Spring in Mallacoota brings whales and wildflowers. Humpback and southern right whales pass heading south with their calves, and wildflower season peaks from mid-September to late November. Lyrebirds are common on the Double Creek Nature Walk, and on Gabo Island you sometimes see little penguins.
| What | When | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| Humpback and southern right whales | Heading south with calves in spring | Bastion Point and the coastal headlands |
| Wildflowers | Peak from mid-September to late November | Shipwreck Creek |
| Lyrebirds | Common on the walk | Double Creek Nature Walk |
| Little penguins and fur seals | Sometimes | Gabo Island, and Little Gabo for the seals |
At a glance
Whales heading south
Humpback and southern right whales pass Mallacoota heading south with their calves in spring.
Wildflower season
Peaks from mid-September to late November, with orchids, banksias, everlastings and purple flag lilies.
Lyrebirds at Double Creek
Common on the easy 1 km Double Creek Nature Walk, about 8 km from Mallacoota.
Gabo Island
On Gabo you see the lighthouse, sometimes little penguins, and fur seals on nearby Little Gabo.
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Whales heading south with calves
Humpback and southern right whales pass Mallacoota on migration, heading north in winter and south with calves in spring. We haven't pinned that to exact months, so we won't guess at them. Give yourself a few days to look.
Bastion Point and the coastal headlands are good lookouts. Bastion Point sits at the mouth of Mallacoota Inlet, and its beach, lookouts and boat ramp are all open again. Gippsland Ports runs live webcams there, at gippslandports.vic.gov.au/boating/webcams. Our whale watching guide has more on where to stand.
Wildflowers, mid-September to late November
Wildflower season peaks from mid-September to late November, with orchids, banksias, everlastings and purple flag lilies. Visit Gippsland counts over 70 native wildflower species in Croajingolong National Park, along with 52 mammal species and 250 bird species.
Shipwreck Creek has coastal heath and rock platforms, and is at its best in spring when the wildflowers are out. If you want to camp there, campgrounds such as Shipwreck Creek and Thurra River are booked through Parks Victoria. Walks, parks and businesses have all reopened since the 2019–20 fires. Our Mallacoota wildflowers guide covers the flowers, and the Croajingolong National Park guide covers the park.
Lyrebirds on the Double Creek walk
The Double Creek Nature Walk is an easy 1 km loop through warm temperate rainforest, about 8 km from Mallacoota, with a picnic ground. Lyrebirds are common, and koalas are possible. Dogs aren't allowed on the walk.
Penguins and seals on Gabo Island
On Gabo you see the lighthouse, sometimes little penguins, and fur seals on nearby Little Gabo. Gabo Island sits about 14 km from Mallacoota, 500 m off the Croajingolong coast. You reach it by boat or light plane, weather permitting, and you have to book. You can't just turn up. We can pass on contact details for the Gabo Island boat operators, and our Gabo Island guide has the rest.
Birds, dolphins and seals on the inlet
The inlet has white-bellied sea eagles, pelicans, black swans, cormorants and azure kingfishers. Dale runs guided birdwatching cruises on the inlet, booked through Mallacoota Cruise & Eco Tours. Mallacoota Cruises runs lake cruises, scenic cruises and eco tours aboard the M.V. Loch-Ard, which dates from about 1910.
Dolphins and seals turn up from time to time near the inlet mouth, most often early in the morning. The Mallacoota wildlife guide sets out where to see what, and the birdwatching guide covers the cruises.
What's on in spring
- The market. The Mallacoota Artisans and Produce Market runs on the first Saturday of the month, 8am to 12pm, at Lions Park and the Mudbrick Pavilion.
- The Flatty Classic. The Daiwa Mallacoota Flatty Classic is a three-day flathead fishing competition run by Australian Fishing Classics, with Scallywags as its base. The 2026 event runs 23 to 25 October and has sold out. Details are at fishingclassics.com.au.
- Wild Harvest. The Wild Harvest Seafood Festival ran 25 to 27 September 2026. The next date hasn't been announced. Check wildharvestseafoodfestival.com.
- Fishing. Flathead fire in the warmer months, roughly November to April, and bream are caught year-round. Our fishing calendar has the detail.
Can you swim in spring?
The inlet warms up first and is comfortable from December. The ocean beaches lag behind. Our swimming guide covers where to swim once it warms up.
Tips for spring wildlife and photos
- Bring binoculars or a long lens for whales off the headlands.
- For dolphins and seals near the inlet mouth, go early: that's when they turn up most often.
- Stay on marked tracks, and don't pick the wildflowers.
- Check the Bastion Point webcams before you head out to a lookout.
Staying in Mallacoota in spring
Rates are lower outside summer. Guests can access launch points for a kayak or paddleboard from 7 Allan Drive, Gabo Views and Four on Stingray Point. If you're thinking about summer too, January school-holiday weeks fill up in November, and waterfront houses for late December are often booked well before September, so contact Amelia to enquire. Booking direct means lower fees than Airbnb or Stayz. Bookings are by phone on 0401 825 547 or through the enquiry form.
Good to know
Where to look
- WhalesBastion Point and the coastal headlands
- WildflowersShipwreck Creek, at its best in spring
- LyrebirdsDouble Creek Nature Walk, an easy 1 km loop
Spring dates
- Wildflowersmid-September to late November
- Daiwa Mallacoota Flatty Classic23 to 25 October 2026 (sold out)
- Marketfirst Saturday of the month, 8am to 12pm