The boat gently rocks as the waves roll underneath. You scroll through your camera, impressed at the amount of images you’ve captured. Then everyone is at the edge of the boat again. A large humpback has been spotted only metres away, its barnacled nose pushing out of the water so it can take a good look at the boat full of people.

You look on in awe as the whale glides through the water to re-join her pod. She will be back again next year to play in the warm coastal waters—it’s part of the annual whale migration to the area that takes place between June and November.

The close encounter tops off a perfect stay at the Fraser Coast. Choosing a highlight is hard. Would it be the pristine freshwater lakes and open beaches at Fraser Island? The manta rays and turtles you swam with at Lady Elliot Island? Or perhaps the birds and coastal wildlife along the esplanade at Hervey Bay?

The Fraser Coast has definitely lived up to its reputation as a place where nature comes alive!

View more Fraser Coast natural Encounters here >