As the pods, mothers and calves stick close to shore along this stretch of the coastline (it gives them a chance to rest), both seafarers and landlubbers have plenty of opportunities to spot these gigantic gentle creatures.

The key to spotting whales from land is to find an area offering an elevated view of the sea. Luckily, across Eurobodalla the regions cliffs, headlands and lookouts provide myriad excellent vantage points.

Longing to find out if you can tell a playful Humpback from a Southern Right? Eurobodalla is the right place to put your knowledge to the test: 30,000 whales make their way up the local coastline each winter (June/July is the winter peak) before travelling back down in spring as part of an annual whale migration (September to November is spring peak).

As for telling those whale species apart? Here are two tips to get you started: unlike the Humpback, the Southern Right has no dorsal fin, so keep your eyes glued for its back. Plus, the Southern Right pushes water out of not one but two blowholes in a ‘v’ shape. The Humpback? Its single blowhole creates one big, ‘bushy’ blow.

Whale Watching

Toragy Point and Moruya Heads Lookout

Burrewarra Point Banksia Walk

Wasp Head Walk

South Coast Seaplanes provides scenic flights and specialty tours along the beautiful South Coast of New South Wales.

Go with them to experience the coast from a perspective you've never imagined.

There is nothing quite like the experience of gracefully speeding across the water and slipping into the sky - and that's all before you take in the views. With incredible unspoilt beaches on one side of the aircraft and stunning mountain views on the other, they can take you on a journey you will never forget.

Choose between one of their packages, or give them a call to design your own special adventure. A scenic flight in a beautiful seaplane is the ultimate special occasion gift for all ages.

South Coast Seaplanes operates from Moruya and Narooma in New South Wales - right in the heart of Australia's Oyster Coast.

South Coast Seaplanes

Moruya Main Beach

Although it’s an island by name, Broulee Island is joined to the mainland by a sandbar so it’s always accessible. Your chances of success at spotting whales are high regardless of which side of the island you are on. Broulee Island is also a good place to see dolphins and, out of the water, a wonderful display of native plants and marine birdlife, including the superb fairy wren and white bellied sea eagle.

Broulee Island Nature Reserve

Shelly Beach Picnic Area - Moruya Heads

Dark Beach Walking Track

Cookies Beach Picnic Area - South Durras

Region X Sea Kayak and Camping Adventures

Beaches dot the edge of Murramarang National Park, bringing with it plenty of opportunities to access some of the Park’s best whale watching spots.

Nearby, the easy two-kilometre return Wasp Head walk not only offers whale watching opportunities and spectacular views down to the rocky cover of Wobbegong Bay, but it passes through a number of historic Aboriginal sites enroute. Richmond Beach and Dark Beach are two other options worth adding to your list, as is Emily Miller Beach.

Myrtle Beach

Broulee Beach

Game On Charters Batemans Bay

Toragy Point has plenty to offer whale watchers: views north along the coast, interpretive signage about whales and marine life courtesy of National Parks, limited parking, some seating and an historic graveyard – all less than ten minutes out of Moruya. To get there, turn left off the Princes Highway just south of Moruya into South Head Road, drive toward the coast, and up around the headland.

Toragy Point

South Head is a secluded headland with two small clearings, one to the north and one to the south. Both can be accessed via a short walk along paths at the end of Tallawang Avenue, Malua Bay. To get here from Batemans Bay drive south along George Bass Drive (the Coast Road) and turn left into Tallawang Avenue. There is limited street parking.

If you are wanting to venture from the land around Batemans Bay, the whales are so close that guests of local adventure operator Region X often spot them while out on a kayaking tour!

South Head, Malua Bay

How to get there: To get to Broulee Island follow the signs from George Bass Drive, turn on to Broulee Road which becomes Grant Street. Turn right onto Heath Street, left onto Bayside Street and finally right onto Harbour Drive, where you'll find a carpark at the end.

Broulee Island is regarded as one of the best snorkelling spots along the Eurobodalla coastline. Two areas on the island are sought by snorkellers - one is at the bay near Pink Rocks which is the north eastern point of the island. The bay is about two to four metres deep and is protected in terms of swell. It's home to seagrass meadows, with stingrays and banjo sharks sometimes seen. The site is good for beginners in the calm conditions, as is the southern side of the island which is also protected in terms of swell.

The southern side is an extremely productive area, with different habitats around the reef system such as sand flats, big reef walls and shallow reefs, all combining to make it a superb spot for snorkelling. You may be lucky enough to spot a green turtle, or the endangered weedy sea dragon and eastern blue devil fish.

Snorkelling Broulee Island

Burrewarra Point Lookout

Eighteen kilometres south of Batemans Bay, this lookout is a 20-50 minute easy walk from the beach carpark at Guerilla Bay. Be warned, you may be so engrossed in the breathtaking views up and down the coast that you forget to focus on potential whale sightings. To find the lookout take the Guerilla Bay turnoff onto Burri Point Road. The track to the walk and lookout is signposted.

Burrewarra Point

Broulee was the first port in the region. In the 1830s, settlers in the district would load and unload from ships anchored in Broulee Bay because a sandbar blocked the entrance to the Moruya River.

In 1837, Broulee was surveyed and gazetted. By mid-1841, a brisk sea trade had developed with Sydney, and it became a depot for Jervis Bay's whaling fleet. The port had six buildings, and the 46 residents were mostly convicts employed by the local landowner Captain William Oldrey. It was also the center for the court and police districts stretching from Jervis Bay to Eden.

After a flood scoured out the bar at Moruya River in 1841, Moruya became the preferred port. The court and hotel were relocated to Moruya in the 1850s, and Broulee was abandoned.

Holidaymakers discovered Broulee in the 1920s.

To explore the area, you can visit the memorial to the settlers and Traditional Owners who rescued people from the wreck of the schooner Rover in 1841, located in the park on Candlagan Creek's northern bank. You can also walk around Broulee Island, a nature reserve since 1964, and see the site of the 1840-41 Erin-Go-Bragh Hotel and an interesting 1842 grave.

Broulee Heritage Area

Richmond Beach

Broulee Island is joined to the mainland by a permanent sandbar and is always accessible. Find it at the southern end of North Broulee Beach or park at Broulee Surf Club and head north around the rocks to Shark Bay, where a short beach walk leads you to the island. Photographers will enjoy the ocean vistas across pristine rock pools. The walk features native plants and is known for birdlife, including the superb fairy wren and white-bellied sea eagle.

Length: four kilometres return Time: one hour, two hours including the beach walk Grade: Moderate  
Start: Walk north from Broulee Surf Club, or south along North Broulee Beach

Broulee Island Nature Reserve

Broulee Beach

Broulee Heritage Area

Snorkelling Broulee Island

Broulee Island Nature Reserve Walk