Lake Macquarie is an excellent spot to see whales on their migratory journey along Australia’s east coast between May and November. It’s common to see humpback and southern right whales during this time, as the gentle giants head north to warmer waters to mate and calve, before returning to the cool waters of Antarctica.
Here are six places to see whales in Lake Macquarie.
Redhead Bluff, Redhead
Redhead Bluff offers incredible views every day of the year, but during whale season, the views go up a notch. Look across Nine Mile Beach towards Swansea and Blacksmiths Beach and see how many flicking tails and spurting blowholes you can spot. The rocky headland is set up with toilets and picnic tables so you can stay for lunch, and the Webb Park playground is nearby.
Spoon Rocks Lookout, Coastal Walking Track, Caves Beach
You can often spot whales from Caves Beach itself, but why not get a workout and do the 5-kilometre return Coastal Walking Track while you keep your eyes peeled for passing whales. As you walk between Caves Beach and the headland south of Pinny Beach, Spoon Rocks Lookout in particular makes a great vantage point, and Quarries Head offers some lovely sea views too. If you want an add-on, stroll out to the Spoon Rocks Spit at the Caves Beach end. The spit is a wide breakwater that extends 500 metres into the ocean, so, naturally, this is a great place to view whales too.
Ken and Audrey Owens Walk
The easy 2.5-kilometre Ken and Audrey Owens Walk is a good option if you want to keep things leisurely or have a pram or wheelchair. Timber and concrete footpaths loop from the Webb Park picnic area, which has rest facilities and electric barbecues.
Pass wetlands, sand dunes and coastal vegetation as you walk alongside Redhead Beach, where whales are known to play. If you want to shorten this walk, you can join the path at Cairn Street.
Green Island passage, Swansea Heads
If you head down Green Island Road, opposite Reid’s Reserve playground, you can find an excellent vantage point to watch whales as they pass through the channel between the mainland and Green Island. The best thing? Not many people know about this spot, so there’s a fair chance you’ll be able to park on the headland and gaze east towards the island with nothing but the ocean and frolicking whales for company.
Awabakal Nature Reserve
The walk from Dudley to Redhead in the Awabakal Nature Reserve is stunning, taking you through coastal heath and thick woodlands. You can start this walk at either Dudley or Redhead, and it will take around 1.5 hours return.
If you don’t want to do the whole walk, you can catch ocean views from the Awabakal Viewpoint on the headland at the Dudley end of the track. On a clear day you can see all the way to Newcastle, so this means your chances of spotting a whale in the big blue are high.
Note, this track can be a bit rough, so isn’t suitable for prams or wheelchairs.
On the water with Coast XP and Nova Cruises
Want to see whales up close? Then there’s no better way than to get out on the water.
Coast XP offers an encounter tour, which focuses on the humpback whale – a species known to be particularly inquisitive and interactive. If you’re lucky, you’ll also get to see dolphins and seals. Complimentary photos are offered as part of the 2-hour tour.
Nova Cruises then run a 2.5-hour whale watching cruise from Newcastle, giving you plenty of commentary and snacks on board. If you join the whale watching trip, you’ll get a bonus harbour and outer beach cruise.
For more ideas on what to do with your family in Lake Macquarie, call the friendly Lake Macquarie Visitor Information team on 1800 802 044. We can send you a Visitor Guide and Map for free, or view online here.