Broome is a popular holiday destination in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, famous for its picturesque sunsets and turquoise waters. Holidaymakers planning a trip to Broome often weigh up whether to come during the wet season or the dry season – but what about planning your trip around your Broome bucket list?
The warm waters surrounding Broome play host to a varied range of sea life, some of the most impressive of which are the majestic Humpback whales. If you want to go whale watching on your next visit to Broome – and let’s face it, who wouldn’t? – make sure you plan your trip for when the whales are visiting the Broome waters. So, when is the best time for whale watching in Broome?
Here are some things to help you plan your Broome whale watching tour for an unparalleled experience you won’t forget:
The Annual Migration
Each year during the winter months, the whales make their migration from their cold Antarctic feeding grounds to the warm waters of the Kimberley region to mate and calve. This epic annual migration includes Humpback whales, Southern Right whales and the rare Blue whales.
During whale season in Broome, the surrounding Indian Ocean plays host to the world’s largest population of Humpback whales – with over 35,000 Humpback whales expected to migrate up the coast each year. It’s a truly memorable experience to see the whales breaching, playing and nurturing their calves.
While on occasion you may be able to spot some whales migrating along the Kimberley coast from the shore, the best place to see the whales is up close and personal on a whale watching cruise.
Best Times to Visit for Whale Watching
Whale season can change by several weeks each year, and is dependent on when the whales arrive and depart from the waters surrounding Broome. But as a general rule, whale season runs from late June to early October, with our Absolute Ocean Charters whale cruises running daily during this time. Whale watching season occurs during the dry season in Broome – when you will experience warm, clear days, cool evenings and very little rain – perfect holiday weather!
For the best whale watching in Broome, the busiest time for whale activity is throughout July, August and September. If you and the family want to ensure you see as many whales as possible, breaching, tail-slapping and teaching their calves, book in for one of our whale watching charters during these months.
However, we are lucky to have such a long whale season here in Broome, so even if you can’t make it during these peak months, there’s plenty of time! We’re so sure we’ll be able to spot some whales on our cruises that we offer a free reschedule (or, if that’s not possible, money back) if there isn’t a whale encounter on your tour.
To ensure the optimum whale watching experience, our whale watching cruises run in the afternoon between 1 pm and 4 pm, or between 3 pm and 6 pm for our sunset cruises. You’re sure to spot other sea life while on-board, such as sea snakes, dolphins and fish species. And there really is something so magical about experiencing a Broome sunset from the pristine waters!
Planning your Whale Watching Cruise
Our whale watching cruises are suitable for the whole family, with plenty of on-board games and activities to keep the little ones entertained. They’ll love the chance to listen to whale song through our state-of-the-art hydrophone.
Our qualified marine biologist on-board will be able to answer all your questions about the whales and other sea life you spot. You’ll love relaxing on the daybeds, and rest assured you won’t have to compete for space – our whale watching vessel has three viewing platforms and a walk around deck so that you can enjoy uninterrupted views of the whales no matter which side they appear on!
We have refreshments and appetisers onboard, so you can just sit back, relax, and enjoy your time out on the water. We also offer pick-up and drop-off from your accommodation, taking you on our air-conditioned broome bus to your departure point (either Entrance Point or Gantheaume Beach) and back again after the tour.
Get in touch with our friendly team here at Absolute Ocean Charters, or book your whale watching cruise through our website.
Other Things to do in Broome
Once you’ve locked in your whale watching cruise, it’s time to fill in the rest of your itinerary. The benefit of enjoying an afternoon or sunset cruise is you have plenty of time in the morning for other activities, so you can squeeze in as many other broome tours as you like to optimise your time in Broome. Check out our list of the top 10 tourist attractions in Broome to help you decide what else to add to your itinerary.
The long whale season in Broome offers a wonderful opportunity to get out on the water and see the whales for yourself, while enjoying the beautiful weather the dry season is so well known for. For whale watching in Broome, the best time to visit is between July and September for the height of whale activity, or visit any time during whale season from the end of June to the start of October. A whale watching cruise is a truly magnificent and memorable experience that the whole family will reflect back on for years to come. We look forward to having you on board!
