Being the most easterly point on the coastline of mainland Australia. Cape Byron is the perfect location for whale watching. The migrating whales come close to the headlands in condensed numbers at the peak of the migration.
Watching from the Cape Lighthouse, Broken Head, Sharpes Beach (Ballina) or Ballina Breakwall are the best locations as whales head north from May onward. The season continues until October.
If you want to get even closer then a boat or kayak tour is a great option. Here are a few options.
Charter Boat Operators
If you want to get up close and personal with Whales and Dolphins then Out Of The Blue Adventures are a great option. They know where to find these amazing animals and they take a detailed scientific approach to interpretation of the ocean. You’ll learn so much form their team of environmental scientists and see much more than you expect.
Tour run from the centre of Ballina, which is about 6 minutes from the Byron Ballina Airport.
This tour departs from the beach at The Pass in Byron Bay. It’s run by a local dive tour operator who also offers whale watching tours. If you don’t want to drive to where the tour departs, then this is the best whale watching option in Byron Bay. You can walk to The Pass from town. Don’t drive, as it’s often hard to get parking, and even if you can find a parking spot you’ll have to pay by the hour.
Blue Bay Whale Watching
Based in Brunswick Heads in the Byron Local Government Area, Blue Bay Whale Watching is one of the longest running whale watching tour operators in NSW. They have a big boat with a large fully covered area to keep you away from the sea spray and shelter you if the weather is a little rough.
They really know the area well and will ensure you see plenty of whales.
Visit their website at bluebaywhalewatching.com.au to make a booking.
Kayak Tours
If you’d prefer to see whales from a kayak, then Go Sea Kayaking have an exciting Whale Watching Kayak Tour. They’re based in Byron Bay and have trips most days throughout the season. See the link below for more details.
Whale Watching – Kayak Tours Byron Bay
Land Based Tours
If you don’t have sea legs, but would love to do a land based whale watching tour, then there are still some great options available.
Wilderness Adventures offers Whale Watching Tours from Cape Byron Lighthouse and Broken Head Nature Reserve.
The tour at the Lighthouse is best selected by people walking to, or staying at, the lighthouse, as parking is very limited at Cape Byron. The walk to the lighthouse via Palm Valley or the beach is beautiful and well worth it on it’s own.
Walgun, as Cape Byron is known by its traditional custodians, maintains spiritual, cultural and historical importance for the Bundjalung of Byron Bay (Arakwal) Aboriginal People. The pipi midden (shell mound) at The Pass is one of the largest and oldest in far north NSW. Please stick to the beach or the tracks when you visit.
Broken Head Nature Reserve is also a very popular location with visitors. Paid parking is available at the picnic area. A short walk is required to reach the whale watching location at the end of the Three Sisters Track.