Whale season around Rottnest, 2026

When is whale season at Rottnest Island?

From about August to December, sometimes starting in June or July. Most whales are humpbacks heading south.

The RIA's whale watching page explains that humpbacks travel the coast between their Antarctic feeding grounds and their breeding grounds in the Kimberley, and that "Rottnest Island sits on the southbound leg of that route". The state's Watching Whales guide adds the order: newly pregnant females head south first, then young whales and adults, and mothers with calves come last and slowest. It says about 35,000 whales migrate through Western Australian waters in the season. Southern right whales turn up less often, and blue whales have occasionally been seen in deeper water off the island.

Whales pass at all times of day, so there is no magic hour. Calm days with little wind make blows and splashes far easier to spot.

Where can you see whales on Rottnest?

Cape Vlamingh and Cathedral Rocks at the West End, Bathurst Lighthouse above Pinky Beach, and Little Armstrong Bay. You can also see them from the ferry.

The West End is the strongest bet. Cape Vlamingh and Cathedral Rocks both have binoculars, and the RIA reckons on 30 to 50 minutes each way by bike from the settlement, or the Island Explorer bus. Walking it is about 10 km each way, which is a long day on its own.

If you have less time, climb up to Bathurst Lighthouse above Pinky Beach, a short walk from Thomson Bay, and scan the open water. On the crossing, grab a seat by the window or a spot on the open deck. The RIA lists the ferry as a viewing spot, and we would skip the inside seats in season.

The SeaLink ferry and bus tour is the easy way to reach the West End without pedalling. Its 90-minute guided bus loop includes Cathedral Rocks and Cape Vlamingh, with commentary, and you get free time before the boat home.

Ferry, island entry and a 90-minute guided bus loop that stops at Cathedral Rocks and Cape Vlamingh.

★ 4.6 · 7 hours to 1 day · departs Perth or Fremantle

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Is there still time to see whales in late 2026?

Yes. From late October to December the southbound migration is still passing, though numbers thin out as December goes on.

The RIA gives the migration window as August to December, so late October and November are still inside it. The state's whale guide says commercial tours off Perth focus on southbound humpbacks from September to late November, when sightings come "with great regularity". Mothers with calves travel last, which is why late spring is calf time. On the island, the RIA says a boat tour "before January" could include "glimpses of the ocean's graceful acrobats".

The RIA asks boaters to keep their distance from whales, "especially calves and nursing mothers". By December you are relying on luck. We would plan a November trip around the whales, and a December trip around the beaches with an eye on the water.

Can you take a whale-watching cruise from Perth or Fremantle in 2026?

Yes, until about the end of November. Rottnest Express runs a two-hour cruise from Fremantle, and a two-hour cruise with a marine biologist leaves Hillarys.

Rottnest Express lists its whale watching boat tour for September to November 2026: two hours with commentary, leaving Fremantle at 1pm, Thursday to Monday. If you see no whales, the operator offers a free trip credit for another cruise in the same season.

From the northern suburbs, Rottnest Fast Ferries says its seasonal whale cruises run from early September to the end of November, with a marine biologist host on every trip. A resale listing for the Hillarys cruise shows a 9:00am departure of about two hours and a free repeat trip if no whales are seen.

On the island, the Eco Express boat tour runs from September to April. None of these cruises guarantees a sighting. The repeat-trip offers are the honest version of a guarantee.

What other wildlife can you see on Rottnest in spring?

Quokka joeys peeking from pouches, the Wadjemup daisy in bloom, ospreys on their nests, rainbow bee-eaters arriving and fur seals at the West End.

Spring is busy on land too. The RIA's spring guide says quokka joeys start to peek out of their mothers' pouches from September, and the Wadjemup daisy blooms from late October, especially around Parker Point. Keep your distance from quokkas and do not touch or feed them, joeys included.

The RIA's bird watching page says ospreys nest in large stacks at Salmon Point, Fish Hook Bay and Narrow Neck on the West End, and that rainbow bee-eaters arrive from the north around October to breed, staying until about February or March. Fur seals and dolphins turn up around the West End too, so take the binoculars even if the whales do not show.

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