Australians are the lucky lot in whale watching. They have the longest season for whale watching. So people from Gold Coast to Hervey Bay are happy for the long season for whale watching and it is for a good reason economic wise and recreation wise. Humpback whales pass through the Australian coastline from about July to November. It is about this time that Australia receives tons of tourists across the entire coastline. But any other month is a good time to view these giant whales up-close. It is the most fascinating moment when these sea giants launch their bodies out of the water and this happens anytime they feel playful and curious about vessels hovering around. However not every month or season is right for whale watching, there are specific months to note that are worthy for whale watching.
Special seasons to watch whales
June: June often marks the beginning of whale watching season, and it is the season to anticipate adult females and their calves from last season. Expected also are young whales starting to make their way through Gold Coast. These yearlings are still nursing and learning to navigate through the ancient route also known as Humpback Highway. This highway spans from the icy grounds of Antarctica to the Barrier Reef. If you are yearning to see whales diving and showing off their bodies, these youngster whales are full of energy and enthusiastic about the surface display, tail slaps, and head lunges.
July: July is the right time for whale watching now that the migration is kicking off about this time. What you saw in June becomes a fraction of what you will see in July. During July, you might be lucky enough to see baby whales. Baby whales can be hard to see unless they are too close, some are dolphin size while others are quite smaller. The little ones are hardly three to four metres long, and it is only in the Gold Coast region when they are about to migrate that you will have a chance to see these beautiful greyish little ones.
August: August is an exceptional time at the Humpback highway when it is about the peak of migration season. You will see heavy pregnant whales and non-pregnant females joining the males. The action heats up when male whales also known as bulls try to court non-pregnant females creating a scene during mating. They will exhibit heat run shoving and pushing around in courtship, every female while trying to win a boyfriend. You might be lucky to see a male chasing a female at high speed trying to make love. It is amazing and fascinating to watch these courting rituals amongst the whales with the show of might and immense power.
September: At about September, the whales begin to reverse direction to the south, back to Antarctica. During this season, newly pregnant females and juvenile whales head south. Males still find mating opportunities, chasing females in their final bid to make them pregnant. Young whales curious to come closer to boats and vessels provide a perfect opportunity for whale watching and getting up-close.
October: October marks the end of the season and you can expect to see mums carefully escorting their young ones as they prepare for migration, these mums are excellent caregivers from the way they nurse their calves.