Whale Watching the Migration passing Norfolk Island 2025

It is migration time of year for the Southern Ocean whales also known as Cetacean. This is the time of year the whales migrate to the tropical breeding grounds leaving Antarctica for the winter months as they travel through the Norfolk Island waters, their journey also takes them along the migratory Pacific Ocean corridors passing New Zealand, Australia and New Caledonia coastlines.

During past weeks I have been looking out to sea hoping to catch sight of the whales, their splash or spray. On calm days it would be so easy to see them out at sea if they happen to breach and dive. Each year, during May June, July and August there are sightings, I always enjoy looking out to sea from the Norfolk Island cliff top views.

Last month, on 15 May 2025, my friend and I spotted whales spray and splashes off the coastline at Kingston Pier. It is such a fantastic experience to see these amazing whales as they swim past Norfolk Island. I have also heard others say they have seen them at Cascade area during the past month.

The Greenwood fishing reports are always very informative, and they report on whale sightings as well.

The Humpback whales are known to travel in pods, and I wonder how many whales migrate past Norfolk Island shores each year.

I have learnt that when the whales travel to Antarctica in the spring, they travel slowly because they have young calves on their first journey to the southern waters. On the onset of winter, the whales migrate north, and they travel at a steady speed.

The most common whale viewed from Norfolk Island is the “Humpback” whales. But other whales are also viewed such as “Minke” whales as well as the “Blainville's Beaked” whales.

HUMPBACK WHALE Megaptera novaeangliae

Length 11–15 m/ 37–50 ft. DORSAL FIN Small, nubby fin with broad base APPEARANCE Black body; bumps or knobs on head; long pectoral fins with white

underside BEHAVIOUR Medium-sized, bushy blow; usually surfaces 2-5 times between deep dives; often raises tail flukes on final dive.

It is always exciting to see the whales from clifftops, but if you get the opportunity, another way to sight the migrating whales, is from the local fishing boats or the Norfolk Island charter boats, which regularly spend time fishing the Norfolk Island coastal areas.

If you do see any whales, take note of WHAT, WHERE & WHEN. Record the time and where the whales are sighted and the direction they are travelling. These records of the whale sightings can be recorded for the Norfolk Island Fauna and Flora Society and for annual whale surveys. It is always exciting to see the whales when they are passing Norfolk Island, and I always hope to capture them on my camera.

The Humpback whales has featured on the Norfolk Island collectable postage stamp series in January 2024. Here are a couple of images which show what to look for when whale watching. These images include photographs I taken in recent year.

Happy Whale Watching everyone!

https://iwc.int/smallcetacean

https://norfolkislandwhalesurvey.wordpress.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Norfolk-Island-Whale-Survey-148724795167684/?fref=ts

Betty Matthews

27 June 2025