Whale watching in Kiama from six free lookouts, plus cruises

Know when the whales pass Kiama

Tens of thousands of whales travel along the NSW coast each year, according to Destination Kiama. They swim north from the Antarctic in the cooler months and return south later in the year, so the Kiama coast has two windows to see them.

Whales slow from a top cruising speed of about 18 km/h to a migration pace of around 6 km/h, which gives you time to follow one along the coast. Destination Kiama notes that whales can pass at any time, so there is no fixed hour to be there.

If you only have one trip, September to November is the pick for close sightings. Shellharbour Wild reports the same pattern from its boats: whales travel further out on the way north, and mothers with newborn calves come closer to shore on the way south.

Watch from six free lookouts between Minnamurra and Gerroa

Destination Kiama names six shoreline spots, listed here from north to south. All of them are free. Times are from Kiama Ridge Waters at 2 Surfleet Place.

Minnamurra Whale Watching Platform

An elevated, grassy platform on Minnamurra Headland, on the Kiama Coast Walk. A blue board on the platform helps you tell humpback, killer, blue and southern right whales apart. Destination Kiama says locals sometimes see humpbacks spyhopping here, and that the whales can pass close enough to hear. The headland also looks over Stack Island and the Minnamurra River, and Destination Kiama lists it as a picnic spot.

• Getting there: about 12 minutes by car to Minnamurra Headland
• Access: the NSW Government listing says the platform does not cater for people with access needs
• Good for: high views, a picnic, and joining the Coast Walk

Minnamurra Whale Watching Platform on Google Maps

Bombo Headland

Destination Kiama describes Bombo as a dog-friendly headland, just north of Kiama, where whales pass at a leisurely pace. From the top you look across the basalt columns of Bombo Headland and towards Cathedral Rocks, so the view is worth the trip even on a day without whales. Destination Kiama says the formations were shaped by blue metal quarrying in the 1880s and 1900s and by the ocean. Read more in our Bombo guide.

• Getting there: about 8 minutes (7 km), from the north Bombo car park
• Access: Destination Kiama lists the headland as not catering for people with access needs
• Good for: dog owners, and photography at dawn

Bombo Headland on Google Maps

Look out from Blowhole Point and Kiama Harbour

Blowhole Point and Kiama Lighthouse

Destination Kiama suggests Blowhole Point for southern right whales, which send up sprays of vapour as they surface. The point is also home to the Kiama Blowhole and the Kiama Lighthouse, established in 1887, and with Kiama Harbour it is one of the two closest lookouts to the apartments.

• Getting there: about a 35-minute walk (around 2.9 km) or 5 minutes by car
• Good for: a short trip, families, and combining with the Blowhole

Blowhole Point on Google Maps

Kiama Harbour

Family groups of whales sometimes come close to shore, and Destination Kiama says adults and juveniles have been seen around the harbour. It sits right beside Blowhole Point, so you can check both in one stop and then find a table at one of the places to eat in Kiama. See our Kiama Harbour guide for more.

• Getting there: about a 33-minute walk or 6 minutes by car
• Good for: family groups of whales close to shore, and a coffee afterwards

Head south to Gerringong and Gerroa

Gerringong Whale Watching Platform

This platform sits above the cliffs on Gerringong Headland. Visit NSW says access is from Belinda Street near the Gerringong Cemetery, and it is a short walk to the Boat Harbour rock pool and about five minutes on foot into central Gerringong. Pair it with a swim in the rock pool (see our Kiama rock pools guide) and lunch in the village.

• Getting there: about 9 minutes by car
• Access: Visit NSW lists it as not catering for people with access needs
• Good for: high cliff views and a day in Gerringong

Gerringong Whale Watching Platform on Google Maps

Black Head Reserve, Gerroa

A rocky outcrop at Gerroa with open sea views both north and south. Destination Kiama suggests it for humpbacks heading north from May to July and returning south with their calves from September to November. It is the southernmost of the six lookouts, at the northern end of Seven Mile Beach.

• Getting there: about 16 minutes by car
• Good for: wide views in both directions, and a drive further south to Gerroa

Black Head Reserve on Google Maps

Take a whale-watching cruise from Shell Cove

There are no regular whale cruises from Kiama itself. The nearest operator is Shellharbour Wild, which leaves from the public jetty (Public Wharf) at Shellharbour Marina, 13 Marina Drive, Shell Cove. That is about 16 minutes by car from Kiama Ridge Waters.

• Whale Cruise: 1.5 hours, May to November, on the catamaran Cat Balou. The operator lists departures at 11am Monday to Friday, and 10am, 12pm and 2pm on Saturday and Sunday. Cruises run every day, including public holidays.
• Aboriginal Cultural Whale Cruise: 2 hours on limited dates, run with Gumaraa Aboriginal Experience and University of Wollongong whale researcher Dr Jodi Edwards. Each trip includes a smoking ceremony and storytelling about the cultural significance of whales to the Yuin people. The operator notes Dr Edwards is not on board every cruise.
• Whale Season Pass: also sold by the operator; see its booking page for details.

Arrive 20 minutes before departure to check in at the vessel. The operator suggests bringing a hat or beanie, a jacket or jumper, sunglasses, sunscreen, water and a camera, and does not recommend the cruise past 24 weeks of pregnancy. Times and prices change, so check before you go and book on the Shellharbour Wild website or call 02 4203 2379. See our Shellharbour guide for the rest of the marina.

Tell the whales apart

Destination Kiama names humpback and southern right whales as the ones you are most likely to see, with minke, sperm and even blue whales possible but rare.

• Humpback: the back arches steeply as it dives, and NPWS says the black and white markings under the tail flukes are like fingerprints, with no two the same.
• Southern right: look for sprays of vapour at the surface. Destination Kiama suggests Blowhole Point.

Three behaviours are worth knowing before you go:

• Breaching: the whale leaps out of the water and falls back with a splash. NPWS says this may help remove skin parasites, or the whale may just be playing.
• Fin slapping: NPWS says this may be a warning of danger nearby.
• Spyhopping: lifting the head straight up out of the water to look around.

NPWS says the shape of the blow, the dorsal fin, the flippers, and body colour and patterns all help identify a species, and suggests some surface behaviours may help whales communicate or get their bearings.

Pack for a few hours on a headland

Whale watching takes patience, and the headlands can be cold in winter. NPWS suggests taking:

• Warm clothes and a blanket, plus chairs to sit on
• A hat, sunscreen and sunglasses
• A thermos with a hot drink or soup, water and food
• Binoculars, and a camera with a telephoto lens if you have one

Look for the blow first, then watch the same patch of water for the next surfacing. Keep at least 5 m back from cliff edges and rock platforms, as NPWS advises, and follow any signs at the lookout.

To find out what is passing, Destination Kiama recommends the NPWS Wild About Whales app for the latest local sightings.

Keep your distance on the water and in the air

If you paddle, surf, swim or fly a drone during whale season, NSW law sets minimum distances. These are the main ones for whales:

Read the full rules on the NSW Government approach distances page.

Make a whale-season weekend of it

Whale season falls in Kiama's cooler months, which suits a slower stay. For a simple plan, catch the sunrise at Blowhole Point, have breakfast near the harbour, then walk a section of the Coast Walk between the Minnamurra platform and Bombo. On day two, head south to the Gerringong platform and the Boat Harbour rock pool, or book the morning cruise from Shell Cove. For more ideas, see things to do in Kiama in winter and Kiama with kids.

Base the weekend at Kiama Ridge Waters, where our three-bedroom apartments at 2 Surfleet Place each sleep six, with secure parking for two cars. Easts Beach is a 15-minute walk away. Pets are welcome on request in most of our apartments, so the dog can come to Bombo too (see pet-friendly stays). Families can read about family stays, and groups can book several apartments together. Check availability for your dates.