Your guide to finding the best land-based whale watching spots in Port Stephens

Whales travel the 'Humpback Highway' along the east coast of Australia between May and November. It is primarily humpback whales making this journey, but other species such as the southern right can be seen during the migration too.

After a summer of feeding on krill in Antarctic waters, humpbacks migrate north to subtropical waters where they mate and give birth. The northern migration occurs May to August, which is immediately followed by the southern migration where mothers and their calves head back down to the feeding grounds in Antartica between August and November.

About 40,000 whales are expected to travel the Humpback Highway this season. In what some have labelled as one of the "greatest comebacks" of a species, it was believed that only a few hundred humpbacks remained when whaling was banned in Australia in 1978. Humpback whale numbers crashed during the peak of the whaling industry, in the 1960s and 1970s. Now, the population increases by about 10 per cent a year.

During their annual migration of up to 10,000 kilometres, humpbacks attract thousands of visitors to coastal towns such as Nelson Bay, Newcastle, Eden, Port Macquarie, Byron Bay and Hervey Bay.

Below are some of the best land-based places in Port Stephens where you can view whales on their migration. Just make sure you take a pair of binoculars to better see the whales, a camera to snap a picture or video and a jacket - it gets cool along the coastline.

Boat Harbour has a lookout dedicated to whale watching. Located off Noamunga Street, the lookout has a number of vantage points in which you can stop, wait and watch to see whales pass the coast. The main lookout, accessed by a short walking trail featuring signs with whale species information, has a bench for sitting. For the more adventurous, climb over to the North Headland and take a seat on the rocks closer to the water to watch for whales. This lookout area is popular during the whale migration season.

Aside from its obvious natural beauty, the beauty of heading to Boat Harbour to spot whales is that you can stop anywhere with a view of the water and will likely see whales, particularly during the peak of the migration season.

For a more invigorating whale watching experience, consider walking the coastal trail from Solace Place, off Kingsley Drive, to the rock cairn and along the Birubi Headland. There are small signs with whales that act as trail markers.

You can also walk the Boat Harbour Track and Morna Point Track, access from Tomaree Crescent (next to the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Boat Harbour depot), to Morna Point for a whale watching adventure.

The Fishermans Bay foreshore area features a lovely, secluded beach and is a great spot for family picnics, kayaking, rockpool walks and spotting whales. It is located off Pacific Street, Fishermans Bay.

Birubi Point is an easily accessible whale watching spot for all members of the family. There are a number of whale watching vantage points around the surf club and cafe at the end of James Paterson Street. This includes the top platform above the surf lifesaving club, the grassed area in front of Crest Birubi Beach which has a fixed pair of coin operated binoculars to use. There's an additional small outlook with whale signage to the left of the cafe.

For a more adventurous whale watching experience, walk the track between the Birubi Point Surf Life Saving Club along the coastline to the Birubi Point Historical Cemetery (Pacific Avenue) or vice versa. The cemetery provides multiple vantage points of the water.

Much like the Fishermans Bay foreshore area, Anna Bay is home to the Iris Moore picnic area, located off Birubi Lane. The area is a grassed reserve next to the coastline where whales can be spotted.

Take the short but heart-pumping walk to the top of Mount Tomaree to enjoy panoramic views of Shoal Bay and the Port Stephens coastline. Pack binoculars for whale watching and dolphin spotting. To reach the top of Mount Tomaree take the 2.2km (return) Tomaree Head Summit walk.

For those who are unsure whether they can reach the top of Tomaree Head, there is another walk whale watchers can take. Take the Fort Tomaree walk to the World War II gun emplacements and keep an eye out on the water.

Another whale watching vantage point in Shoal Bay is from Wreck Beach, accessed by the 2km (return) Wreck Beach walk in Tomaree National Park. From Verona Road, follow the track uphill and onto the fire trail which eventually takes you onto Wreck Beach walk. Walking through lush coastal angophora forest leads onto a small cove with beautiful sand and open views of the ocean, which is perfect for whale watching.

Fingal Bay is another popular whale watching spot in Port Stephens, and one that offers a number of vantage points depending on how adventurous you wish to get.

Members of the public can spot humpbacks breaching and southern rights spy-hopping from the Barry Park lookout. This dedicated whale watching platform complete with whale information signage is located in Barry Park, off Marine Drive.

For those who wish to explore Fingal Bay's coastline and spot whales while walking, take the Barry Park Track which joins the Fingal S Ridge Trail. This trail takes walkers through Tomaree National Park, along the FIngal Bay coastline, past Fingal Point, to the Boulder Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant (on Boulder Bay Road). The walk continues over the road and through bushland, past Snapper Point, to Little Rocky and Big Rocky. This trail gives walkers an opportunity to stop at the top of the Fingal ridge, see boats and whales pass, or explore the trail a little more and try to spy whales from the rocks closer to the water.

Another good whale viewing spot is from the Point Stephens Lighthouse (also known as the Outer Light) and Fingal Island, which can only safely be accessed by boat.

Think we've missed a whale watching spot that's really worth a mention? Email the details to emwatts@austcommunitymedia.com.au.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content: