Western Australia has some of the best cetacean watching in the world. The combination of the Humpback migration corridor along the coast, the deep cold waters of the Perth Canyon attracting Blue Whales, resident Bottlenose Dolphins in the Swan River and Cockburn Sound, and occasional rare sightings of Southern Rights and Orca makes WA a genuinely world-class destination for whale and dolphin watching. This page covers all the cetacean species I have personally encountered, with notes on where and when to find them.
Humpback Whale — Megaptera novaeangliae
The Humpback is the whale most reliably seen off Perth. Every year from around June to November, tens of thousands of Humpbacks migrate north along the WA coast to their breeding grounds in the Kimberley, Ningaloo and beyond, before returning south with calves. The migration passes close to shore and on a calm day animals can be seen from the beach. September to October is the peak period for watching from the Perth coast as animals travel south again. Conservation status: Least Concern globally, though the east Australian and west Australian populations were both severely impacted by whaling and have been recovering since protection in 1963.
Where to see Humpback Whales near Perth
- Perth coast beaches — Cottesloe, Scarborough and Trigg are all good vantage points during migration. A clear day, binoculars and patience are the main requirements.
- Whale watching tours from Fremantle — several operators run seasonal tours. Getting offshore gives much closer and more reliable encounters than shore-based watching.
- Rottnest Island — animals pass close to the island during migration. See my Humpback Whale Watching post for tips.
Southern Right Whale — Eubalaena australis
The Southern Right Whale is a stocky, finless whale with distinctive white callosities on its head — rough skin patches colonised by whale lice that give each individual a unique pattern. It was hunted to near extinction and is listed as Endangered in Australia. The population has been recovering since protection in 1935 but the recovery is stalling — calving intervals have extended from every three years to every five, likely due to the impact of ocean warming on Antarctic krill. They are most commonly seen along the south coast of WA at locations like Israelite Bay, Point Ann and Point Charles, and at the Head of Bight in SA.
Seeing a Southern Right off Perth is unusual — they typically stay further south. In September 2025 I was lucky enough to follow a mum and calf south along the beach from South Cottesloe to Leighton Beach, with drone footage from 100m altitude. It felt like a small sign of the species gradually returning to parts of its historical range. See the full post for the story and footage:
→ Southern Right Whale and Calf off the Perth Coast
Blue Whale — Balaenoptera musculus
The largest animal ever to have lived on Earth, Blue Whales feed in the Perth Canyon — a deep underwater canyon 35km off Rottnest Island — from around April to June each year. Krill aggregations in the cold, deep canyon waters attract significant numbers of animals, and dedicated boat tours give extraordinary close encounters with these giants. Conservation status: Endangered. Like Southern Rights, Blue Whales were severely depleted by whaling and have been slowly recovering.
I joined a Perth Canyon tour and the experience was extraordinary — multiple Blue Whales feeding alongside the boat at close range. The scale is simply incomprehensible until you are next to one. See the Blue Whales of Perth Canyon post for the full account and tips on booking a tour.
Orca (Killer Whale) — Orcinus orca
Orca are the ocean’s apex predator and one of the most striking animals on earth. In WA they are most reliably seen off Bremer Bay in February and March, where a community of around 100 individuals aggregates in the deep Bremer Canyon to feed — dedicated tours operate from Albany during this period. They are also regularly encountered in Exmouth Gulf. Seeing them off Perth is unusual. Conservation status: Data Deficient globally — the species as a whole is widespread but distinct populations vary considerably in status.
I had a brief but memorable encounter with Orca off Rottnest Island during a pelagic birdwatching trip — almost certainly animals opportunistically following the Humpback migration. See the Perth Pelagic post for the full account.
Bottlenose Dolphin — Tursiops truncatus / Tursiops aduncus
Bottlenose Dolphins are the most commonly seen cetacean in the Perth region — resident populations live in the Swan River, Cockburn Sound and along the coast. They are regularly seen from the Fremantle foreshore, from ferries to Rottnest, and from the beach on calm days. Two species occur: the Indo-Pacific Bottlenose (Tursiops aduncus) inshore and the Common Bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus) offshore. Conservation status: Least Concern.
See my Dolphins in the Swan River post for an account of watching them from the riverbank in Perth, and the Mandurah Easter post for a lovely boat cruise encounter with dolphins in the Mandurah estuary and canals.
Striped Dolphin — Stenella coeruleoalba
The Striped Dolphin is an offshore species more commonly associated with tropical and warm temperate waters – not something you’d expect to encounter on a day trip from Perth. On the Perth Canyon Blue Whale tour we came across a huge pod – they were leaping clear of the water and putting on a real show alongside the boat. A completely unexpected highlight of an already extraordinary day. Conservation status: Least Concern.
Cetaceans FAQ
When is the best time to see whales off Perth?
Humpback Whales are the most reliable species — they pass Perth heading north from June to August, and return south from September to November. September and October are excellent for shore-based watching. Blue Whales are in the Perth Canyon from April to June. Southern Rights are most often seen further south along the WA coast from May to September, though rare sightings off Perth do occur.
Can you see whales from the beach in Perth?
Yes — during the Humpback migration, animals can sometimes be seen from beaches like Cottesloe, Scarborough and Trigg on calm days. Binoculars help enormously. A whale watching tour from Fremantle or a pelagic trip gives much better and more reliable encounters. The Southern Right Whale and calf I saw in September 2025 were clearly visible from the beach at South Cottesloe, tracking south close to shore.
Where is the best place to see Blue Whales in WA?
The Perth Canyon, 35km off Rottnest Island, is one of the most reliable Blue Whale feeding sites in the Southern Hemisphere. Whale Watch Western Australia runs dedicated tours from around April to June. Numbers and timing vary with krill availability but encounters can be extraordinary — see the Blue Whales of Perth Canyon post for what to expect.
Where is the best place to see Orca in WA?
Bremer Bay, about 4.5 hours east of Perth, is the most reliable Orca location in Australia. A community of around 100 individuals aggregates in the Bremer Canyon in February and March to feed. Tour operators run trips from Albany during this period. Orca are also regularly seen in Exmouth Gulf in the north. Seeing them off Perth is rare but does happen, usually coinciding with the Humpback migration.
What are the rules for watching whales in WA?
Vessels must not approach within 100m of a whale, and must not approach from behind or within a 60 degree arc of the whale’s direction of travel. People in the water must stay at least 100m away. Drones must stay at least 60m from a whale. You must abandon interaction at any sign of distress. See the DBCA guidelines for full details.
All Cetacean Posts on This Site
- Southern Right Whale and Calf off the Perth Coast — drone footage and conservation context
- Humpback Whale Watching off Perth — tips and locations
- Blue Whales of Perth Canyon — Blue Whales and Striped Dolphins in the Perth Canyon
- Perth Pelagic Birdwatching Trip — seabirds and an unexpected Orca sighting off Rottnest
- Dolphins in the Swan River — resident Bottlenose Dolphins in Perth
- Ahoy There Matey, Thar She Blows — another whale watching encounter
You can also follow along on Facebook and Instagram for more regular updates between posts.
Page last updated September 2026.