NATURAL ENCOUNTERS

Whales

From June to November the BIGGEST live act in Australia - Harvey & the Humpbacks - performs on the Fraser Coast. Click here to learn more about the band and their performances. The season is limited, so make sure you book soon to get front row seats!

Imagine a whale launching its entire body into the air and creating a spectacular moment of suspension above its ocean home before crashing back into the cool ocean waters.

To witness the awesome strength of a whale is your chance to have a personal whale experience. And only in Queensland can you come face-to-face with one of the world’s largest creatures, in such an intimate way. Whether you’re watching a Humpback whale on their vacation break at Hervey Bay, or the Dwarf Minke whale swimming the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland is the perfect place to have a premium whale-watching experience.

Minke Whale Swim Programs

Minke whales are commonly seen along the Ribbon Reefs north of Cairns between May and August. In June and July there are Minke Whale Expeditions which allow you to snorkel with these very curious whales. These research-based trips have reported seeing up to 28 of these graceful mammals in one pod and the whales have been known to remain with the boats for up to 10 hours. Trips are usually 3 or 4 nights.

When: June - July

Where: Cairns/Port Douglas, Tropical North Queensland, Townsville

Whale Watching

Humpback whales travel along the Queensland coast from late July to early November each year on their southern migration to Antarctica. They are best seen in the shallow coastal waters of the Great Barrier Reef, in Tropical North Queensland and the Whitsundays, and in Southern Queensland in Hervey Bay and Moreton Bay. Hervey Bay is used as a resting ground by the whales on their long journey south and is recognised as the Whale Watching capital of Australia.

A number of marine tour operators conduct full and half-day whale watching tours in these areas.

When: Mid July - early November

Where: Hervey Bay, Moreton Bay, Brisbane/Gold Coast, Whitsundays, Tropical North Queensland

Whales Size and Behaviour

Growing to up to fifteen metres in length and weighing up to 45 tonne, a single whale can be equivalent to eleven elephants or 600 people. However a whale’s massive size does not stop them from enjoying their ocean habitats.

Whales are very active creatures; regularly perform a variety of behaviours. Pectoral slapping, tail flapping, breaching, and diving will amaze any spectator especially as they are performed by the true giant of the seas, the mighty whales.