The 2026 humpback and southern right whale migration season is underway along the Australian coast. The leading edge of the humpback northward migration has been moving past the southern and central New South Wales coast through April and into May. The southern right whales are arriving in the southern Australian breeding grounds. Here is the working read on the 2026 season and what to know for viewing and for the broader conservation context.

The humpback migration.

The east coast humpback migration is the larger of the two Australian migrations. The population — Group E humpbacks under the IWC nomenclature — has continued its long-term recovery from the historical whaling-era lows. The current population estimate sits in the tens of thousands of animals, which is a remarkable conservation success story over the multi-decade horizon since whaling ended in Australian waters in the 1960s.

The 2026 east coast migration timing is broadly consistent with the long-term pattern. The northward migration is well underway through May with the peak passage past the central NSW coast in late May to mid-June. The animals continue north to the Great Barrier Reef and surrounding waters for the breeding and calving period through June and July. The southward return migration with mothers and calves occurs through August into October.

The west coast humpback migration — Group D humpbacks — has a similar but offset timing pattern. The northward migration along the WA coast is in progress through May and June with the animals heading to the warmer waters of the Kimberley region. The southward return through Western Australian waters happens through August into October.

Both populations have shown stable or slightly increasing trends over recent years. The aerial survey data and the photo-ID work conducted by research groups along both coasts has been broadly consistent with continued recovery.

The southern right whale migration.

The southern right whale story is less well-known and the population recovery has been slower. The southern right whales migrate from southern ocean feeding grounds to the southern coastal waters of Australia for the breeding and calving season. The animals arrive in the breeding grounds — primarily Head of Bight in South Australia, Logans Beach in Victoria, and selected sites in southern Western Australia — through May and stay through to October.

The southern right whale population has recovered more slowly than the humpback population from the historical whaling impact. The current population is much smaller than the humpback population — in the low thousands rather than the tens of thousands. The recovery has been visible but slow.

The 2026 southern right season is shaping up to be a typical year. Mothers with calves are expected at the major calving sites through the winter months. The viewing opportunities at Head of Bight and Logans Beach should be good.

Viewing tips for the 2026 season.

For the east coast humpback migration, the major land-based viewing sites include:

Cape Byron and the surrounding Byron Bay area. Excellent vantage points with the lighthouse and headland providing high vantage points over the migration corridor.

Coffs Harbour and the Solitary Islands coast. The headlands along this coast give good visibility into the migration corridor.

Port Stephens and the Tomaree headland. Strong viewing opportunities with both the migration corridor and the inshore movement of animals visible.

Sydney coastal headlands — North Head, South Head, Long Reef, the headlands of the eastern beaches and the northern beaches. The migration passes very close to the Sydney coast.

The South Coast headlands — Jervis Bay, Eden, the headlands south of Wollongong. The migration passes through these waters in the autumn northward leg and the spring southward leg.

Boat-based viewing is available at all the major coastal centres along the migration route. The whale watching operators are well-regulated under the relevant approach and observation guidelines.

For the west coast humpback migration, the major land-based viewing includes Cape Naturaliste and the south-west region, the Perth coastal headlands, the Geraldton coast, and the Ningaloo Reef area where the animals are most concentrated through June and July.

For the southern right whales, Head of Bight in South Australia is the premier viewing location with a dedicated viewing platform and reliable mother-and-calf sightings. Logans Beach in Warrnambool, Victoria has a viewing platform with reliable seasonal sightings. Various sites in southern Western Australia also have seasonal sightings.

The boat-based viewing of southern right whales is more restricted than the humpback operations due to the species being more sensitive to approach. Land-based viewing is the recommended approach for southern rights.

The viewing etiquette.

Whatever the species, the viewing should respect the regulations and the welfare of the animals.

Land-based viewing — keep to designated viewing areas, avoid disturbing the animals through artificial light or noise, give the animals their space.

Boat-based viewing — only use licensed operators who operate under the regulatory framework. Avoid approaching whales in private boats — the regulations on approach distances are real and enforcement is increasing.

Drone use — the regulations on drone use around whales are specific. Generally drones must remain a minimum distance from whales and must not pursue or alarm the animals. The penalties for violations are meaningful.

The conservation context.

The whale populations along the Australian coast are recovering from the historical whaling-era lows but they continue to face several modern threats.

Ship strike. The shipping traffic along the Australian coast, particularly the major routes through Bass Strait and along the east coast, intersects with the whale migration corridors. The ship strike incidents are documented but relatively rare given the volume of shipping. The mitigation work continues through the IMO frameworks and the Australian maritime authorities.

Entanglement. The fishing gear entanglement of large whales remains a continued concern. The whale disentanglement teams operate along the Australian coast under the relevant agency coordination. The reported entanglement incidents through 2024–2026 have been at expected levels.

Underwater noise. The increasing underwater noise from shipping, from offshore industrial activity, and from other sources is a longer-term concern. The research on the impact on whale behaviour and communication continues.

Climate change. The shifts in ocean temperature, in food availability, and in habitat conditions are likely to affect whale populations over the longer term. The current research is documenting changes in migration timing, in body condition, and in calving success in response to environmental changes.

Plastic pollution and microplastic. The contamination of marine food webs with plastic and microplastic has been documented in many marine species including whales. The longer-term implications continue to be researched.

The continued recovery of Australian whale populations through 2026 and beyond depends on the maintained management of these threats. The conservation framework — the international whaling moratorium, the protected species status under Australian law, the marine park network, the fisheries management — provides a strong foundation. The vigilance about the ongoing threats remains essential.

The 2026 whale season offers a real opportunity to engage with one of the most successful conservation stories of the post-whaling era. The animals are visible, accessible, and recovering. The opportunity to see humpbacks within sight of Sydney’s beaches or southern rights from the Great Australian Bight is one of the great wildlife experiences available in Australia. The season is unfolding well. Enjoy it responsibly.