It seems that these days you can go whale watching just about anywhere along the east coast of Australia. Just about any town or city of any size that has access to the sea now has some tourist operator ready to take you out to look at the humpback whales as they migrate north for the winter and south for the summer.

That’s a far cry from what it was like a few years ago when about the only place you could go whale watching along the east coast was Hervey Bay … about four hours drive north of Brisbane.

Hervey Bay is unique when it comes to whale watching because it’s completely sheltered water unlike the other places that now offer whale watching. In those other places you head out into the open sea and hope to catch the whales as they pass so you better take your seasickness medication before you go.

In Hervey Bay the water is sheltered by Fraser Island and the big ocean swells that you will find if you head out from those other places is missing. Hervey Bay is also unique because the whales aren’t actually on the move to anywhere when they’re in the Bay because the whales come into the Bay to rest before their trip south.

Individual whales can stay in the waters of Hervey Bay for a few days or even a week just resting and playing so it’s a unique chance to see the whales just goofing off and having fun without the unpleasant ocean swells and the need for the whales to keep moving.

In Hervey Bay the whales will come right up to the boat to look at you with just as much interest as you have looking at them. It’s an amazing experience to watch a creature that’s bigger than the boat your on swim under the boat and then surface to look you in the eye and it’s an experience you won’t get in those other places.

So if you’re coming downunder to see the whales then come up to Hervey Bay between July and October and let our whale boats take you up close and personal to these beautiful creatures.