Why this coast won’t let you
Aug 08, 2026
Grab a coffee, find a spot with a view of the horizon, and wait. That’s really all whale watching takes around here, though a decent pair of binoculars never hurts. Whale numbers have been booming along this stretch of coast in recent years, so between May and November you’ve got a genuine chance of catching the passing parade, whether you’re on solid ground or out on the water.
Whales head north from about May to July, making their way to warmer waters to calve. Then from August through to early November they start the return trip south to the Antarctic feeding grounds, often with brand new calves in tow, which is when you get the best chance of spotting a mother and baby travelling together.
Drive right up and park at the edge, no walking required. The view stretches wide enough that you’ll spot more than a few dorsal fins on a good day, and the coastal scenery holds its own even when the whales are running late.
One of the better purpose-built vantage points on the whole coast, a solid timber platform standing four metres tall in the middle of littoral rainforest. Access is via the walking trail behind the Black Head Surf Life Saving Club, at the end of Main Street. Handy tip from a local, patience pays off here, the whales don’t run on your schedule.
A small, relaxed platform accessed from the northern end of the Tuncurry Rock Pool car park. From here you’re looking out over the vastness of Nine Mile Beach, and it’s not unusual to spot dolphins playing alongside the whales.
Drive right up to the car park next to the reserve for one of the most rewarding easterly positions on the coast. Look north and you’ll take in Diamond Head and the Three Brothers mountains, look south and Seal Rocks comes into view. Genuinely one of the best all-round spots for a whale watching picnic.
If you don’t mind a proper walk for your view, start at The Ruins Campground and follow the signposted track up the northern side of Booti Hill. There’s a scenic opening looking towards Seagull Point before the track ducks into rainforest, and tables and a barbecue about 100 metres along if you want to make a day of it.
Right on the northern boundary of the Barrington Coast, this 4.3km loop mixes bushland walking with big coastal views, and it’s one of the more likely spots to catch sight of Migaloo if the famous white whale happens to be passing through. Pair it with a stay at Diamond Head Campground and you’ve got a proper coastal weekend sorted.
For a closer encounter, book a cruise with Epic Surf Ocean Adventures out of Forster, a jet boat trip where getting wet is part of the fun, or Gadhu Dreamland Whale Watching, also departing from Foster Dive Centre at Tuncurry.
Fancy a lookout with a bit more challenge attached? Cape Hawke, Yacaaba Headland and Sugarloaf Point at Seal Rocks all offer whale watching too, and they’re all coming up in our guide to lookouts with big rewards to match the effort.
