Monday, 1 November 2010

Enjoy Whale Watching in Australia

Nowadays it is a greatly overused word, but whale watching is one of the most awesome experiences that I have ever had.  To get up close and personal with these magnificent marine mammals is truly a privilege and one that will stay in your mind for years to come.  There are many great spots to go whale watching around the world, but Australia has to provide some of the best.  Humpback whales make a yearly migration from the chilly seas of Antarctica to warmer topical waters to breed, so pass up the both the East and West coasts of Australia during the autumn and winter months.
SidneyMorgan has written a great hub on whale watching in Australia, detailing the best places to watch whales on both coasts.  Generally you will find that in all of these locations, that there are specialised boat tours that go out every day specifically for whale watching.  Spotter planes are often sent up to locate the whale's position and the boats also often have a special underwater gadget that can pick up a whale song from many kilometres away and then pinpoint the position of the whale.

On the East Coast of Australia, Hervey Bay in Queensland is a great whale watching location, as are Port Stephens and Byron Bay in New South Wales.  You can also spot whales off Cairns, and humback whales breached nearly alongside the dive boat I was on going out to the reef this July.  There are also a great many whale watching spots in Western Australia, including Exmouth, Broome, Kalbarri and Albany.

So read the whole hub on whale watching in Australia to find out more information and see some great pictures.

Humpback Whales, Exmouth, Western Australia