Albany whale-watching cruises: Whale tours in Western Australia

Yes you can go whale-watching in Albany, Western Australia. Between late May and early October, Albany Whale Tours runs whale-watching cruises of King George Sound.

“Oh you beautiful, beautiful creature,” gushes skipper John Woodbury while whale-watching from the historic Western Australian town of Albany. A female southern right whale pops its head out of the water and looks directly at the boat. Her tail then smashes the water a few times, creating quite the noisy spectacle.

Book in advance for the best deals on Albany accommodation.

and sort out top albany tours, experiences and museum entry.

Albany whale-watching cruises

The Albany Whale Tours cruise hasn’t gone too far from Albany’s marina to find the Southern Ocean’s big beasts. They’re hanging out just around the corner in Western Australia’s King George Sound, and upon closer inspection there’s a calf tucked in beside his mother too.

John pulls out his recorder and starts playing it in a bid to capture the whales’ attention. “I’ve always played music to wildlife,” he explains. “They invented music, and they respond to it. They take most notice of an octave and a half above middle C, I find.”

The mother and calf don’t seem particularly enchanted by the serenade. But they’re not the only whales nearby. Coming in from the other side of the boat are a couple of adult males, and they’re altogether more willing to communicate. One breaches spectacularly, while the other comes to the surface. It lets out a snort that sounds like a disconsolate elephant bellowing.

Albany whale-watching cruises: Southern right whale population

John says that, on average, they see 10% more whales every year – and that’s a good sign that the population is rebounding. “Whales go back to where there is a family memory,” says John. “If the last remaining whale with familial memories of a region dies, there’s an extinction in that area.”

This is particularly relevant around Albany, near the campgrounds of the Stirling Range and coastal granite outcrops of William Bay National Park. Albany is a 419km drive south-east of Perth and home to the National Anzac Centre (BOOK TICKETS). Frenchman Bay, just around the Flinders Peninsula from the city centre, was home to Australia’s last whaling station. Now, whale-watching on the spectacularly pretty waters of the King George Sound is a far bigger money-spinner.

Albany whale season

The three hour Albany whale-watching cruises cost $98, and the Albany whale-watching season is between late May and early October. Sightings while whale-watching in Albany are not a foregone conclusion, however, and weather conditions mean that cruises can often be cancelled. The owners of Albany Whale Tours suggest staying in the area for two or three days to have a better chance of departure.

More whale-watching in Australia

There are more reliable places in Australia for seeing whales. These include Hervey Bay in Queensland, Warrnambool on the Great Ocean Road in Victoria and Head of Bight in South Australia. In Western Australia, you can also try whale-watching cruises in Dunsborough and Augusta.