Whale Watching

A WHALE WATCHING PLATFORM AT POINT PIQUET PROVIDES THE PERFECT SPOT FOR WATCHING WHALES ON THEIR ANNUAL MIGRATION

 

Meelup Regional Park offers excellent whale watching opportunities from September to November, with humpback whale and southern right whale the most likely species to be seen. Additionally, Geographe Bay is one of the few places in the world where you can view the world’s largest whale, the blue whale. Other whales that visit on occasion include the pygmy blue whale and the killer whale.

From June to December, humpback whales conduct their annual migration, travelling north to warmer waters to have their calves, before returning south for summer feeding in Antarctica. Following close behind are the southern right whales, which are renowned for coming close to shore and using the bays along the coast to protect their young. Blue whale sightings are rare; October and November are the best chance to see the largest mammal to have ever lived. Bottlenose dolphins are also regular visitors to the bay.

Within the Park, Point Piquet has a constructed whale viewing platform with informative signage, seating and toilet facilities. Outside of the Park, Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse offers excellent vantage points as do local whale watching tours.

If you are boating in Geographe Bay during September to December, expect to see these gentle giants as they frolic and play in the bay. Boats should not approach within 300m of a whale and should not be manoeuvred in a way that will interfere with the journey of the whale. Please see the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions website for more information.