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Maptlantis

Sea lion · Australia

Where to see sea lions in Australia

Operators 39Season Year-roundRegions 25Published prices 34Encounter formats 6
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About this list

A common trap when looking for places to see sea lions in Australia is a trip sold as if the sighting were certain. Maptlantis lists only operators that name the sea lion as a target species, 39 of them. Places that only mention a chance sighting are left out. Regions on record: Jervis Bay Territory, NSW, Central Coast, NSW, Port Stephens, NSW, South Coast, Adelaide & Fleurieu, South Australia and Eyre Peninsula & Port Lincoln, South Australia. Encounters are split into boat-based watching, swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving and land-based watching. Two "sea lion tours" can differ completely in rules and price when one watches from the boat and the other puts you in the water. 34 of the 39 operators (87%) publish prices on their own channels, so you can compare those directly; ask the rest. Estimated prices are not shown. The 5 operators that state a season for sea lion programs in Australia cluster in year-round. That is the operators' operating period, not a promise that the animals will appear. No operator can guarantee a wildlife sighting, and rules on approach distance and in-water permits differ by country.

Sea lion season in Australia

Year-round

  1. JanJanuary: in season
  2. FebFebruary: in season
  3. MarMarch: in season
  4. AprApril: in season
  5. MayMay: in season
  6. JunJune: in season, singled out
  7. JulJuly: in season, singled out
  8. AugAugust: in season, singled out
  9. SepSeptember: in season, singled out
  10. OctOctober: in season
  11. NovNovember: in season
  12. DecDecember: in season

The months 5 operators state as their program season, combined. That is the operators' operating period, not a sighting guarantee; each operator's months are in the sea lion season table.

39 listed operators

Sea lions in Australia, by region

Sea lions in Australia, by way to meet them

Sea lion season

Sea lions in other countries

Other marine life in Australia

Activities in Australia

Frequently asked questions

Where can you see sea lions in Australia?

39 operators name the sea lion as a target species. Main regions: Jervis Bay Territory, NSW, Central Coast, NSW, Port Stephens, NSW, South Coast, Adelaide & Fleurieu, South Australia and Eyre Peninsula & Port Lincoln, South Australia.

Do you have to get in the water to see sea lions?

Formats on record: boat-based watching, swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving and land-based watching. Boat-based watching stays on the boat; snorkeling, swimming and freediving put you in the water. Some countries ban getting in the water altogether, so check the format in the program details.

When is sea lion season?

The 5 operators that state a season for sea lion programs in Australia cluster in year-round. That is the operators' operating period, not a promise that the animals will appear.

Will I definitely see them?

No. Sea lions are wild animals, and whether you meet them depends on their movements and the sea. Maptlantis does not use wording that promises a sighting, and cancellation and refund terms follow each operator's policy.