Humpback Whales make an annual migration during Winter from the cold Antarctic waters to the warm sub-tropical waters of Eastern Australia. During their epic journey they delight tourists and locals in the whale watching hot-spots of Eden in New South Wales, Hervey Bay and of course the Whitsundays!
Sightings of mothers and calves are common; the whales come north for mating season and to give birth, and the warm Whitsunday waters make a great nursery and play room for them as the young learn all the skills they need from their mothers.
Since being hunted to near extinction (in the early sixties numbers dwindled to mere hundreds) experts now estimate the population to have regenerated to over 30,000 individuals – so that means there's a great chance of spotting one!
So now for the important bit – how and where do you go about getting your own glimpse of these gentle giants of the deep? Well, the good news is it's pretty easy – in fact you don't even need a boat as Bowen's coastal shores offer some amazing vantage points.
How about spotting whales:
From the land:
From Bowen's Flagstaff Hill there's a 360-degree view that encompasses offshore Whitsunday islands, Port Denison, the open ocean, and of course (you guessed it) whales at play! The lookout is accessible by car via Peter Wyche Dr & Kings Beach Road. Perfect for all the family, there's no walking required.
If you're up for a little exercise, a walk along the Edgecumbe trail provides numerous vantage points of our beautiful coast. Make sure to spend some time at the beach and headlands at Murrays Bay, as this is a prime whale spotting hotspot for locals.
You'll never know where they'll pop up however - a day spent on the beach at Horseshoe Bay has come with an added surprise for many a visitor, with whales breaching straight out from the shore on their journey through the Gloucester passage. Keep a keen eye out to sea while you're browsing the Sunday beachfront markets at Hansen Park as well!
From an island (you can walk to!):
For an extra special wildlife experience, time your visit to Bowen with the annual 'Walk to the Lighthouse' event. The crowds winding their way from the headland at Dalrymple point to North Head Island on the lowest tides of the year are treated to close up interactions with giant red starfish, sea cucumbers and sightings of Green Sea Turtles, Dolphins, Dugongs and both Humpback and Minke Whales!
From a boat:
New in 2019, you can now venture offshore and experience Humpback Whales on their own turf... the vibrant blue waters of the Whitsundays. Gloucester and Middle Island are their surrounding waters are hotspots for whales during winter. Jump onboard with an experienced skipper for a personalised small boat charter experience that is worthy of this once in a lifetime event.
If you are lucky enough to have your own boat spotting whales can be a DIY adventure - just make sure to check out the safety guidelines and regulations to keep both yourself and our friends safe and happy.
Another great option is to join one of the many quality day and overnight trips exploring the Whitsunday Islands that depart from Airlie Beach, just 45 minutes up the road. Romantic tall ship adventures, thrill rides with more, outer reef journeys and overnight sailing adventures all come with the added bonus of the chance to spot whales during the peak Whale watching season (May - October).
Want to know where the whales have been spotted recently? Like the idea of getting some tailored tour picking assistance? Chat to the Big Mango Info Team - 07 4786 4222 or every day at The Big Mango, Bruce Highway Bowen.