Land Based Whale Watching
in Australia

There is another alternative to whale watching on boats or land and that is aerial whale watching. I shall leave that for another page!

Here are some of my tips for land based whale watching around the Gold Coast.

Annie's Land Based Whale Watching Tips!

I know I sound like a broken record, but you need to be prepared on the Gold Coast!

What I mean by that, is during the whale watching season - late May to early November, you could be just about anywhere on the coast and experience some land based whale watching.

• High rise whale watching
• Whale watching from points and headlands
• Whales on the beach
• Be prepared
• Great land based vantage points
• General Whale Watching Information

High Rise Whale Watching

A few years ago I was in the Sofitel in Broadbeach, standing on the 17th floor if I recall correctly, looking south towards Burleigh Heads and Coolangatta when I saw something moving very close to shore.

At first I didn't realise what it was, but one of the people who work in the Sofitel, told me that it happens from time to time that the whales come in close to the shore between the sand bar and the breaking waves.

So there I was 17 floors up in Broadbeach whale watching!  If I had been on the Mermaid Beach that day, I am sure I would have been equally surprised, and probably equally unprepared for the show put on by the humpback!

I didn't have a camera with me and I didn't have any binoculars, so I had to watch from afar.  But what a perfect opportunity for some quite unique whale watching.


Back to Top of Land Based Whale Watching

Whale Watching from Points

Another example was the day I took the photos at the top of this page. It was Australian Father's Day - the first Sunday in September.

We went on a family outing and found ourselves at Point Danger.  Whilst we were minding our own business up on the point, sitting and enjoying the sunshine the kids noticed some whale spouts in the ocean.  

We watched the whales pass right by for about an hour we were transfixed!  They spouted, and breached and played as they slowly made their way south.

I took photos, but my little camera was just not a match for the distance away from us they were.  I remember saying "I wish I had the binoculars with us".  

Back to Top of Land Based Whale Watching

Whale Watching From the Beach

Another great spot where I have often spied the whales frollicking is at the strip of beach between Main Beach and Surfers Paradise right over the road from the Macintosh Island Bridge.  

At this point the road meets the beach.  You are up a few meters from the beach so you get a good view.  And you can park right there on the road.

I have stopped many a time there to see the whales just off shore.

That is one of the many beaches you could do some land based whale watching from.  Pretty much any beach is fair game.  Remember what I said about the whales off Mermaid that I spied from the high rise!

Southport Surf Life Saving Club at Main Beach is another place where I have sat on the balcony enjoying a breakfast and watching the whale spouts out to sea! It isn't the only SLSC that has great views and great food, try Kurrawa SLSC at Broadbeach.


Back to Top of Land Based Whale Watching

Be Prepared for Land Based Whale Watching

Now, as I said before, this isn't a patch on being on the water and right up close with the whales.

I do understand there can be very good reasons why you cannot go on a whale watching tour:  

• Budget - it can be expensive taking the whole family on a boat tour.

• Time - with so much to do in the Gold Coast, and only so much time, a half day tour may not work for you.

• Fear of boats or bad seasickness - this happens.  I have my moments! My mother would LOVE to watch whales, but I know she would find it hard to overcome her of being on a smallish boat.

• Accessiblity - perhaps it is hard for all your party to get on a boat.

Whatever the reason, just a little preparation could save the day.

• Take a camera with you wherever you go.  Video camera too.  The bigger the zoom the better!

• Take binoculars with you.  Now if you are going on a boat you will want waterproof binoculars.

• Keep your eyes peeled.

Back to Top of Land Based Whale Watching

Vantage Points for Land Based Whale Watching

Point Danger

Point Danger (Coolangatta/Tweed Heads border) is a pretty good spot to see the whales from land.  

Byron Bay

Another good spot for land based whale watching is Byron Bay.

Byron Bay lighthouse is the most easterly point in Australia. If you walk up to the lighthouse there are posters and museum with information about the whales.  

The last time I went, they were recording the whale songs and there was a local university research student who was telling us all about what was going on and what we could hear.  

It was actually live whalesong being recorded from the whales that were passing. Fascinating stuff.

That day, there was a lot of whale activity and we stayed at Byron Bay just enjoying the atmosphere for hours.

South Stradbroke Island

Although you are not high up on South Stradbroke Island you can be lucky with whales coming in close to shore.  The beach is pristine there, so even if you don't see whales you can enjoy the solitude of the beach.

You can usually join a whale watching tour from Couran Cove Resort.


North Stradbroke Island
I haven't been there yet but I understand that there can be some good whale watching from the northern tip of North Stradbroke Island.

You can self drive to Cleveland and take a ferry across to Dunwich and then drive about 32 kms to the point.

North Stradbroke Island has an aptly named resort right at the point: Whale Watch Ocean Beach Resort!


Back to Top of Land Based Whale Watching


I hope you have enjoyed these tips on land based whale watching.  If you have any more tips or ideas I'd love to hear them and with your permission I can even add them to this list!

Please come back often, share this with your friends or even give us a plug on your social network.

Enjoy your Whale Watching,

Annie from www.gold-coast-australia-travel-tips.com

If you really want to get close to the whales you can't beat a whale watching tour.