Whale Watching
In late June each year South East Queensland sees an influx of ‘pods’ of migratory Humpback Whales on their way to the warmer waters of North Queensland. Whale watching in the months of June to October has become an icon for South East Queensland, with a fleet of over 35 vessels now departing daily from Hervey Bay, Moreton Island, Fraser Island and the Gold Coast. The waters in this area are known as the Whale Watching Capital of the world. The protection Fraser Island offers from the South Easterly winds makes conditions suitable for whales - the most agile of water travellers. To see one of these 10 metre plus animals up close is an amazing, intimate experience. The majority of the vessels in the area see whales on a daily basis. ‘Spotter’ planes are utilised to radio through the exact locations of the pods. During these months you can combine your Whale Watching experience with a stay at Kingfisher or a with a full day tour of the island.
The Humpback whales belong the baleen family of whales that feed by filtering food through giant curtain like hairs in their mouths. The hair that lines their mouths is made of similar material as human hair or fingernails and is used like a net for filtration. The whales enjoy the calm waters of Fraser Island to rest and breed on their way to and from the protection provided by the Great Barrier Reef. During this time the calf rarely strays from the protection offered by its mother that is often joined by another guide whale that acts as a chaperone. They generally reach sexual maturity at around 5 years depending on the size of the mammal’s body. Whales can live for up to 100 years.
Humpback Whales have been protected by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) since the mid 1960’s, with commercial whaling totally banned in the mid eighties. This however has not stopped countries such as Japan and Norway continuing to hunt whales in certain protected areas. Taking whale watching tours is an unobtrusive way to have interactions with these mammals without having a negative affect on their habitat and lifestyle.