Dolphin & whale watching
The South Coast is one of the best places in Australia to get out on the water with marine life. Jervis Bay has its own resident dolphins year-round and hosts humpbacks in spring; the far-south port of Eden is legendary whale country; and off Narooma, Montague Island teems with seals and penguins. Here's where and when to see them, and how to plan your cruise.
Dolphin cruises from Huskisson
Around 60 bottlenose dolphins live in Jervis Bay all year, so a dolphin cruise from Huskisson is a near-certain delight in any season. Operators such as Jervis Bay Wild and Dolphin Watch Cruises run relaxed 1.5-hour trips (from around $35 for adults) across the calm, sheltered bay, often with the dolphins riding the bow wave — and in summer some cruises add boom-netting for a swim off the boat. It's an easy, family-friendly outing on protected water.
Whale season & Eden
From mid-May to mid-November, humpback whales stream along the coast — the northern run peaking in June–July, and the southern return (September–November) bringing mothers and calves close to shore, sometimes right inside Jervis Bay. For the classic experience, head to Eden on the Sapphire Coast, where deep Twofold Bay draws whales in close and Cat Balou Cruises and others run whale trips. Eden's history is extraordinary too — the Killer Whale Trail and its museum tell the tale of Old Tom and the orcas. The Eden Whale Festival runs 16–18 October 2026.
Montague Island: seals & penguins
Off Narooma, granite Montague Island (Barunguba) is a wildlife-rich nature reserve visited on NPWS-guided tours by boat from Narooma. Expect basking Australian and New Zealand fur seals, one of the state's biggest little penguin colonies and a historic 1881 lighthouse; some trips offer snorkelling with the seals, and evening "sunset and penguin" tours run in the warmer months as the penguins waddle ashore. Bookings are essential, tours are weather-dependent, and the reserve closes each August.
Dolphins & whales: your questions
Yes. A resident population of around 60 bottlenose dolphins lives in Jervis Bay all year, so dolphin-watching cruises from Huskisson run in every season with a very high chance of sightings. Operators like Jervis Bay Wild and Dolphin Watch Cruises run 1.5-hour dolphin cruises (from around $35 for adults) on the sheltered, calm waters of the bay — an easy trip even for those prone to seasickness.
Whales pass the South Coast from about mid-May to mid-November. The northern migration peaks in June and July (whales tend to be further offshore), while the southern migration from September to November is often the best viewing, as humpback mothers and calves rest close to shore — and inside Jervis Bay itself. Cruises run from Huskisson and, further south, from Eden.
Two places stand out. Jervis Bay (cruises from Huskisson) is superb in spring, when mothers and calves shelter in the bay. And Eden, on the far-south Sapphire Coast, sits on deep Twofold Bay where whales come remarkably close — it's the traditional heart of South Coast whale watching, with operators like Cat Balou Cruises and the annual Eden Whale Festival (16–18 October 2026).
It's a self-drive heritage trail around Twofold Bay at Eden that tells the extraordinary story of the orcas (killer whales) who once helped local Aboriginal people and shore-based whalers hunt — the famous "Law of the Tongue." Highlights include the Eden Killer Whale Museum (home to the skeleton of "Old Tom," the legendary orca), historic Davidson Whaling Station and Boyd's Tower in Beowa National Park.
Yes, on a guided tour. Montague Island (Barunguba), off Narooma, is a nature reserve you can only land on with a NPWS-guided tour (boat transfers run from Narooma). You'll see Australian fur seals, a big little penguin colony and the 1881 lighthouse, with evening penguin tours in the warmer months. Bookings are essential and the reserve is closed each August; some tours also offer snorkelling with seals.