The best time to see whales on the Gold Coast is from June to early November, where you can witness these gentle giants breaching, tail slapping, and playing in the water. From June to July, humpback whales migrate north from Antarctica to the warmer waters of Queensland before starting to return in August. This time of the year is known as the “crossover period” when many whales are still switching to the north, whilst others are returning south back to Antarctica for the summer.