There’s something profound about witnessing a whale breach the surface – that moment when tonnes of cetacean muscle and grace pierce the boundary between their world and ours. It’s one of those things that you simply have to see once in your life, to make you feel truly insignificant. 

Because it’s good to be humbled sometimes. Whether you’re planning your first expedition or your fifteenth, here are 8 of the world’s most extraordinary whale watching destinations.

Hervey Bay, Australia

Queensland’s whale watching capital offers an experience unlike any other, particularly for those keen to observe humpback behaviour. Between July and November, these magnificent creatures transform the bay into their personal playground. Unlike other locations where whales simply pass through, Hervey Bay serves as a crucial stopover in their migration. The shallow, warm waters provide ideal conditions for mothers to nurse their calves and teach them essential life skills.

What truly sets this destination apart is the remarkable level of interaction. Local operators report that up to the vast majority of encounters involve curious whales approaching vessels – a phenomenon rarely seen elsewhere. The bay’s unique geography, protected by Fraser Island, creates mirror-calm waters that allow for exceptional viewing conditions.

Best time to visit: July to November, with peak activity in August and September when mothers and calves are most active in the bay’s warm waters.

Insider tip: Book a dawn patrol trip when the water is at its calmest and the whales are most active. Several operators offer hydrophone experiences, allowing you to listen to the hauntingly beautiful whale songs beneath the surface.

Wilhelmina Bay, Antarctica

Along the Antarctic Peninsula lies Wilhelmina Bay, nicknamed “Whale-mina Bay” by scientists for its extraordinary concentration of humpback whales. Here, in the austral summer, these magnificent creatures demonstrate sophisticated cooperative hunting techniques, creating spiral bubble nets to trap their prey.

While icy Antarctic cruises require careful planning and timing, the rewards are unmatched. The bay’s protected waters, backed by towering glaciers and curious penguin colonies, create an otherworldly setting for whale watching. The midnight sun of summer allows for extended viewing hours, while the crystal-clear Antarctic waters offer unprecedented visibility.

Expedition note: February brings the highest concentration of whales, as they feed intensively before their northern migration.

Best time to visit: November to March during the austral summer, with February being particularly rewarding as whales feed intensively before their northern migration.

Kaikoura, New Zealand

Perched on the edge of a submarine canyon that plunges two kilometres deep, Kaikoura offers perhaps the world’s most reliable whale watching. While most destinations are seasonal, here you can spot sperm whales year-round—thanks to the unique convergence of warm and cold currents that creates a rich feeding ground.

The resident sperm whales are all males, typically measuring up to 18 metres in length. They dive to extraordinary depths of up to 2,000 metres, hunting giant squid in the canyon’s inky depths. A typical encounter lasts about 10 minutes before these magnificent creatures dive deep, lifting their distinctive flukes high above the water—a photographer’s dream moment.

Expert advice: Consider combining air and sea tours. While boats offer intimate encounters, helicopters provide a extraordinary perspective on the whales’ true size and social behaviour.

Best time to visit: Year-round for sperm whales, but December to March brings additional species including blue whales and orcas.

Read: The best things for food and wine lovers to do in Auckland

Husavik, Iceland

This former fishing village has reinvented itself as Europe’s whale watching capital, and with good reason. The nutrient-rich waters of Skjálfandi Bay attract up to 23 different cetacean species, including the rarely seen northern bottlenose whale. What makes Husavik particularly special is the possibility of midnight sun whale watching—imagine photographing a blue whale against a pink-golden Arctic sky at 11 pm.

Local operators use traditional oak boats, which provide a more stable viewing platform and create less underwater noise disturbance. The surrounding landscape of snow-capped mountains and volcanic fields adds a dramatic backdrop to every sighting.

Local secret: Book a trip that includes a stop at Lundy (Puffin Island). The combination of whales and thousands of nesting seabirds makes for an unforgettable Arctic wildlife experience.

Best time to visit: May to September, with peak season in July and August when the midnight sun creates perfect conditions for evening whale watching.

Monterey Bay, California

The submarine canyon that cuts through Monterey Bay rivals the Grand Canyon in scale, creating a remarkable marine ecosystem that supports countless whale species. What sets this location apart is the diversity of feeding behaviours on display. Here, you might witness humpbacks engaging in bubble-net feeding, grey whales bottom-feeding in the kelp forests, or orcas hunting in coordinated packs.

The bay’s unique oceanography creates upwelling zones that concentrate nutrients and attract an abundance of marine life. This phenomenon means you’re likely to encounter not just whales, but also vast pods of dolphins, porpoises, and seasonal visitors like leatherback turtles.

Conservation note: The Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute actively studies the canyon’s unique ecosystem. Many tour operators participate in citizen science programmes, making your trip contribute to whale research and conservation.

Best time to visit: While whales are present year-round, December to April is best for grey whales, and June to September optimal for blue whales and humpbacks.

Peninsula Valdes, Argentina

This UNESCO World Heritage site presents an unrivalled spectacle of southern right whales gathering in sheltered bays. Between June and December, these magnificent creatures come so close to shore that you can observe them from coastal cliffs—a particular boon for those who prefer terra firma to rolling seas.

The region’s true claim to fame, however, lies in its resident orca population. These skilled hunters have developed a remarkable technique unique to this coastline: deliberately beaching themselves to catch sea lion pups on the shore. This extraordinary behaviour, passed down through generations, occurs primarily during February and March when seal pups are learning to swim.

Local insight: The clifftop trails near Puerto Pirámides offer excellent land-based viewing opportunities. Time your visit for high tide when whales often swim remarkably close to shore.

Best time to visit: June to December for southern right whales, with October being the peak month for mothers and calves. Orca sightings are most common in February and March.

São Miguel, Azores

In the middle of the Atlantic, the Azores archipelago sits at a crossroads of marine migration routes. These Portuguese islands offer perhaps Europe’s most diverse whale watching opportunities, with over 20 species regularly recorded in the surrounding waters. The resident population of sperm whales makes year-round sightings possible, while spring brings an abundance of baleen whales migrating north.

The islands’ volcanic origins create steep underwater walls and deep-water hunting grounds close to shore. This unique topography means you often encounter whales within sight of land—a rarity in most whale watching destinations.

Navigator’s tip: Book a full-day trip to maximise your chances of encounters. The calm, clear waters allow for excellent underwater visibility when whales dive.

Best time to visit: Year-round for sperm whales, but March to June brings the largest variety of species during the spring migration.

Tofino, British Columbia

This rugged outpost on Vancouver Island’s western coast offers more than just whale watching – it’s a masterclass in marine ecology. The annual grey whale migration brings some 20,000 individuals past these shores, but it’s the resident population of around 200 that makes Tofino special. These permanent inhabitants have developed unique feeding techniques, often swimming sideways along the sandy bottom to scoop up ghost shrimp.

The surrounding temperate rainforest adds another dimension to the experience. Bald eagles soar overhead, sea otters crack shellfish on their bellies, and black bears occasionally appear on the shoreline at low tide.

Nature note: The best viewings often occur during the herring spawn in early spring, when the waters teem with marine life.

Best time to visit: March to October for grey whales, with a special surge in March/April during the spring migration and again in September/October for the southern migration.

Before You Go

While timing and weather conditions play crucial roles in whale watching success, advance preparation can significantly enhance your experience. Taking motion sickness tablets 24 hours before your trip can help prevent seasickness, and morning departures typically offer calmer seas.

Most importantly, remember that these extraordinary creatures choose to interact with us on their own terms. This unpredictability is part of what makes each encounter so special—a genuine privilege rather than a guaranteed performance.