Spot a whale!

Late autumn is an exciting time for locals and visitors on Phillip Island, as the first humpback whales are making a splash along the coast! Keen to get a glimpse of these early arrivals? Read on to find out where to go and what to look for …

The best way to spot whales from land is from prominent coastal landmarks; places such as Grossard Pt, The Nobbies, Summerlands, Pyramid Rock, Cape Woolamai Anzacs beach, Pinnacles lookout, San Remo Punchbowl Rd and Kilcunda are ideal lookouts to search from (see Whale Discovery Trail map)

What to look for?

• Blow: look for a large puff of mist, or a small cloud drifting briefly over the water. This is water vapour from the whales’ lungs as their warm exhaled air cools down instantly in the cold surrounding air.
• Footprint: smooth glassy patch on the surface of the water created by their powerful flukes. Whales usually surface at consistent time intervals and the footprints can help predict their next surfacing!
• Spy hopping: whales stick their heads out of the water so they get a better look above water (their eyes are set behind their jaws). Believed to help the whales navigate their way along the coast.
• Fluke up: whales usually raise their fluke right out of the water as they dive deeper between surfacing.
• Breaching and slaps: whales communicating by creating huge splashes, throwing their large pectoral fin, enormous tail or sometimes their entire body out of the water!

These tell tail signs can be seen as close as behind the breakers, and up to 1km offshore on a good weather day.

Did you know you can get live notifications of whale sightings? Download our very own Wildlife Whales App and receive the latest whale sightings and news at your fingertips.

It’s time to rug up, grab your binoculars, and come down to the island to spot a whale! If you do spot one, please share it with us, and send your sighting in.

Or better still, join us on a Whale Cruise this winter, to get a chance to see these magnificent whales up close!