Living in Redcliffe area,can anyone advise best time of year and where to go to see migrating whales (or any other great wildlife),have heard straddy island but advise re how to get there and best time,where to stay,etc would be appreciated-happy to camp out if available.
Cheers
Sian

Migrating humpback whales stop in Hervey Bay between August and October.
Not exactly sure why, but I went on a boat trip to see them and it was amazing!
They were swimming underneath the boat, breaching right beside it!
You could have almost have reached out and touched them, they were that close.
There are quite strict regulations about boats approaching whales.
They have to wait till the whales come to them.
I would definately do it again.

Yes, the best place to get up real close to whales is Hervey Bay as this is where the mothers take their young to build up strength for their long migration back down to the southern ocean, Like the last post said the whales come so close to the boat you can almost touch them, one mother that has returned to Hervey Bay since a calf got beneath her new born and pushed her up out of the water right next to us to see what all the fuss was about, it was truly an amazing sight. There is a camp site right next to the boat harbour, we stayed here and they also sell tickets for the boat trip...

We saw a whale whilst sitting having a beer on the deck at Marcoola SLSC...that must've been last October. Not exactly a close up whale watching experience, but still pretty cool!

Hi Sian

My understanding is that the humpbacks swim North from Antartica to the North coast of Oz all along the east coast (Sydney, Brisbane etc) starting around June, the calves are born, then they return to Antartica around November.

We did a boat trip watching them swim North - it was simply awesome - but for the return trip you new mums and babes are "escorted" by the males and dolphins as protection for the calves - we didn't get to see that :curse: but we will this year

On the West coast the 2 places I have heard most about are Monkey Mia and Bunbury (?) South of Perth - both are supposed to be fantastic for dolphin watching

There are obviously a million other places depending on what kind of wildlife you want to see - don't forget, parrots and exotic birds are part of the background everyday (we have kookaburras, ibis, gallas, rainbow lorrikeets, various other parrots and cockatoos, lizards, frogs ... the list goes on, just in our garden)

Happy viewing

For closer to home see" www.brisbanewhalewatching.com.au
It leaves from the Redcliffe jetty.

I have heard people say they've watched them from dry land in Perth but I'm sure they don't come that close in Brissy and you'd need good binoculars.

If you go up to the lighthouse at Byron Bay you can see so many of them out to sea breaching. You obviously can't see anything close up but it's still pretty fascinating.

Another vote for Hervey Bay. We went out on the Tasman Venture in September last year and had a fantastic time. Here is one of the videos I took.

I've been from both Hervey Bay and Redcliffe and both were excellent days out. Went out on the Spirit of Hervey Bay and Brisbane Whalewatching. We saw more whales and a few babies on the Redcliffe trip, but it was later in the season than the year we went from Hervey Bay. The experience is certainly worth it - gives me goosebumps just thinking about it.

You can pretty much guarantee whale sightings south of Hervey Bay any time from May through til November (at a push). In the Byron/Ballina area they do come in close, and we've seen them just beyond the surf break, they come in close to keep away from predators, and regularly rest up below the Byron headland. Not been to Hervey Bay to whalewatch, but wouldn't make the trip up there just to do it when there's plenty of other places to see them. We've seen calves that are a few days old too, so they don't all go to Hervey Bay to give birth.

here are 3 southern right whales 'sunbathing' on Warnbro Sound Beach last year- they were approx 25-30 yds off the shoreline-magnificent!

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Hi there

We have done two trips out of Hervey Bay one with Whalesong and one with Tasman Venture both in Sept holidays. As far i'm aware they are about anytime from Late June to October most of the boats will tell you if any sightings. Both the above i would thoroughly recommend and both have been very different in many ways, i think it depends on how early or late they enter the BAY. I have freinds that have been out on Whale One from Moololaba and were disappointed and spent most of their time searching. Not sure how to post pictures but would def go again. Have also been out with Whalesong out of season on humanitarian, conservation things

Jane

Thanks everyone for great advice-we'll certainly be trying out some of the ideas,thanks for your help,I will be asking lots of other daft questions shortly!
Sian