Seeing a whale in the wild is a truly humbling experience. Watching something so gigantic breach the ocean’s surface and fall with an all-mighty splash is nothing short of magical. If you have never spotted a whale before, it can be hard to know what you’re looking for. There is definitely a technique to it and knowing the right spots, and time of year to do it is a start. Check out our whale watching tips to find out how you can spot a whale for an amazing experience that you’ll never forget.

Where to go

In Australian waters, there are 45 cetacean (whales, dolphins, and porpoises) species with Humpback and Southern Right Whales being the most commonly sighted. During their annual migration, you can spot them along the coastline in many locations. One of the best spots for whale watching is Hervey Bay and the Fraser Coast in Queensland. They visit the calm waters around Fraser Island with their calves to show them a thing or two about being a whale. The best way to spot a whale in Hervey Bay and Fraser Coast is onboard a whale watching boat. There are plenty of operators running tours to spot these majestic creatures splash about.

Hervey Bay is a haven for Humpback Whales

Another resting point for the whales is on the south coast of New South Wales in the clam blue waters of Jervis Bay. Join a whale watching cruise or take a drive along the coast where there are plenty of headlands and lookouts perfect for spotting a whale or two. Racecourse Beach in Bawley Point has a lookout on South Pacific Crescent which is the perfect vantage point to spot them frolicking about.

You can even spot whales closer to home. Whale watching in Sydney is rather popular with many vantage points along the coast and whale watching cruises. Take a walk up to Long Reef headland, North Head or Barrenjoey Lighthouse in the Northern Beaches or walk along the Bondi to Coogee walking trail or Federation Cliff walk in the Eastern Suburbs. There are many fantastic options for whale watching in Sydney.

Best time of year

Depending on where you are along Australia’s coastline, the best time of year to spot a whale is between May to November. In North Queensland the best time is between July and November, in southern Queensland between May and November, in New South Wales and Victoria between May and November, in South Australia between June and September, in Tasmania between May and July or between September and December, and in Western Australia between May and December.

The best conditions

The best conditions to spot a whale is when the sea is calm. It’s much easier to spot a splash or tail when the water is still. It can become difficult when the oceans surface is disturbed by rough seas and wind.

What to look for

When trying to spot a whale there are a few things you should be looking for.
Whales are mammals and breathe air through their nose which is located on the top of their head. As they surface, they blow out air which causes water to spurt up like a cloud of smoke.

When looking out to sea, start scanning from left to right nice and slow. Start with looking close to the shore working your way out to the horizon. Also look out for boats that are sitting still. Quite often they have stopped to look at something and that something could very well be a whale.

Be on the look out for a whale breaching. This is where they jump out of the water and land with an all-mighty splash. You may also spot whales slapping their tails on the oceans surface.

Get up close and personal

For an experience like no other, join a tour that takes you out to swim with these amazing creatures. A great place to do this is in Hervey Bay or Jervis Bay. Step off the boat into the ocean to watch these gentle giants glide past you. You may even hear them sing to each other.

Where to stay

If you are planning a holiday to either Hervey Bay, Fraser Coast, Jervis Bay, or Racecourse Beach for some whale watching, Tasman Holiday Parks have you covered. Every Tasman Holiday Park is secure, meticulously clean and designed to offer timeless holiday experiences in places of vibrant natural beauty. Choose from a range of accommodation to suit everyone’s needs and budget.

Book your stay with us today.

Taking kids on holidays can sometimes be a stressful task. But it shouldn’t be like that, holidays are meant to be fun and exciting. So take the kids where island time is a thing and enjoy a tropical paradise where they can play amongst nature, swim in crystal blue waters and run on white sandy beaches.

Where is this tropical oasis you ask? Dunk Island, just four kilometres from Mission Beach in the Cassowary Coast Region of Queensland. Known as the island of peace and plenty you will find…. well…. peace, and plenty to do. Secluded, palm-fringed beaches to swim, snorkel, and dive, amazing nature walks through panoramic natural scenery, dense rainforests and more. It’s a nature lovers paradise and a great place to spend quality time with loved ones making beautiful memories.

Here are just a few reasons why a trip to Dunk Island is exactly what you and the fam need.

It’s easy to get to

Sometimes loading the kids in the car to drive a few hours to get somewhere can seem hardly worth the effort. Whereas travelling to Dunk Island from Mission beach is half the fun. It’s only a short ten-minute trip by water taxi on a ten-metre, fully enclosed boat. The kids with love soaring through crystal blue waters spotting seabirds along the way. Just be aware that you will need to wade through knee-deep water to board – that’s half the fun right. You can book a round trip and spend the morning, afternoon or a full day exploring the island as you please.

Escape to palm fringed beaches and tropical sunshine.

Snorkel the Great Barrier Reef

Teach the kids a new skill and snorkel the Great Barrier Reef. The best spot to snorkel is at Muggy Muggy Beach. From the pier, take a 20-minute walk through rainforest, woodland, and mangroves until you reach this quiet and secluded beach. The kids will love spotting marine creatures such as sea turtles, crabs, dugongs, plenty of fish, and a beautiful display of coral. Teach the kids the importance of the reef and our ecosystem whilst having a bonding day out on the water.

Great hiking trails

Dunk Island’s walking tracks wind through dense rainforest, woodland, and secluded beaches. For an easy three-kilometre walk take the track to Muggy Muggy Beach. For those up for more of a challenge take the Island Circuit track. This track is just over nine kilometres and will take roughly three hours to complete. This challenging walk will take you past Palm Valley and Coconut Beach until you reach lush rainforest. For a panoramic view over paradise, hike along the Mount Kootaloo track. This track is seven kilometres and will take about three hours to complete. The track is quite steep and winds up the 271-metre summit. The lookout is totally worth the climb looking out over the Family Islands and mainland. No matter what track you take, it’s a great day out in the great outdoors.

An abundance of wildlife

On your visit to Dunk Island, the family will love spotting the local wildlife. You will find a range of bird species, insects, reptiles, and mammals on this tropical island. One of the islands infamous critters is the blue Ulysses butterfly which has become a symbol of Dunk Island. Tell the kids to keep their eyes on the trees to spot tree snakes, insects, and birds as you explore this little slice of paradise.

Great swimming spots

One of the most picturesque spots on the island is the sand spit. This long sand bar has no rocks, and the water is crystal clear making it a great place to have a family dip. For a more adventurous swim, the kids (and big kids) will love jumping off the pier at Brammo Bay. Just make sure there aren’t too many fishermen before you launch yourself into the ultimate backflip.

Places to stay

For the real nature lovers, you can camp out under the stars on the island. There are dedicated camping areas with showers, toilets, and BBQ areas. For those that prefer their creature comforts, head back to the mainland and stay at Tasman Holiday Parks – South Mission Beach. Your home away from home offers an excellent range of facilities including a swimming pool, waterslide, playground, games room, half tennis and basketball court and more. Travel during the school holidays and the kids will enjoy our school holiday program jam-packed full of fun. Choose from self-contained cabins and villas on the beachfront, with idyllic beach views or overlooking our award-winning tropical gardens. This Mission Beach caravan park also has powered and unpowered sites to set up camp.

Book your stay today and you will be kicking your feet up, watching the kids play, and creating beautiful memories in no time.

For a little peace and quiet away from the hustle and bustle of Cairns City, camp in the middle of a turtle sanctuary at Tasman Holiday Parks – Cairns Cool Waters. You can get a closer look as well as feed these little critters all within this tropical holiday park. It’s no wonder the turtles (and humans) love this little slice of heaven surrounded by a natural freshwater creek – it’s the perfect tropical getaway. Set up camp with the turtles on the banks of the freshwater creek. With mountains and rainforest trees as you’re backdrop, it’s not a bad place to camp. It’s away from any main roads so you can kick back, relax, and enjoy the sounds of nature.

You will find Tasman Holiday Parks – Cairns Cool Waters just seven kilometres from the centre of Cairns, on the banks of Freshwater Creek in Brinsmead, Cairns. It’s a grassy, well-manicured, and comfortable Cairns caravan park with a wide range of facilities on site. Other than the turtle sanctuary, you will find a saltwater pool and spa, scenic barbeque area, playground, indoor recreation room and camp kitchen. You will have all you need and more within this beautiful tropical setting.

Turtles aren’t the only wildlife you will see here. There is an abundance of wildlife including freshwater turtles, over 50 species of birds and platypus. The best place to spot some local wildlife is on the Rainforest Creek walk that begins at this QLD caravan park. You can walk or cycle the trails finishing off with a swim in the refreshingly cool waters of the creek.

With so much to do at Tasman Tourism Holiday Parks – Cairns Cool Waters you could just hang with your turtle mates, or you could venture out and explore. This holiday park is conveniently located close to many local attractions including the Skyway Rainforest Cableway. Descend through the canopy of one of the world’s most ancient rainforests until you reach the village of Kuranda. You’re also close to Cairns Esplanade where you can take a walk, stop for a picnic, or take a dip in the lagoon. There are plenty of places to dine in the centre of Cairns, and of course what’s a trip to Cairns without visiting the Great Barrier Reef?

If you’re not much of a camper don’t worry, Tasman Holiday Parks – Cairns Cool Waters has accommodation styles to suit everyone. We have a range of cabins that can accommodate two, four or five people. We also have a range of motel units including a two-bedroom unit that can accommodate four, six or seven people as well as the two-bedroom Pump House accommodating six people and a four-bedroom family unit accommodating ten people. Book your stay today.