Top 20: Australia's best whale-watching locations, state by state

Think of it as their own tropical holiday, where they mate and give birth. And once their young ones develop enough blubber to withstand the icy temperatures of Antarctica, they start heading back there. It is estimated more than 60 per cent of the whale population swims past Australia on its way up and back (between May and November), with front-row views from our never-ending coastlines. Here's how, when and where to spot them in Australia - one state at a time.

The NSW coastline is 2137 kilometres long, which only means one thing: a large number of places for whale-watching.

1. Tweed Heads: Head to Tweed Heads between June and November to spot majestic humpbacks. For expert-led tours, sign up with Whale Watch, Watersports Guru or Cooly Eco Adventures.

2. Cape Byron: Between mid June and late October, Cape Byron - the Australian mainland's most easterly point - is the place to be for humpback-spotting. Join a tour with Whale Watching Byron Bay or get even closer to these gentle giants with a kayaking adventure with Go Sea Kayak Byron Bay.

3. Port Macquarie: The nine-kilometre coastal walk in Port Macquarie is dotted with several vantage points, but you can also leave it to the experts by joining a tour with Port Jet Cruises.

4. Port Stephens: Tomaree Head, Barry Park at Fingal Bay, Fishermans Bay, Birubi Point or Boat Harbour Headland are great locations for whale watching in Port Stephens between May and November, with Moonshadow-TQC Cruises offering excellent tours.

5. Jervis Bay: Humpbacks are the indisputable stars in Jervis Bay but keep your eyes peeled for southern right whales, false killer whales, orcas and minke whales, too, or - for a truly "immersive" experience - join a swimming tour with Dive Jervis Bay.

6. Narooma: In Narooma, Montague Island Adventures offers whale-watching tours to the stunning Montague Island.

7. Eden: And then there's Eden. Once a whaling centre, the ridiculously beautiful town on the South Coast is now a top whale-watching hub, with companies such as Cat Balou Cruises or Freedom Charters offering the best tours.

The total length of Queensland's mainland coastline is 6973 kilometres, with many spectacular whale-viewing spots.

8. Hervey Bay: Between June and November, Hervey Bay is the spot for humpbacks, with operators such as Pacific Whale Foundation and Hervey Bay Dive Centre offering highly insightful tours.

9. Port Douglas: For dwarf minke whales, make your way to Port Douglas, where tour operators such as Silver Series, Mike Ball Dive Expeditions and ProDive offer rare opportunities to swim with these creatures in June and July.

Creamy beaches, rocky outcrops and purpose-built platforms offer great whale-watching opportunities in Victoria.

10. Portland: Cape Bridgewater, Portland Harbour and Portland Whale Viewing Platform are the top spots in Portland for spotting humpback and southern right whales in winter.

11. Warrnambool: Logans Beach Road - off Hopkins Point Road - is the place to be in Warrnambool. You can get there on Warrnambool Tours' Daily Whale Express Bus Tour.

12. Phillip Island: This classic holiday spot has a dedicated Whale Discovery Trail, along which you can hike, bike or drive, with the Nobbies, Cape Woolamai and Pyramid Rock being the top spots. Or sign up for Wildlife Coast Cruises' four-hour Winter Whale tour.

For a small state, the Apple Isle punches above its weight, particularly its east coast.

13. Bruny Island: Close to Hobart, Bruny Island is the best vantage point, with Bruny Island Cruises offering tours on their custom-built yellow boats.

14. Freycinet National Park: Cape Tourville Lighthouse in Freycinet National Park has good vantage points, and Wineglass Bay Cruises offers four-hour tours with plenty of wildlife spotting as well as insights on local Aboriginal culture.

There's no shortage of whale-watching locations in SA either.

15. Ceduna: Ceduna on the Eyre Peninsula has a protected bay where you can kayak close to humpbacks and southern right whales.

16. Kangaroo Island: Or head to Kangaroo Island for a 75-minute coastal tour with Kangaroo Island Ocean Safari.

The show that unfolds on the east coast is just one half of the story. On the other side of the continent, Western Australia hogs the "whale's share" when it comes to spectacular lookouts. Here's the lowdown.

17. Ningaloo Coast: Between July and October, World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef becomes a playground for migrating humpback whales and whale sharks. Stay at Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef for an all-inclusive luxury-lodge experience with unforgettable marine-life encounters.

18. Perth: Between March and May, rare blue whales - the largest animal on the planet - gorge on krill just 50 kilometres from Perth. Whale Watch Western Australia offers the only dedicated blue whale tour in Australia, visiting the Perth Canyon in search of the 100-tonne marine mammals.

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19. Margaret River region: As well as its world-class wines and beaches, this region is the place to spot humpback and southern right whales from May to August and then from September to December. You can join a tour with All Sea Charters.

20. Bremer Bay: The offshore canyons of Bremer Bay are rich hunting grounds for a variety of marine life, with the show kicking off here right at the start of the year. Between January and April, the biggest congregation of orcas in the southern hemisphere is known to visit these waters. Naturaliste Charters offers bucket-list adventures.