Whale watching season is back!

There are plenty of spots to see whales on the Sunshine Coast, including up close beside them in the ocean! Read on to learn more about the best time of year to visit the Sunshine Coast for whale-watching, great lookout points to catch all the action, and how you can experience the ultimate #sunshinemoment that'll stay with you forever.

Say hello to a magical encounter.

See the magnificent humpback whales on a Whale One cruise

From June to November, experience the aquatic acrobatics and majestic presence of our humpback whales as they travel through the waters of the Sunshine Coast. Feel the salty ocean spray on your cheeks, and get up close to experience their breathtaking breaches as the whales make their way up and down the coast.

The 'Humpback Highway'

Swim with whales

This year, thousands of humpbacks are expected to make the migration north from Antarctica, arriving in Queensland by early June. After eating up to four tonnes of krill and small fish each day in the Antarctic over summer, these gorgeous whales migrate to the warmer northern waters. Here, the balmy temperatures provide an ideal location for birthing calves amongst the sheltered waves of Queensland's coastline.

Better yet, the Sunshine Coast benefits from a longer whale-watching season. This means you'll have plenty of time to catch sight of the gentle giants as they make the 10,000km journey along the Australian coastline to Antarctica, newborn calves in tow, and then pass by again as they head south to the Arctic.

Where are the whales?

Getting ready to swim with the Whales with Sunreef

You can catch sight of our humpbacks from several vantage points on land along the coast, including:

Point Perry or Point Arkwright
Point Cartwright
Moffat Headland (Caloundra)
Dolphin Point in the Noosa National Park
Alexandra Headland

To head out on the water and get even closer to these graceful giants, try a whale-watching tour with Whale One, Elite Sailing, Adventure Rafting, Noosa Thriller Ocean Adventures. For the chance to swim with the whales, make sure to check out the offerings Sunreef Mooloolaba and The Pressure Project.