WHALE WATCHING TOUR

Welcome Aboard

Whalesong Cruises warmly welcomes you all aboard to share in the magical experience of up-close encounters with majestic humpback whales in the sheltered waters of Hervey Bay.

Our unforgettable half-day Whale Watching Tour is offered from July to October, during the whales’ winter migration, with guaranteed sightings during this peak whale-watching period. With three levels of viewing, expert audio commentary, extra-wide decks for comfort and accessibility, and low passenger numbers, a Whalesong tour is an ideal option for anyone eager to participate in this ultimate bucket-list experience. Our team of caring, attentive and highly trained crew are committed to providing exceptional customer service, ensuring everyone aboard enjoys an outstanding experience, irrespective of any access needs.

During the tour, you’ll have the unforgettable and unique opportunity to enjoy close encounters with these magnificent marine mammals, as they frolic and play in their natural environment. Witness the incredible spectacle of their breaching and tail slapping, or listen for the low, haunting tones of these gentle giants’ ‘songs’ amplified through our onboard hydrophone when conditions allow.

We offer two departures daily to suit your itinerary. Our Extended Morning Tour departs at 8am and includes morning tea and lunch onboard, while our Afternoon and Sunset Whale Watch Cruise commences at 2pm and includes afternoon tea and dinner. Please note that Hervey Bay’s visiting population of humpback whales are wild animals and as such, will behave on their own terms. Neither tour option is better than the other. Both present excellent opportunities for whale watching, similar inclusions and good value for money.

So, step aboard and prepare to be mesmerised as you and these gentle giants cruise the clear, sheltered waters of Hervey Bay on the beautiful Fraser Coast.

Orientation To Our Beautiful Boat

Our luxurious and environmentally friendly vessel is perfect for exploring the aquatic wonderland and whale-watching mecca of Hervey Bay in the protected waters of the Great Sandy Marine Park.

The MV Whalesong 2 is a purpose-built vessel with extra wide decks for great viewing and accessibility, four ballast tanks for added stability, and plenty of comfortable seating. She is 16.4 metres in length, surveyed for 100 guests but we accommodate up to 70 guests, to allow for maximum guest comfort.

You will board the boat via a ramp leading from the jetty to the rear (or stern) of the boat’s lower deck. This area affords great water-level viewing of marine wildlife and their beautiful aquatic habitat. This rear deck also features an accessible toilet for your convenience.

The lower rear and side decks wrap around the main indoor saloon area, which features comfortable and modern upholstered seating and a licensed bar with snacks, souvenirs and merchandise available for purchase. The entrance to the saloon is in the centre of the rear deck. Stairs leading to the second level are located to the left of the saloon entrance.

As you travel along the side decks of the lower level, you will come to several stairs (with a handrail) which lead to the elevated front deck, providing a third viewing level for the ultimate whale-watching experience.

The top level boasts rear and side viewing decks, which wrap around a small indoor upstairs lounge area. These decks allow you to enjoy an elevated view of the aquatic action unfolding around you, as you cruise the calm waters of Hervey Bay. A second toilet is located on the right (or Starboard) side of this upper level.

Exploring The Beautiful Bay

The sheltered waters of Hervey Bay on Queensland’s Fraser Coast are recognised as offering some of the world’s best whale-watching opportunities – earning it the enviable reputation as the whale-watching capital of Australia. The relaxed coastal community is nestled on the edge of the Great Sandy Strait, a relatively shallow stretch of water that extends between the mainland and the UNESCO World Heritage-listed K’Gari (formerly Fraser Island). This sheltered bay forms part of the protected Great Sandy Marine Park and serves as a favoured resting area and aquatic playground for a host of magnificent marine life, including migrating humpback whales. It seems everyone enjoys a holiday here!

Each year from July to October, an estimated ten thousand southern humpback whales congregate here on their annual winter migration from Antarctica to the warmer waters off the Queensland coast. In fact, in 2019, Hervey Bay was officially recognised as the first Whale Heritage Site in the world. This prestigious accolade globally acknowledges outstanding destinations where local communities celebrate, respect and protect whales and their habitats. It’s quite an honour! Hervey Bay is still the only such site in Australasia.

Not far offshore to the east, the sprawling western shoreline of K’Gari comes into view. According to the Traditional Owners of the land, the Butchulla people, the name K’Gari translates into ‘paradise’, and it’s not hard to understand how it got its name. K’Gari, the world’s largest sand island, is a wonderland of diverse and pristine landscapes awaiting your exploration. Its interior is dotted with lush rainforests, crystal-clear freshwater lakes and an abundance of native flora and fauna, fringed by ancient sand dunes, cool creeks meandering towards the ocean, and almost endless stretches of golden sand.

Some Fun Facts

On this unforgettable whale watching tour, you’ll have the opportunity to observe and enjoy close-up encounters with magnificent humpback whales. So, let’s take a moment to learn a little more about these incredible animals.

These gentle giants are the fifth largest of the great whale species. Adult females grow up to an enormous 16 metres in length, with males measuring slightly smaller. A mature humpback can weigh up to 40 tonnes. Humpback whales take their scientific name from Greek words meaning ‘great wing’, aptly referring to their huge wing-like flippers (or pectoral fins) which extend for up to five metres, or about a third of the animal’s body length.

Each year, the eastern Australian humpback whale population, with an estimate of 35,000 whales, migrate around six thousand kilometres between the food-rich feeding grounds of the cold Antarctic waters to the lagoons of the Great Barrier Reef. We guess humans aren’t the only ones who like to take a break up here in sunny Queensland!

When and Why Whales Visit

The primary reason for the migration is for pregnant females to give birth in warmer waters. Humpback whale calves are born without an insulating layer of blubber, and therefore would be at risk of dying from hyperthermia if born in the icy Antarctic waters. So, by giving birth in warmer waters, the calf can live long enough to suckle and drinks lots of its mum’s milk, which is the consistency of toothpaste, so it can lay down a layer of protective blubber and rest up in preparation for their long swim south for the summer feeding season in Antarctica. Hervey Bay is the only place the whales stop on their eastern migration. Mums teach their calves to breach, pec slap and tail slap, as well as feeding them up for the migration back South. We typically see the Mums and calves from mid-August to mid-October.

At the start of the season though, from early July to mid-August, the juvenile humpbacks come for a visit. These whales are typically 1to 6 years of age and we liken them to teenagers; they can be show-off’s but can also be aloof. This is when we experience the most ‘muggings’ in the bay – where the whales come and hang around the boat, sometimes for hours at a time, and so close you could almost touch them. It has never felt so good to be mugged!

Whales typically stay for a period of around two weeks here in Hervey Bay. However, sightings of mothers with very young calves are quite common in the protected, shallow waters, and these animals sometimes stay for extended periods of up to two months.

A Whale Of A Time

These statistical fun facts are intriguing, but pale in comparison to the awe-inspiring experience of encountering these magnificent mammals in their natural environment.

Humpback whales are highly social creatures, and during a Whalesong whale watch experience, you’re likely to encounter a range of natural animal behaviours. Here’s a few insights to help you understand the action which may unfold around you.

First of all, we’re in their territory and watch the whales responsibly and respectfully. We stop the boat over 100 metres away and if they want to come to see us, they can. We don’t cut them off and we don’t chase them. We want the whale encounters with us to be unobtrusive and to not have a detrimental effect on them.

Undoubtedly one of the most spectacular behaviours you may observe while whale watching is breaching. In this incredible act of strength and agility, the humpback whale lifts its entire mass out of the water, then crashes back into the ocean with a spectacular splash which sends sea spray up to 10 metres into the air. If they don’t come out of the water fully, it’s called a ‘lazy breach’. Scientists still speculate about the reason for this natural behaviour, but its thought it may be a form of communication, a means of asserting dominance, to get rid of dead skin and barnacles or simply a form of play. Whatever the case, it’s an awe-inspiring spectacle to behold, especially at close range!

Tail slapping, also known as lobtailing, is another fascinating behaviour you may encounter. In this act, the whale slaps the surface of the water with their wide fluke, which can measure up to 4 metres in width. This creates a loud slapping sound, which is thought to be a means of whale communication.

Peduncle throw is next level tail slapping. It’s when you see the entire tail and stem (not just the fluke) come out of the water. This can often be seen by males when vying for the female’s affections and is sometimes seen as an aggressive behaviour.

More Breathtaking Behaviours

When the whale is laying on its side or back and those giant pectoral fins come out of the water, we have what we call Pec slapping and it’s believed to be another form of communication.

Sometimes whales will also be seen ‘spyhopping’ - lifting their head vertically out of the water, possibly to get a better view of their surroundings, without having to perform a full breach.

Prolonged muggings are unique to Hervey Bay and occur when the whales come up close to the boats to check us out. They are people watching as much as we are whale watching, and you’re never the same after you’ve looked into the eye of a humpback whale. Such a humbling experience!

As a popular resting area for mothers with young calves, you may also witness a range of maternal nurturing, nursing and bonding behaviours.

Also, being a popular mating ground, you’ll see chase pods of males (again, vying for the female’s affection), so you can witness any combination of the above behaviours with a number of whales. A truly spectacular sight!

Another highlight is listening to the whales ‘sing’. Although females make noises, it’s only the males that actually ‘sing’. It is common to hear them in the breeding grounds of Hervey Bay and often we can hear them through the hull of the boat, without even needing to put the hydrophone in the water.

Did you know that when a whale surfaces and exhales, it empties 90% of its lung capacity in less than a second? This creates a ‘blow’ of spray that shoots up to 4 metres in the air! A humpback whale’s lung capacity is about the same volume as a small car, allowing it to stay submerged for up to 30 minutes.

Accessibility

Our Whale Watching experiences are designed to be accessible to people of all ages and abilities. The boat and operations were designed with accessibility in mind. Our goal is to deliver an accessible, inclusive and enjoyable experience for all.

The boat is boarded via an accessible ramp with assistance provided by our patient, respectful, kind and compassionate crew. Boat access is suitable for most guests, including those utilising motorised and conventional wheelchairs, wheelie walkers and parents with prams. The lower side and rear decks and main saloon area are all wheelchair accessible. If you will be travelling with a wheelchair, mobility aide or pram please advise our staff at the time of booking, as space is limited.

If you are unsteady on your feet and don’t have a wheelchair or walking aid, we have a courtesy wheelchair available in our office to get you down the ramp (which can be steep at low tide). One of our crew can also assist in ensuring your safe and anxiety free journey from the office to the boat, and then onto the boat itself.

Accessible bathroom facilities are also available onboard.

Registered assistance animals are welcome. We offer half-price tickets to carers travelling with registered Companion Card holders and offer favourable rates for groups of 10 or more. For further details, please speak to our friendly team.

Given sufficient notice, we can cater for a range of dietary requirements such as vegan, vegetarian, gluten or dairy intolerances and allergies, and religious beliefs.

Our exciting ‘Whales for Everyone’ program is another incredible initiative that’s breaking down barriers and promoting inclusivity for all. By harnessing the power of innovation, we have developed a virtual reality whale watching experience to allow those who can’t venture out to sea the ability to experience the magic of whale watching. We are also welcoming eligible NDIS participants, accompanied by their carer or support person, to come aboard as ‘crew for a day’ and experience in working in hospitality on a boat.

Comprehensive details about our accessibility offerings, including access maps and videos are available via our dedicated accessibility page link on whalesong.com.au. We also invite you to come familiarise yourself with the boat and its access. Please feel free to contact us to arrange a suitable time, or to discuss any questions or concerns you may have ahead of your cruise. Please email info@whalesong.com.au or phone (07) 4125 6222.