October 2025 Update

Well, it’s getting to that time of year again—the season is drawing to a close, and we have only a few more weeks left before our whales depart for the cooler waters of Antarctica. While it’s always a little sad for us here at Whale Watching Sydney (knowing we’ll have to wait another six months before the excitement of the Humpback Highway returns), we couldn’t be happier for the East Coast Humpback population.

This year brought some monumental news from the scientists and data analysts over at Happywhale.com, who reported that the number of Humpbacks passing the coast is now thought to be above pre-whaling levels. Incredible! It’s living proof that when the ocean is given a chance to heal, it truly can. To witness the “Humpback Comeback” unfold in real time is something truly special.

Of course, our whales still face challenges. As their numbers increase, so too does the potential for entanglements and vessel collisions. Fortunately, we’re proud to have some incredibly vigilant skippers and crew—and the more people who join us on our cruises, learn about these animals, and help spread awareness, the better protected they’ll be.

Speaking of spotting whales, this month also saw Whale Watching Sydney featured on the news for our collaboration with Greenroom Robotics. Greenroom has installed an AI camera system on one of our vessels to help detect whales as they surface for air. The goal is to enhance whale detection and, in time, assist other vessels in avoiding collisions—another exciting step toward improving safety for both whales and marine traffic.

And while the season may be nearing its end, someone clearly forgot to tell the whales! The last few weeks have been bursting with energy. With an increasing population and plenty of young whales making their first journey south, the ocean has been alive with activity. Even the adults have been putting on some show-stopping performances!

One particularly memorable cruise featured a playful whale that seemed to be playing a game of hide and seek with us. It would appear on one side of the vessel, disappear for a long dive, then pop up somewhere completely unexpected. Just when we thought the fun had ended, it launched into a massive full-body breach—less than 50 metres behind the boat! Even our most experienced crew and regular passengers were left speechless.

Another unforgettable encounter came just days ago, when we came across a large pod of seven adult whales heading north—an unusual direction for this time of year. They appeared to be a competition pod, a group of males vying for the attention of a female, moving fast with huge, steaming blows and trumpeting calls across the surface. Then, to everyone’s delight, a massive pod of bottlenose dolphins joined the spectacle, darting between the whales and riding their wake in an explosion of energy. It was one of those rare, electric moments that remind us why we love being out here every single day.

As the 2025 season winds down, there are still plenty of opportunities to witness spectacular
whale behaviour before they continue their journey south. If you haven’t joined us yet, now’s the
perfect time—let’s finish this season with a bang and wish our whales a safe trip home to
Antarctica!