Whales of Australia
Western Australia • Queensland
Humpback Whales • Dwarf Minke Whales • Coral Reefs
Duration: 15 days
Departs: June - July
From: 8900 AUD / 5100 EUR pp
Subject to seasonal availability, flight schedules, accommodation category, and final itinerary design.
Every winter, two great migrations bring the ocean to life along Australia’s coastlines. In the west, thousands of humpback whales travel north through the turquoise lagoons of Ningaloo Reef, passing so close to shore that you can see them from the beach. It is one of the few places in the world where the desert meets the sea, with red sand, white dunes, and clear blue water all in one frame. You can spend the morning hiking through canyons and the afternoon drifting over coral gardens alive with turtles, rays, reef sharks, and clouds of tropical fish.
Ningaloo feels raw and real, the kind of place that has barely changed in thousands of years. The reef begins just metres from the sand, and every snorkel feels like discovery. When you head offshore, spotter planes guide the boats to where the whales are breaching or resting, but there is so much more happening beneath the surface. Manta rays glide in slow circles, turtles surface beside the boat, and sometimes orcas appear on the horizon, cruising the outer reef in search of prey. It is one of those rare ecosystems where everything seems to come together at once.
On the other side of the continent, the Great Barrier Reef holds a different kind of magic. Here, in the northern Ribbon Reefs, the elusive dwarf minke whales appear for just a few weeks each winter. You join a liveaboard expedition that spends a week diving and snorkelling some of the best sites in the world. When the minkes arrive, everything slows down. You stay still at the surface, and the whales come to you, circling in calm, deliberate loops, often within arm’s reach. Some days you might see one or two, other times a dozen. They are curious, gentle, and completely at ease in your presence.
Between whale encounters, the diving is world class, with vertical coral walls, reef sharks gliding below, and the kind of clarity and colour that only the Coral Sea can deliver. It is a week that feels both peaceful and electric, where every dive brings something new and every encounter leaves a mark.
This itinerary was designed from years of first-hand experience. I have worked on both coasts as a skipper, photographer, and expedition leader, spending countless hours in these waters. I know the rhythm of these places, the light, the tides, the timing, and I have built this journey to give you the best chance to experience it all at its peak.
The Whales of Australia expedition brings together the two sides of the country’s ocean story, wild and remote Ningaloo and the vast Great Barrier Reef, each offering moments that feel almost unreal yet deeply human.
Every Strada Expeditions journey can be customised. These itineraries are starting points, the best way to find inspiration. The best way to build yours is to reach out and tell me what you would like to experience, and I will design the perfect trip to your taste.
All itineraries are the intellectual property of Strada Expeditions and cannot be reproduced or distributed without our consent.
Western Australia
Exmouth & Ningaloo Reef
Day 1: Arrival in Perth
Arrive in Western Australia and settle into the rhythm of the coast. Perth has an easy charm, with sunlight on the river and a calm energy that sets the tone for the days ahead. Spend the afternoon walking along Elizabeth Quay or watching the sunset over the Indian Ocean before the adventure begins.
Day 2: Arrival in Exmouth and First Glimpse of Ningaloo
Fly north to Exmouth, landing on the edge of the North West Cape where the red desert meets the sea. After checking in, explore Cape Range National Park or walk down to the beach for your first look at the reef. The water here is so clear and close that it never feels real until you are standing in it.
Day 3: Whale Sharks and Humpbacks (Snorkelling)
Join a small expedition boat with a spotter plane circling above to find the action. When a humpback or manta ray is sighted, the captain positions the boat perfectly and you slip quietly into the water. The first moment you see a shadow rising from the blue is unforgettable. Between swims, relax on deck and watch dolphins play.
Day 4: Another Day on the Water
A second day gives more time to take it all in. Every trip feels different: some whales breach close by, others roll calmly at the surface. Beneath the water, manta rays, turtles, and reef sharks often appear as if on cue. The Ningaloo coast is one of those rare places where everything feels alive and connected.
Day 5: Diving Ningaloo Reef
Today you dive one of Australia’s most famous sites, the Exmouth Navy Pier. Once a working military jetty, it has become a thriving artificial reef and a magnet for marine life. Descend among schools of trevally and snapper swirling around the pylons, spot wobbegongs resting on the sand, and look closely for scorpionfish, moray eels, and nudibranchs hiding in the structure. The pier feels like an underwater city, colourful, and full of surprises.
Day 6: Morning in Exmouth and Flight to Perth
Spend the morning taking it slow. If the tide allows, drift at Turquoise Bay or walk the shoreline one last time before your flight south. Back in Perth, enjoy dinner by the river and reflect on a week spent in one of Australia’s most extraordinary marine environments.
Queensland - Great Barrier Reef & Dwarf Minke Whales
Day 7: Perth to Cairns and Tropical Afternoon
Fly across the continent to Cairns, trading the desert for rainforest and reef. The warm tropical air hits you the moment you step off the plane. Spend the afternoon relaxing by the lagoon, walking the Esplanade, or enjoying dinner by the water as the sun sets over the Coral Sea.
Day 8: Boarding the Liveaboard
Transfer to the marina and step aboard your liveaboard, a purpose-built expedition vessel designed for long-range comfort and access to the far reaches of the Great Barrier Reef. After a welcome briefing, the engines start to hum and you begin your journey north toward the Ribbon Reefs. As Cairns fades behind the horizon, the sea turns calm and blue, and the night sky fills with stars.
Day 9: First Minke Encounters and Southern Ribbon Reef Diving
Your first full day on the reef begins with dives along the southern Ribbon Reefs, home to some of the most iconic coral walls in Australia. At sites like Steve’s Bommie and Flare Point, the reef drops steeply into the blue, covered in soft corals and clouds of fish. It’s also where you might have your first minke encounter, those quiet moments when a whale circles near and looks directly at you.
Day 10: Minke Magic and Northern Ribbon Reef Diving
By now you’ve reached the northern Ribbon Reefs, the heart of the minke whale migration. Dive sites like Lighthouse Bommie and Pixie Pinnacle are famous for these encounters. Sometimes a single whale glides past, other times ten or more circle slowly for hours. Between encounters, you’ll dive spectacular coral gardens and drift walls where reef sharks, trevally, and turtles move through the light.
Day 11: Lizard Island
Step ashore at Lizard Island, a remote national park rich in Aboriginal and maritime history. Take a guided walk to the lookout at Chinaman’s Ridge for panoramic views over the reef and ocean. The island feels wild and timeless, a reminder of how far you’ve travelled. After lunch on board, dive again on nearby sites before sunset at anchor in calm, protected water.
Day 12: Minke Encounters Continue
Another day in the water brings more chances for encounters. The crew work closely with researchers to track the whales and guide interactions with care and respect. You’ll wait quietly on the surface, holding the line as the whales approach out of the blue, curious and calm. These moments are rare and humbling, the kind that stay with you long after the trip ends.
Day 13: Coral Sea and Osprey Reef
If conditions allow, today you travel beyond the continental shelf to the Coral Sea, a world of deep blue water and sheer walls that drop hundreds of metres. Osprey Reef is one of the most spectacular dive locations in Australia, known for its visibility, drift dives, and pelagic life. Grey reef sharks, barracuda, and giant trevally patrol the drop-offs while vibrant corals light up the ledges below.
Day 14: Final Ribbon Reef Dives and Return to Cairns
The last day on the reef brings time for a few final dives among towering bommies and coral spires. Sites like Temple of Doom and Flare Point are filled with life and colour, a fitting farewell to the reef. In the evening, the boat turns south toward Cairns under a sky full of stars.
Day 15: Back in Cairns
Arrive in Cairns early morning and enjoy breakfast on board before disembarking. Transfers are provided to your hotel or onward flight. Take one last look at the ocean and the memory of whales moving through the blue — quiet, graceful, unforgettable.
Optional Extensions
This journey can be extended with any of the experiences and destinations offered by Strada Expeditions. You might combine it with a major city stay or an iconic Australian destination to create a seamless journey from coast to outback.
Strada takes care of every detail from the moment you land in Australia to the moment you depart, including accommodation, transfers, domestic flights, and hand-picked experiences. Every element is coordinated to create a smooth and memorable journey that feels effortless from start to finish.
Visit the Experiences page for inspiration, or reach out directly to Strada Expeditions to share your interests, travel dates, and preferences. Together we will design a complete itinerary tailored to you, ensuring every part of your trip captures the best of Australia.