Between June and October, humpback and southern right whales move along the coast off Albany. King George Sound is one of the few places in the world where both species turn up in the same water, and now and then a blue whale passes through as well.
You do not need a boat to see them. The clifftops in Torndirrup National Park, about 10 kilometres south of Albany, look straight out over the Southern Ocean, and a lot of people watch from up there for the price of a park entry ticket.
Albany is 160 kilometres south of Kojonup on the Albany Highway, which makes this a comfortable day out from a bed here. This guide covers when to go, where to stand, what it costs and how to shape the day.
When the season runs
June to October is the window Albany's own tourism body gives, and it is the one to plan around. The whales are on migration: southern rights favour sheltered water for calving, humpbacks pass through as part of a much longer run up and down the coast.
Nobody can promise you a whale. These are wild animals in open ocean, and weather, swell and luck all get a say. What the season gives you is a genuine chance, and a very good one over a patient hour, rather than a certainty. Go with that expectation and a blank day still leaves you standing on one of the best stretches of coast in the state.
Where to watch from the shore
Torndirrup National Park covers about 3,900 hectares on the peninsula south of Albany, and its named lookouts are the obvious places to start. Stony Hill is the highest point in the park with views right around. Peak Head, Salmon Holes, Sharp Point and Jimmy Newells Harbour all look out over the ocean. The Gap and the Natural Bridge are the park's best known stop and the boardwalk there is short and easy.
Be a little wary of anyone who names one lookout as the whale spot. These are the park's scenic ocean lookouts, not marked whale hides, and no official source picks a winner. The sensible approach is to choose somewhere high with a wide, open view, and then actually stay put for a while.
Two practical things. Take binoculars if you have them, because most sightings start as a distant spout rather than a whale, and a flat sea makes that spout far easier to pick out than a choppy one. And stay behind the railings and on the built platforms: this is an exposed coast, the rock below the lookouts is dangerous, and the ocean here is not one to turn your back on.
What it costs
Park entry is $17 for a standard vehicle carrying up to twelve people, $10 concession, and $10 for a motorcycle. Larger vehicles are charged per person. If you are visiting several parks on the same trip, a WA Parks Pass covers entry and works out cheaper.
Those fees were current when we wrote this in August 2026. They are set by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions rather than by us, so they can change.
If the whales do not show
Albany's Historic Whaling Station at Frenchmans Bay is the obvious companion stop, and it is indoors. It was the last operating whaling station in Australia, closing in 1978, and the site has been kept as a museum rather than cleared away. It is a strange and genuinely absorbing place to walk through, especially straight after an hour of watching for the same animals off the cliffs.
Shaping the day from Kojonup
Leave after breakfast and you have the whole middle of the day on the coast. Pay the park entry once, work through two or three lookouts rather than trying to tick off all of them, and keep the afternoon loose in case something is happening offshore.
You can be back in Kojonup the same evening without rushing, which is the argument for basing yourself here rather than paying Albany prices for a bed. If you would rather stay down on the coast a night, the drive back up the highway the next morning is an easy one.
Where to stay
Cornwall House Accommodation is on the Albany Highway in the centre of Kojonup, which puts you on the right road heading south. There are 12 air-conditioned rooms, each with its own ensuite, free WiFi, tea and coffee, a microwave and a fridge, plus free onsite parking and a shared guest camp kitchen.
Contactless check-in runs from 2pm and late arrivals are no trouble, so a long day on the coast does not have to end in a scramble.
When your dates are set, check availability or contact us with any questions before you arrive.
Check availability and book Call us (08) 9831 0214
Frequently asked questions
When is whale watching season at Albany?
June to October, when humpback and southern right whales migrate along the coast. Occasional blue whale sightings are reported in the same window.
Can you see whales from the shore at Albany?
Yes, there is a real chance from the clifftop lookouts in Torndirrup National Park during the season, though no lookout can guarantee a sighting. Take binoculars and allow time.
How much does it cost to enter Torndirrup National Park?
$17 for a standard vehicle of up to twelve people, $10 concession, $10 for a motorcycle, and larger vehicles per person. A WA Parks Pass also covers entry. Fees were current as at August 2026 and are set by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
Do you need a tour to see whales at Albany?
No. The clifftop lookouts in Torndirrup National Park are self-drive and cost only park entry. Boat tours also operate from Albany in season if you would rather go out on the water.
