The adrenalin rush of witnessing a humpback breaching out of the deep blue, just metres away, is a truly unforgettable experience.

According to Susan Crocetti, a senior wildlife officer with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, "traditionally whales have chosen to interact with vessels in Queensland around Hervey Bay, but that is changing and this year we are seeing more and more interactions along the NSW south coast."

It's no surprise that observing from a designated tour vessel is the best way to maximise your chance of a memorable humpback encounter.

Whale watching cruises operate from a number of ports along the coast including Jervis Bay where calm, sheltered waters provide an ideal resting point for humpbacks on their migration back south, particularly for mothers who have a calf in tow. "They use the bay as a bit of a crèche - a place to play, learn and relax at around the halfway point on their journey back home," reports Kristy Mayhew of the Shoalhaven City Council.

Further south, Ros Butt of Cat Balou Cruises, one of several Eden-based cruise operators, says, "We've had an excellent start to the southward migration, observing groups of 40-50 whales. And even better, in last two weeks the mothers and calves have started coming through."

Earlier this week, Butt, now in her 28th whale watching season, notched up a career highlight, a calf breaching more than 80 times.

"It was pretty amazing, I'd never seen anything like it before. It was still breaching when we left it."

If you don't have your sea legs, there are countless vantage spots up and down the coast, tailor-made to spy on the majestic mammals from the safety of terra firma. In recent years, to capitalise on the boom in humpback tourism, some forward-thinking national parks have even built whale watching platforms. Depending on how far you want to walk, here's my top three recommendations.

Drive-up: Not only does the wheelchair friendly Rotary Lookout at Eden offer uninterrupted views up and down the coast but a roving ranger is sometimes on hand to provide whale watching advice. Listen out for the siren at the Eden Killer Whale Museum (184 Imlay St) which alerts locals and visitors when whales are visible from shore.

Short walk: Murramarang National Park (between Batemans Bay and Ulladulla) boasts three knock-out purpose-built cliff-top whale watching platforms – at North Head, Depot Beach Headland and Snapper Point. All three can be accessed by walking 500 metres or less. At North Head, sea eagles and peregrine falcons also like to make their homes in the cliff faces, so don't forget to occasionally look up.

Trek: Although some serious hikers will want to step out along the entire 30km of the iconic Light to Light Walk which links Ben Boyd Tower (a sandstone tower historically used a whale lookout) in the north to Green Cape Lightstation in the south, you can also choose shorter sections like the dramatic 4km walk from Pulpit Rock to the lightstation. Local rangers reckon "the whales come so close to this promontory that you can hear them breathe as they feed and splash around."

If you want the luxury of being able to spy on the passing parade of whales without leaving the comfort of your digs, here are three options to suit different budgets and tastes.

Coastal Cabin: Literally a hop, step and few jumps to the beach, you can spot humpbacks from the deck of the two-bedroom self-contained cabins at Depot Beach. Located in Murramarang National Park, a 20-kilometre drive north-east of Batemans Bay and from $125 a night. See www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au or phone 13000 PARKS (13000 72757).

Bed & Breakfast: Originally built as Eden's first police station, this sandstone landmark commands expansive views over Twofold Bay where you can look out for humpbacks and also the occasional Southern Right whale while enjoying a glass of wine. Historic Cocora Cottage is at 2 Cocora Street, Eden. From $160 per night per double. www.cocoracottage.com or Ph: 0409 961241.

Lovely Lighthouse: If you open your curtains in one of two beautifully restored, fully self-contained keeper's cottages at Green Cape Light Station (45 kilometres drive south of Eden) there's a good chance you won't only see whales, but also fur seals, albatross, gannets, sea eagles and dolphins. Each cottage sleeps up to six people. From $280 a night. www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au or Ph (02) 6495 5000.

A highlight for the southern migration is the annual Eden Whale Festival. While it's ironic that a celebration of Australia's contemporary love affair with humpbacks takes place on the shores of Twofold Bay which once harboured one of the busiest whaling stations in the country, it's a celebration of how a town can reinvent itself.

When: November 3-5, 2017.

Where: Imlay St, Eden, and surrounds.

Expect: Markets, inflatawhales (the kids will love them), outdoor entertainment, music, seafood and local produce. Oh, and of course the real whales. Saturday (November 4) is the main day of the festival, headlined by the Street Parade (from 10am) and the capstan pull competition (bring your muscles to see if you can haul in Benny, an old Mitsubishi Sigma disguised as a whale!). Fireworks at 8.45pm.

Open Day: The Davidson Whaling Station Historic Site. Discover one of the longest-operating shore-based whaling stations in Australia. At the height of whaling in the mid-1800s, there were 27 whale boats operating out of Twofold Bay. A reflective place where pots once filled with boiling whale blubber now contain flowering daffodils; and well worth the 30-kilometre drive from Eden. For times, call (02) 6496 1953.

Don't miss: Eden Killer Whale Museum. In the centre of town this old-school museum is a must-see, if only to discover the story (and skeleton) of Old Tom, one of several killer whales (orcas) which, lured by the prospect of a feast of the whale's tongue, would often assist the whalers by harassing the humpbacks towards the shallower waters of Twofold Bay. A truly extraordinary example of wild animals co-operating with humans for mutual benefit. Entry fees apply. More: Ph: (02) 6496 2094 or www.killerwhalemuseum.com.au

Did You Know? To help the whalers further, Old Tom would often slow down harpooned whales by seizing the harpoon line in his mouth. Not surprisingly some of his teeth wore down to the gum, while in others rope grooves are clearly visible. Old Tom died in 1929, at an estimated 60-90 years of age. Soon after his death, most of Eden's shore-based whaling ceased.

More: www.edenwhalefestival.com.au or Ph. (02) 6496 1953.

Whale central: For the latest photos, whale-watching tips, cruises and accommodation deals for this year's migration south, check out www.wildaboutwhales.com.au

Annual migration: Most humpback whales travel more than 4000km every year between their feeding and breeding sites. They migrate north to the warmer waters of south-east Queensland around May-August and return to colder waters south of Australia September-November.

Breaching: This is the term given to the action of humpbacks leaping out of the water, rolling in the air with their huge pectoral fins outstretched like giant wings, crashing noisily back into the water. It remains a mystery why humpbacks do this. Some scientists believe it's to clean pests from their skin or they might simply do it for fun.

Strandings: Sightings of stranded or sick whales should be reported to the Environment Line on 131555 or to Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia (ORRCA) on 02 9415 3333.

Did You Know? The famous whale "Migaloo"is not a real albino, nor is it one single animal. "We prefer to call them white whales as they aren't albino in the true sense," explains Susan Crocetti, a senior wildlife officer with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. "We believe there are actually three migaloos, maybe even five."