News Whale Season
Rug up and head to high vantage points along the Gippsland coast to admire the ocean traffic.
As winter sets in, humpback and right southern whales from the deep south make their way along Gippsland’s coastline for their annual migration to warmer waters. Killer whales - who are part of the dolphin family - are also part of Club Migration. These magnificent creatures travel solo or in small pods and may entertain you with a wave of a fin, a blow of water, tail slap, or if you’re lucky, a full breach, jumping right out of the water.
Follow our tips and your whale encounter won’t be a fluke. You may need to be patient but the wait is definitely worth-whale. (Sorry for the puns. At least we didn’t say you’ll have a whale of a time.)
Your whale viewing kit
- Beanie and thermos (the best whale watchers stay warm and hydrated)
- Binoculars
- Camera (a whale sighting deserves a Facebook brag)
Where to look
We’ve rounded up some of the best whale viewing hot spots on our Whale Watching page. Closest locations to Melbourne include Phillip Island and the Bass Coast.
What to look for
Keep your eyes peeled for dark shapes and movement in the water. It’s common to spot the top of a body, head or a tail slap. Whales can also be spotted by the spray of water appearing as they clear their blowholes. You can identify the type of whale based on the shape of the blow spray, body, fin or tail shape. Here is a useful identification diagram.
Published on under: Nature & Outdoor