Albany resident treated to spectacular Cheynes Beach whale show as humpback season reaches its peakJacki ElezovichAlbany AdvertiserWed, 2 July 2025 3:00PM
Albany resident Katrina Worsfold spent a morning at Cheynes Beach last week, and was treated to dozens of humpbacks putting on a spectacular ocean show, breaching, blowing and tail-slapping close to shore.
Cheynes Beach remains one of Albany’s most popular spots for whale watching, with Tourist Rocks accessible with a two-wheel-drive vehicle and less than an hour’s drive from Albany city centre.
At the end of June and in the first weeks of July, the humpback whale migration is in full swing, and the Great Southern’s keen whale watchers are treated to shows of their agility and size on a daily basis as the whales swim past Albany and head up the coast.
Ms Worsfold was out at Cheynes last Thursday, a regular haunt for her as it is for so many others during this time of year, watching the whales go past with camera in hand. She snapped some stunning shots from her vantage point on a rock close to the water’s edge.
“There’s a few vantage points at Cheynes besides Tourists Rocks that are accessible via four-wheel-drive and a bit of walking,” she said.
“There were a lot of whales while I was out there, I had seen maybe 30 to 40 that day with at least three of the groups breaching and tail-slapping.
“It made for great photos and videos.”
Ms Worsfold said she makes the drive to Cheynes to see Albany’s favourite oceanic visitors at least once a week during peak whale season, while her kids are in school.
“I love the ocean and a Cheynes is such an amazing place,” she said.
“Growing up in Perth it felt like nothing for us to travel over an hour via train then bus, then walk to get to the beach so I’m constantly grateful to have all this around us in Albany.
“Watching the whales and seeing the size of them, it’s just fascinating to see and it never gets old, we’re definitely pretty lucky.”
Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.
Sign up for our emails
Read more on The West Australian
