Fraser Island Whale Watching

Fraser Island Whale Watching

Hervey Bay is regarded as the Whale Watch Capital of the World, not just because of the numbers of whales, but also because of the whale watching occurs in the calm, safe waters protected by Fraser Island.

More than 1500 humpback whales visit Hervey Bay on their migration south to the Antarctic in August September and October. Humpbacks can stay in the sheltered lee of Fraser Island for two days or two weeks.

The first whales of the season are mainly adult and sub adult pods. Mothers and babies arrive from mid September on.

In Hervey Bay you can see the whales at close range. The whales often come right up to the boats and spy on the people.

Whaling on the east coast of Australia reduced the humpback population from over 10,000 to just 300 when whaling was stopped in 1962.Whale numbers are increasing by 8 per cent per year and are estimated to be 4500 to 5000. Up to 1500 of these whales visit Hervey Bay each year.

Hervey Bay was declared a marine park in 1989 Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service manages activities of people around the humpback whales.
Whale watch operators must have permits. Fares attract park levies to assist with management, education, monitoring and research.

Strict regulation ensures whale watch boats, pleasure craft, swimmers and aircraft all stay at least 300 metres from the whales and do not cause the whales to alter direction, speed or behavior or the split pods.

Whaling is banned in within 322km of Australia's coastline. Australian citizens are banned hunting whales anywhere in the world.