4 EDEN SAPPHIRE COAST SPRING 2026 A front row seat to the spring migration Each year, starting in the last month of winter, some 40,000 humpback whales travel the 'Humpback Highway' along the NSW Sapphire Coast as they make their southern migration to Antarctica for the summer. And this year will be no exception. Land-based whale watching The Sapphire Coast is one of the best places for land-based whale-watching in Australia, as it's a sanctuary for migrating humpback whales and southern right whales, who come extremely close to shore with their calves between August and November each year. This rare behaviour makes them easily visible from land. The Sapphire Coast is dotted with stunning headlands, rocky outcrops, winding coastal trails and elevated lookouts in national parks and coastal reserves, providing excellent vantage points for spotting whales out at sea. The best times are generally in the early morning or late afternoon, when the weather is often calmest and the sun is low in the sky, lighting-up the whale's 'blow' as they surface to breathe. Popular land-based whale watching locations on the Sapphire Coast include Green Cape Lighthouse, Tathra Headland Lookout, Long Point Lookout, Murunna Point, Boyd's Tower, Bermagui Blue Pool Lookout, Eden Rotary Lookout (just a two minute drive from Eden's main precinct), Haycock Point, Wajurnda Point lookout (a 10-minute drive from Tathra) and Tura Headland lookout. Whale Watching tours Whale-watching cruises from Eden, Merimbula, and Bermagui will depart several times a day from August to November, and trip times vary from two hours, to half-day adventures, with bookings highly recommended during peak periods. To find out more, head to the relevant information centre in the Sapphire Coast town in which you're travelling or go online at sapphirecoast.com.au/whales Green Cape Lighthouse is a good spot to do some whale watching near Eden. Photo: Destination NSW NETHERCOTE RD PRINCES HWY PRINCES HWY PRINCES HWY BOYD ST MITCHELL ST MITCHELL ST IMLAY ST ALBERT TERRACE IMLAY ST BARCLAY ST IMLAY ST PRINCES HWY PRINCES HWY ASLINGS BEACH RD ASLINGS BEACH RD CALLE CALLE ST CALLE CALLE ST BASS ST COCORA ST CATTLE BAY RD BUNGO ST WEST ST WEST ST WIRRIGA ST PHILLIPS ST IDA RODD DRIVE LAKE CURALO QUARANTINE BAY WEECOON COVE CALLE CALLE BAY COCORA BEACH CATTLE BAY SNUG COVE YALLUMGO COVE ASLINGS BEACH TWOFOLD BAY BEOWA NATIONAL PARK GEORGE BASS PARK MARTHA KIRBY PARK ROTARY PARK ROTARACT PARK NETHERCOTE TO PAMBULA & MERIMBULA TO EAST GIPPSLAND TO NULLICA STATE FOREST EDEN Welcome to
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