the surface of the ocean clean, increasing the chances of spotting breaches, tail slaps and spouts from whales without confusing them for waves or whitecaps. These conditions are also excellent for jumping on a whale watching cruise, minimising the risk of seasickness.

Westerly winds also minimise ocean chop near the coast, while bringing clear, dry air from the land, improving the visibility. Westerly winds can also lead to upwelling of nutrients, drawing whales closer to the coast. 

Video: Crisp clear skies and offshore winds move off the NSW and southeast Queensland coast following passage of a cold front on Sunday, July 12, 2026. Source: Weatherzone

Some of the best periods for whale watching can come after the passage of cold fronts over southern Australia. These weather systems bring dry westerly winds that increase visibility and flatten the ocean – increasing the chances of seeing whales once winds die down!

The best whale watching spots

By mid-July, much of the whale migration is well underway, making it the perfect NSW and Queensland school holiday activity to go stand on a headland and keep a watchful eye for any breaches offshore.

Hervey Bay is one of the best places to see humpbacks. The warm, calm and protected waters nestled behind K'Gari (Fraser Island) are the perfect place for mothers and newborn whales to rest and play, and for humans to hop aboard cruises and even swim with whales. Humpbacks are often found in Hervey Bay between August and October.

Image: Satellite imagery on Saturday, July 11, 2026 showing clear skies across the Hervey Bay area, perfect for viewing whales. Source: Weatherzone

More properly on the "humpback highway" K'Gari, Moreton and Stradbroke islands, along with Noosa Heads and the Gold Coast jut out into the Pacific Ocean enough to make for fantastic land-based whale watching.

Image: Marine conditions and forecast for the Gold Coast and Southeast Qld Coast on Sunday, July 12, 2026, as seen on the Weatherzone App.

South of the border, notable locations along the NSW coastline include:

Byron Bay Lighthouse

Muttonbird Island (Coffs Coast)

Tacking Point Lighthouse (Port Macquarie)

Cape Hawke Lookout (Forster)

Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse (Seal Rocks)

Broulee Island (South Coast)

Eden (Saphire Coast)

In Sydney, Cape Solander is considered the best coastal viewpoint for whale watching. North Head, Long Reef Headland and Barrenjoey Lighthouse are also great spots to watch the migrating giants from land.

Image: A breaching humpback whale just outside Sydney Harbour's heads. Source: iStock / PomInOz

Whether catching a cruise offshore to see whales up close or hiking up a headland with a pair of binoculars, be sure to check weather conditions beforehand on the Weatherzone App so you make sure you have a "whale" of a time.