The sparkling water of the Fraser Coast is home to dolphins, dugongs, sea turtles, and sharks. But from mid-July to mid-November, there is another creature that steals the show with a spectacular display of slapping tails and waving pectoral fins –– the humpback whale.
Thanks to Fraser Island’s unique position along Hervey Bay, the island is the perfect place to spy the playful humpback whales as they make their migration. It’s why the island and Hervey Bay are consistently regarded as one of the best spots in the world for an up-close-and-personal time with these magnificent creatures. The area is so celebrated for its whales that in 2019 the World Cetacean Alliance crowned the area the world’s first Whale Heritage site.
While you can spy the graceful humpbacks all along the East Coast of Australia during their migration, Hervey Bay remains one of the best places to see them. Humpbacks seem to like the warm sheltered bay between the mainland and Fraser Island. The humpback whales, happy to feed in the nutrient-rich water and play in what is essentially a nice warm bath, tend to stick around for a longer time. It’s one of the only places on their migration that they put their fins up and relax.
After all, they have come a long way. The whales are on a 10,000 km migration from spending the summer in Antarctic waters to the sub-tropical North where they can mate and give birth. If you’re lucky enough, at the end of the season –– around October and November –– you might even see a calf or two as they migrate back. The whales use the area around Fraser Island as a safe playground for the calves to learn how to navigate the seas.
Meet the humpback whales
While there are approximately 46 species of whales around Australia, the whales you see migrating past Fraser Island are humpback whales. The humpback whale is a species of baleen whale. They grow to around 16m in length, making them one of the larger whale species, but not the largest –– the blue whale holds that title.
Despite being a little smaller, the humpback whale has an iconic look. The whales have a stocky body with a prominent hump and elongated pectoral fins. They have a whiter underbelly which is helpful for scientists who study the whales; the white vs black ratio differs on every whale and is used to tell them apart. The humpback whale is also known for its song which can travel great distances under the water. They sing to communicate with the other whales nearby and to attract a mate.
If you’re fortunate, you might see a humpback whale breach. Breaching is where the whale throws two-thirds of its body out of the water to create a splash. Seeing a 30-tonne whale breach into the air is a once-in-a-lifetime moment; it’s not the time to fumble with your camera!
Where to see the humpback whales
One of the best places to see the whales as they migrate past is on a boat tour. Several operators leave from Hervey Bay to choose from. A boat tour puts you right beside the whales as they play and gives you the best chance of seeing a whale up-close. There is a lot of variety in the tours available –– you can choose from bigger boats that provide more stability or more smaller intimate tours where you won’t have to elbow other people out of the way to get the shot.
For the more adventurous, there are also jet-ski tours, kayak adventures and experiences where you can get into the water and swim with the whales. Although there are usually plenty of whales around, if you happen to miss them on your tour, a lot of operators will offer you another chance to see the whales.
If you’re happier with your feet on dry land, there’s also a chance to see the whales from the shores of Fraser Island –– you might have to dust off your pair of binoculars. To get a little height, you can also try Indian Head Lookout at the most easterly point of the island. The lookout provides a panoramic view of the unsheltered Eastern side of the island. If there are no whales, you can usually spot the odd dolphin or shark here, too.
No matter what experience you choose, seeing the whales migrate past Hervey Bay and Fraser Island is one of Australia’s most magical bucket-list moments.
If you would like to see these magnificent beasts for yourself, go to our accommodation page and get in touch now.
There is nothing quite like seeing one these gentle giants up close.
You might also like our article on the wildlife of Fraser Island