Whale-watching tours in Dunsborough, Western Australia: When is whale season?
Whale-watching tours in Dunsborough depart during whale season – September to December. Naturaliste Charters runs Dunsborough whale-watching cruises on Geographe Bay.
There are several places in Australia that offer whale-watching tours. You can go on a whale-watching cruise in Albany, do a whale tour on Phillip Island and do humpback cruises in Hervey Bay or Mooloolaba. But an underrated spot for whale-watching is Dunsborough in Western Australia.
Dunsborough on the northern shore of the south-western corner of the state, a short drive from Busselton or Margaret River. It’s a charming little beach town, and it’s the beach that Naturaliste Charters runs its Dunsborough whale-watching tours from.
Dunsborough whale tour season
The whale-watching cruises from Dunsborough depart between early September and early December every year. This is humpback whale season in south-west WA. From the beginning of September onwards, the humpback whales start returning to their great feeding grounds off the coast of Antarctica. They head north to the warmer waters near the tropics to give birth, and on the southern migration, the mothers bring their calves with them.
That’s why the whale-watching tour in Dunsborough is so special – you’ve got a strong chance of seeing a mother with a calf.
Come in October or November, and you’ve got a good chance of seeing blue whales on this Dunsborough whale-watching cruise, too. This period is when the largest creatures on earth are on their migration.
Why do whales visit Geographe Bay?
Whales gather in numbers around Dunsborough because the waters of Geographe Bay are calm and protected. For whales, Geographe Bay is the equivalent of a fuel stop – a chance to rest and recharge the batteries before heading out across the ocean.
On a Dunsborough whale-watching cruise, therefore, the chances of whale sightings are pretty strong. There’s also the bonus of the calm, clear water – you can usually see the abundant sea grass meadows below the surface.
Naturalist Charters is also at pains to point out the other wildlife in Geographe Bay. Fur seals hang out on the rocks, pods of bottlenose dolphins often enjoy playing in the boat’s wake and regular sea bird sightings include petrels, sea eagles and ospreys.
The Dunsborough whale-watching tours with Naturaliste Charters depart at 10am and 2pm daily during the September to December whale season. Tickets cost $90 and the whale watching cruises from Dunsborough last around two hours. These tours can be booked through Viator.
While in Dunsborough, you may as well go stand-up paddle-boarding at Meelup Beach or wine-tasting at the Wise Winery in Eagle Bay. The Pullman Bunker Bay Resort offers the area’s plushest accommodation.
More Australian wildlife experiences
Dog-sledding with huskies at Mt Baw Baw in Victoria.
Close encounters at the Port Douglas wildlife park in far north Queensland.
Meeting native animals at the Boronong Wildlife Sanctuary near Hobart in Tasmania.
Explore the desert on Alice Springs camel rides in the Northern Territory.