Best time for whale watching in australia about australia. Brisbane whale watching invites you to come on board the magnificent eyespy for an encounter with the whales. Sunshine coast whale watching whale watch tour bookings. Best time for whale watching on the gold coast australia. The gold coast is one of the top whale watching spots and tours are run on modern vessels with a range of tour lengths and departure times. The best way to see whales is to hop on any of the day tours around the whitsunday waters, as whale sightings occur almost daily for most of the boats in the region during these peak winter months. There is no better place to observe the humpback whales than moreton bay. Australia is fortunate to have many whale and dolphin species use our waters, making it an ideal place to participate in whale and dolphin watching. Whales arrive in waters off townsville and airlie beach. Also what relaxing things are there to do in mackay. On this sunshine coast whale watching tour, youll join the friendly crew of one of the sunny coasts best operators for a whale watching experience like no other to see the legendary humpback and southern right whales in person. Thats when boat charters and tour groups will start taking people out to view the whales, and tourists flock to places. Dangerous collisions between boats and whales like the incident near gloucester island last weekend are likely to increase, as 30,000 of the mammals migrate up the coast this year, an expert says.
Dont miss out on experiencing the best of tangalooma island resort as well as this years whale watching season in queensland. More than half of these were taken in the two whaling seasons of 195960. The whale migration in australia begins in late may and runs until november. The entire queensland east coast is a great location to see many species of. Whale watching tours, hervey bay see the majestic humpback. Humpback whale clear and unbiased facts about rorqual. Top spots for whale watching in australia tourism australia see southern right and humpback whales during australias whale watching season between may and november. Whale season dates the whale watching season officially starts on june 1. The whitsunday islands are known as a whale watching hot spot. Aug 27, 2019 when is whale watching season on the gold coast. From may to early october, whales migrate from antarctica along the victorian coastline to the north, to warmer waters near queensland.
The whale watching season generally runs from midjune to early november, when the enormous humpback whales pass close to the coastline. Whale watching app helps research gold coast bulletin. Queensland whale watching whale watch tour bookings. Where to go whale watching in queensland, australia. Queensland yacht charters is a member of dream yacht charter the number one charter company worldwide with a reputation. What a wonderful way to see maryborough an the surrounding areas.
Brisbane whale watching redcliffe 2020 all you need to. Noosa whale watching tour noosa whale watching centre. Brian and jill perry began commercial whale watching in australia back in 1987 in the calm, pristine waters of hervey bay. Whales choose to give birth and raise their calves just off the victoria coast. Winter is whitsunday whale season whitsunday escape. Theres no better place to observe the mighty humpback than brisbanes moreton bay.
Whale and dolphin watching department of agriculture, water. The humpback whales of eastern australia department of. With only 3 more weeks left of the whale watching season this year, we have been absolutely spoilt with the. Get up close and personal between june and november. Australias great barrier reef world heritage area provides an important breeding sanctuary for approximately 30 species of cetaceans whales and dolphins. To maximize your chances of spotting the majestic creatures, here are some tips for whale watching around brisbane, the gold coast, and hervey bay. Watch out for whales this season the queensland cabinet. Here is a little video that we have put together that was shot late last season. Freedom whale watch hervey bay 2020 all you need to know. Top 10 whalewatching spots in australia australian. Whale and dolphin watching department of agriculture. In the great barrier reef world heritage area, the great barrier reef marine park regulation 1983 lists. Sporting calm waters, you can spot them from beaches, along headlands or on one of many whale watching tours both on the water or in the air. Our marine biologist led adventure whale watching tours are safari style and get you up close and personal with some of the most magnificent animals on our planet, the humpback whale.
Where you can go swimming with whales in queensland. The best way to see whales is to hop on any of the day tours around the whitsunday waters, as whale sightings occur almost daily for most of the boats in the. The australian national guidelines for whale and dolphin watching 2017 have been developed in consultation with the states and northern territory government, industry, scientists and nongovernment organisations. Brisbane whale watching 100% whale sightings guaranteed. Whale watching season has started and residents are being urged to download a new smartphone app to help with research into the giant. Whalewatching season gets off to early start as humpback. About freedom whale watch freedom iii is a comfortable 58ft power catamaran which operates. With whale populations growing 10% each year and an estimated 33,000 whales this year, the opportunities for whale watching noosa heads and the sunshine coast have never been better. Dugongs, dolphins and whale watching from brisbane. With our whale tours and packages based around the activities of one of the larger species, the humpback whale, we treat passengers to an experience unlike any other. June 1st is the official start of whale watching season in hervey bay, queensland. Top spots for whale watching in australia tourism australia. Local whale watching company spirit of the gold coast whale watching experienced a bumper season of whale watching in 2017, with a record number of sightings of mothers with new calves. When to go queenslands whalewatching season runs from june to november, during the australian winter months, when the east coast becomes a breeding ground for migrating whales.
Aug 05, 2010 we spent today out with tallship whale watching on queensland s gold coast. Sunreef mooloolaba is the largest dive centre in south east queensland. With over 70% of all tours starting here, the eastern coast with queensland and new south wales is australias most important region for whale watching. Check out our whale watch combo passes that offer great value. For those looking to escape the crowds of brisbane or if hervey bay is a bit to far to travel the sunshine coast is a great alternative. Australia the best tips for whale watching in australia whaletrips. Whale watching along the coastline of queensland has become a popular attraction for visitors and locals, with a number of whale watching tours available close to central brisbane. The first humpbacks making their annual journey to the warm waters off queensland can be seen between in this farsouth coastal town between june and august. Whale watching before you visit queensland, visit tripadvisor for the latest info and advice, written for travelers by travelers. Generally between those times you are very likely to see a number of whales on a.
While whales can be seen during july, this is often referred to as whale spotting season and your chances of seeing a whale or pod of whales is lower. Minke whales tropical north queensland the mysterious minke whale turns up every june july to hang out on the great barrier reef. Sealinks island highlights cruise this cruise takes you on a journey through the palm island group, stopping at some of the most beautiful spots in north queensland to snorkel, lunch, and relax. The humpback whale migration is nothing short of something out of a circle of life documentary, as they swim north to birth their calves and teach them life skills, before returning south to chilly antarctica. A new international study has measured the effect of loud sounds on migrating humpback whales as concern grows as oceans become noisier. Whale watching season has started and residents are being urged to download a new smartphone app to help with research into the giant mammals migration past the coast. In autumn the southern hemisphere humpback whales migrate north to the warm waters off the north queensland coastline to mate and breed. You can swim with humpback whales on the fraser coast and sunshine coast from june to october, and minke whales in tropical north queensland in june and july.
To find out more about queensland whale season visit. Looking after protected species in queensland 2 species can also be listed as. The whale watching season in queensland runs from midjune to october. Whilst all efforts will be made to ensure that your whale experience is an enjoyable one it is important to remember that these whales are wild animals they do not perform on cue. Whales head north in june, july and august, to the warmer waters off the north queensland coastline to breed and then travel south again to antarctic waters from midaugust to november. Just 90 minutes from bundaberg, hervey bay is famous for its whale watching opportunities. Whale watching in australia is a popular recreational pursuit and a tourist activity along various coasts. This season, about 33,000 whales are expected to make the 5,000 km migration north from the antarctic to queenslands warm tropical waters. Gold coast whale season if you are visiting the gold coast between may and the end of whale season november, then a whale watching cruise is a mustdo activity. Brisbane whale watching tours invites you for an encounter with the whales. Sunreef mooloolaba offers australias first swim with humpback whales experience, from july to october each year, premiere whale watching aboard the iconic whale one from june to november as well as local reef dives, snorkelling trips and diving on the exhmas brisbane as well as a wide variety of hire gear from jetskis. So confident are the whale watching operators that youll see the whales, most even offer a moneyback guarantee over the winter period. The long whale season in australia between may and november no doubt contributes to its growing popularity.
Commercial whale and dolphin watching operators form an important naturebased industry that attracts a large number of tourists to coastal towns. Hervey bay whale watch has been a family run business for over 30 years here in hervey bay, queensland. The whale watching capital of australia, hervey bay, is a popular spot for our biggest coastal visitors, the humpback whales from june to november. By clicking on or navigating the site, you agree to our use of cookies. Come with whale one for the adventure of a lifetime as you search for the magnificent humpback whales during their winter migration as they breed and mate along the queensland coast. The sunshine coast benefits from a longer whale watching season as the whale passby on their migration north then return as they head south again to the arctic. Whale watching on the gold coast maynovember bel air. Whale watching is when observers gather to view these majestic creatures display behavioural stunts and acrobatics. North stradbroke island straddie is arguably the best landbased whale watching area in queensland. Whale watching video guide, hervey bay queensland australia.
Southern right whale eubalaena australis, offshore from cheynes, western australia. Whale watching in australia is a popular recreational pursuit and a tourist activity along various. They provide a clearly defined set of standards for all human activity around whales and. Holiday hotspot hervey bay on queensland s fraser coast is the ultimate whale watching destination, with tour options to suit all visitors. The whale watching season in hervey bay queensland. Queensland s top whale watching area, hervey bay just 3hrs north of brisbane is widely regarded as one of the best whale watching spots in the world. From june through to september, whales can be seen all around the whitsundays islands as they make their annual migration from cold arctic waters to more temperate waters in the north. While whale watching season on the gold coast runs from may to november every year, the best time to catch the migration is between june and october. More than 7,000 whales holiday in the fraser coast on their 5,000km migration from antarctica to teach their baby calves sweet skills like breaching, spy hopping, tummy flashes and plenty of other survival tools. Download wild about whales and enjoy it on your iphone, ipad and ipod. We are very excited to see the whales returning again this year in large numbers to noosa whilst heading north along the queensland. The ribbon reefs is the only place in the world where you can snorkel with these beautifully elusive creatures on a researchbased trip.
Whales turn tail at ocean mining noise uq news the. For example the humpback whale can be found along almost the entire queensland coast during their migration season between july and september. Each and every brisbane whale watchings tour is a unique experience and sightings vary from day to day. Winter is whitsunday whale season whale watching in the whitsundays is a beautiful experience, and something you can do almost every day when you charter a bareboat between june and august. University of queensland school of veterinary sciences dr rebecca dunlop said one of the main sources of ocean noise was oil and gas exploration, due to geologists firing off loud acoustic air guns to probe the structure of the ocean floor in search of. Tallship whale watching, gold coast, queensland youtube.
Humpbacks on the move off nsw with 2019 migration season. Boaties are reminded to stay at least 100m from any whale. On the whales journey north in june, july and august, whale one heads out for the early season cruise with amazing views and live whale show entertainment. If you wait a little longer, between september and november youll be able to see mothers and calves as they return south to antarctica. The humpback whales of eastern australia fact sheet pdf 248. More boat collisions likely as thousands more whales. Cairns whale watching tours on the great barrier reef. While formal whale watching tours in the whitsundays are at a minimum, whale sightings are a free bonus inclusion on most tours around the region. During a good season it is estimated that approximately 400,000 people visit the region. In this season, all major cruise companies begin to. Tourism whitsundays, queensland australia, whitsundays holidays. In migration season, majestic humpback whales swing by south east queensland on their 10,000km trek to the warm, tropical water up north.
Theres nothing quite like a wild whale encounter to put life into perspective. Any day out on the water is a good day in our view but seeing the whales from a brisbane base had a couple of benefits. The eastern humpback whales of eastern australia each year between april and. We are very excited to see the whales returning again this year in large numbers to noosa whilst heading north along the queensland coastline.
May 10, 2011 hervey bay is known as australias best whale watching locations. Welcome to the start of the 2019 australian whale watching season. There are several whale watching gold coast companies that run regular tours, and most have a 100% whale sighting guarantee. Travel writer scott podmore has seen it all, but the siren call of humpback whale song in hervey bay tops his list. Hi everyone, well be in mackay for a few days in may. Jun 06, 2014 new whale watching vessels will be added to the hervey bay whale watching fleet this year which is a strong sign of confidence in not only the whale watching sector, but in fraser coast tourism in general, mr spear said. Whale watching on the gold coast is such a great thing to do when visiting. The whale watching season in queensland runs from jun october. June marks the whale watching season queensland s official start date which lasts through winter into early spring until the end of october, but you never know, you may very well catch a glimpse of these majestic marine mammals before the official whale migration season commencement date. The views from the lookouts along the north gorge walk are stunning any time of year, with dolphins, turtles and rays often to be seen, but during whale season this is certainly one of the best spots for spotting whales.
Whale watching in australia has grown tremendously over the last decade. Other amazing destinations to experience a memorable whale watch include the sunshine coast, brisbane, the gold coast and noosa. The best time to see whales in queensland brisbane kids. The price includes a picnic lunch, snorkeling gear and spray jackets. About townsville whale watching the only marine biologist led ecotour in townsville. Guide to whale watching in brisbane visit brisbane. We are ecotourism certified and are committed to minimising the disturbance that our whale watching cruises make to. The best places to swim with whale sharks lonely planet.
This equates to around 35% of the worlds total living cetacean species. Sunshine coast whale watching tour morning experience oz. Each year from june through until early november, the mighty southern humpback whales grace us with their beauty as they migrate through the crystal clear waters of south east queensland. If youre interested in whale watching in queens land, we have you covered from south to north with these seven places to go.
Whale watching, mooloolaba, sunshine coast whale one. The best time to experience whale watching in hervey bay is from august to the end of october. In north queensland, the whale watching season is generally between july and september. At the end of spring they return south to antarctica waters to feed on krill. The entire queensland east coast is a great location to see many species of whales and dolphins. See whales as they migrate along the queensland coast for less with the latest whale. They spotted a total of over 1,200 whales, up from 976 the previous year. Queensland s whale season is generally between jun nov, the whales migrates through the australia and new zealand waters and give birth to their young before heading back to antarctic. The tasman venture is a luxury 20 metre catamaran with viewing decks, underwater viewing rooms, hydrophone, unique viewing platform and underwater camera. If you are visiting between may and november, noosa is an ideal location to add a whale watching adventure to your itinerary. Whale watching in brisbane, the gold coast, and hervey bay.
Lunch includes rollswraps, fruitmuesli bars and extra water. Simply choose your ideal tour and book your gold coast whale watching tour online here with instant ticketing and no booking fees. You will mostly see only adult or juvenile whales at this point with the occassional mother and calf. Come join us for a day trip to one of the best hotspots for humpback whales on the coast of queensland. Winter is whale watching season in the moreton bay. Whale season finished so we decided to do the mary river cruise. July september are prime time for whale watching and here are our top five ways you may spot a whale or two in north queensland.
See southern right and humpback whales during australias whale watching season between may and november. Over the winter months, around 20,000 humpback whales undertake the 10,000km journey from the icey seas of antarctica, to the warm tropical breeding grounds of sunny queensland. Have a whale of a time your guide to whale watching in brisbanes moreton bay. Have you ever experienced the magic of sighting a whale up close.
The spirit of hervey bay offers six levels with five viewing decks and two underwater viewing rooms. This package gives you the whale watching experience around tangalooma island resort, and the exclusive dolphin viewing experience. Experts perplexed as gold coast becomes humpback whale nursery. As whale season begins, the palaszczuk government is reminding queenslanders to keep a sharp lookout for these precious creatures when out on the water between now and early december. New whale watching vessels will be added to the hervey bay whale watching fleet this year which is a strong sign of confidence in not only the whale watching sector, but in fraser coast tourism in general, mr spear said. The overall whale watching season in the greater fraser island area typically begins in late july and lasts through to late november, so if youre looking to get the best out of two of the most visually impressive naturebased destinations in qld, then a trip to fraser island during whale watching season is a great choice that can make for. This site uses cookies to improve your experience, to enhance site security and to show you personalized advertising. Our whale watching tours from hervey bay commence in midjuly and extend to early november as part of the humpback whales annual migration along the east coast of australia. The best whale watching tours in queensland can be found here. Whale watching season starts with a song the queensland.
To celebrate the whales arrival, hervey bay hosts a celebration worthy of a whale welcome paddle out for whales just one of the many events under the annual hervey bay whale festival umbrella. The annual migration of the humpback whale is one of natures most amazing sights, and the sunshine coast is lucky to be a key destination on their route. We recently spent a day off the coast of moreton bay with tangalooma whale watching. Whale watching on the great barrier reef is simply spectacular. Looking at the whales breaching chin slapping on the water surface is definitely one of the most incredible experience you can explore in queensland. This can be done from the charter boats or the shore in certain regions. Aug 24, 20 a whale freed from a shark net off queensland s gold coast is the fourth to become entangled this season.
279 39 949 34 892 1266 726 606 622 721 1156 1476 1018 1347 721 959 462 1293 1272 1278 1350 890 1252 93 452 476 939 1326 1089 1198