From May to October, the waters of Gippsland's Bass Coast come alive with migrating marine mammals — mostly humpback and southern right whales, but also the odd orca flashing its distinctive black and white markings. 

Located at the end of the Great Ocean Road, Warrnambool is a renowned spot for scoping out these majestic creatures, as scores of female southern right whales descend on Logans Beach to calve between June and September.

The secluded beaches and rugged wilderness of Wilsons Promontory have made it a favourite destination for hiking and camping, but the waters surrounding its scenic coastline also happen to pull their fair share of humpback whale visitors.

Sitting halfway along whales' annual 5000-kilometre migration route, Jervis Bay on the New South Wales South Coast is known to be a favourite pitstop for humpback and southern right whales. 

Promising striking sandstone clifftops, sweeping ocean views and an excellent vantage point for the passing pods of humpback whales each June and July, Cape Solander makes for a worthy winter day-trip destination. 

The Sapphire Coast town of Eden is a whale-watcher's paradise. The surrounding waters of Twofold Bay are known as the 'Humpback Highway', so numbered are the humpback whales that swim through here en route home to Antarctica each year. 

For some breathtaking whale-watching action just a quick ferry trip from Brisbane's bayside, lock in a trip to Minjerribah, aka North Stradbroke Island. Between late May and early November, the region welcomes scores of its most majestic annual visitors.

Located across from K'gari, the protected waters of Queensland's Hervey Bay entice thousands of humpback whales each year, so your chances of scoring a sighting are solid. It is the world's first Whale Heritage Site, after all.