The whale watching season officially starts in june, however, humpbacks have already been spotted off bundaberg and the fraser coast and a. Most tour operators will commence whale watching tours in may or june once daily sightings are the peak and cease cruises by late october. Spirit of gold coast whale watching experience this is an excellent experience and the crew do everything in their power to get up as close to the whales as they can. The gold coast is a perennial favourite for whale lovers, and when the whale season is open, there is nowhere better to encounter the majestic nature of the humpback as they move north to their breeding grounds.
Migaloo the rare white whale is spotted off the coast of. Whale watching season on the gold coast starts 30th of may, finishing early november. Gold coast inside stories whale watching season is here. Gold coast whale watchers say whales will continue to be seen offshore for the next three weeks before the water warms up too much and they travel down into antarctic waters. Sea world whale watch main beach 2020 all you need to. Their annual migration from antarctica to queensland covers 10,000 kms 5000km each way between may november. Southeast queensland is one of the best places to view these amazing creatures, with up to 33,000 whales expected to journey past moreton island this. Winter is here on the gold coast once again, and you know what that means whale watching season is upon us from the end of may through until november, approximately 20,000 humpback whales will migrate from the cold antartic waters and head north towards the warmer waters of queensland. The gold coast is also home a world class research group humpback and.
A dramatic rescue operation successfully freed a humpback whale trapped in a shark net off australias gold coast. The best times to almost guarantee sightings would be early june to late october, which is when most whale watching tour boats operate. Annual humpback whale migration while the gold coast is a holiday spot for many thousands of beach lovers in australia, some 17,000 humpback whales also holiday here each year. Footage from the scene taken by nine news shows the enormous whale. It is a unique experience that you should not miss if you travel here, much less if you come to gold coast. With populations of migrating whales increasing by an average of 10% very year, there may very well close to 30000 humpbacks that make the. Most importantly, people ask about when the best time to see the whales is. Top spots for whale watching in australia tourism australia. Sea world whale watch ten years ago, you would struggle to see a couple of calves in a season. Pennicott wilderness journeys also operate cruises and day tours from hobart. Whale watching season in gold coast goldcoastaustralia. Last year, five whales were caught in nets in the queensland region.
The annual whale watching season is just weeks away from beginning, something which is normally a source of. Whale season on the gold coast mi gold coast tourism. Humpback whales have been spotted off the coast of port macquarie in recent weeks, and sea rescue volunteers are preparing for a busy migration season. Whales may be spotted all throughout the regular whale watching season in the gold coast, peaking in august. On your way south you get to byron bay via sunshine coast and gold coast. Gold coast whale watching season is closed for 2018. Whale watching is a yearround activity on the oregon coast with gray whales by far the most commonly seen. Australia the best tips for whale watching in australia whaletrips. There are several whale watching gold coast companies that run regular tours, and most have a 100% whale sighting guarantee.
During this time the annual humpback whale migration passes the coast. Gold coast whale watching from surfers paradise whales. The best time to see whales in queensland brisbane kids. Whale season attracts humpback and dwarf minke whales between may and september to the warm waters of the great barrier reef. Gold coast whale season if you are visiting the gold coast between may and the end of whale season november, then a whale watching cruise is a mustdo activity. Sea world team splashing into action this whale season. They cruise 5,000 8,000 km from antartica to relax in the queenslands tropical waters as far north as cairns in tropical north queensland. From june to november, the gold coast boasts the longest whale watching season on the east coast of australia to the point where the waters along the gold. Tiffany boothe with the whale watch center in depoe bay. The australian coastline provides bountiful opportunities to observe any number of whale species on their annual migration. The whale watching season in the gold coast runs from may to november each year. Sea world debuting new advanced whale watching vessel. Whale facts infographic whale watching in queensland.
While whale watching season on the gold coast runs from may to november every year, the best time to catch the migration is between june and october. Why humpback whales love the gold coast every year from june to october, the glassy waters of the gold coast are filled with humpback whales and their young swimming, playing, and escaping the freezing temperatures of the antarctic. The gold coast whale watching season in 2020 will commence in april and run until november. All eyes are on the horizon as the countdown begins to the official start of the sunshine coast whale watching season.
Whale watching in brisbane, the gold coast, and hervey bay. A record number of humpback whales are expected to be spotted during the annual whale migration that covers 10,000 return kilometres from the cold antarctic ocean to the warm coral sea from june through to november. Spirit of gold coast whale watching main beach 2020. About sea world whale watch join the marine experts at sea world cruises for a whale watching experience of a lifetime. You can take your pick of what is the best time for whale watching from the various parts of the cycle of these animals as they migrate to their breeding grounds and return along the east coast of australia. The gold coast welcomes the first pods and is the best place to watch them at the start and end of the season as they make the way back to. Gold coast whale watching now trading as whales in paradise was registered in 2004 as the gold coast s first whale watching company. There are three phases of the whale watching season on the gold coast.
Then from late march to june the whales migrate north back to alaska. Wild about whales is a celebration of whales along the nsw coastline. Best time for whale watching on the gold coast australia. The 2020 gold coast whale watching season is just beginning and will run until november. They are heading to their breeding grounds in baja california, mexico, where warmwater lagoons become nurseries for expectant mothers.
We are family owned and operated, but we also ensure our crew are experienced, entertaining and dedicated to providing you with the closest whale encounters possible. Humpback whales birthing off the gold coast 1,000km from. Setting sail from the pristine waters of the gold coast, the spirit of migaloo ii is australias newest and most advanced whale watching vessel. At the end of april the whales begin their migration journey along the australian coast. Hervey bay has now been recognised as the only genuine stopover on the humpback whales southern migration along australias east coast and is known as the whale. The whale watching season in queensland runs from midjune to october. Famous white whale migaloo splashes in gold coast waters.
Hervey bay is the unofficial whale watching capital, hosting its annual whale festival in july and august, while the gold coast is a prime stop on the socalled humpback highway, the whale migration route that runs between australia and the antarctic. There are several companies on the gold coast that can offer these tours including sea world, spirit of gold coast and whales in paradise, the latter offers a. From june to november, the gold coast boasts the longest whale watching season on the east coast of australia to the point where the waters along the gold coast are commonly referred to as the humpback highway. Now is your opportunity to witness the humpback whales in their natural environment with the stunning gold coast skyline glistening in the background. Humpback whales move in close to gold coast beaches in. The queensland coast s whale highway is bumper to bumper this season. Every year from june to november, the gold coast coastline plays host to the annual humpback whale migration. Have a whale of a time your guide to whale watching in brisbanes moreton bay. Lets go humpback whale watching gold coast budget travel.
Gold coast whale watching season 2020 outlook sea the. Sea world whale watch, whales in paradise tipping off towards the end of may, the gold coast s whale watching season is popular due to high whale numbers, but also simply due to the fact that its extremely. Best time for whale watching in australia about australia. Spectators on both the east and west coasts have the chance to enjoy their own whale show, twice a year, as the mammals travel to and from antarctica for what should be known as the worlds longest lunch feasting on all types of fish, krill, and plankton. Whale watching season on the gold coast starts 30th of may, finishing early november join the marine experts at sea world cruises for a whale watching experience of a lifetime. The good thing about the humpback whale migration is that they like to pay a visit to the entire coastline and it all starts with the gold coast the gold coast welcomes the first pods and is the best place to watch them at the start and end of the season as they make the way back to antarctica. Whale watching is not difficult, but a few tips make it easier. In preparation for the upcoming whale season, the department of environment and science des, the responsible agency for all marine strandings, organised a training event on the sunshine coast to increase the capacity of not only council but also interested community members to assist in. In new england and off the east coast of long island in the united states, the whale watching season typically takes place from about midspring through october, depending both on. While the gold coast is a holiday spot for many thousands of beach lovers in australia, some 17,000 humpback whales also holiday here each year. The gold coast welcomes the first pods and is the best place to watch them at the start and end of the season as they make the way back to antarctica.
Until the next whale season check back soon for more whale news whale watching check out our pick of the. From the gold coast, they offer five different times daily to make the trip out onto the water whilst the season is in full swing, and cater for all ages and disabilities. Between may and july youll find the whales making their way north to breed, and from august. The gold coast whale watching season has officially begun, running from june to november each year. Gold coast whale watching season 2020 outlook sea the gold. Humpback highway the gold coast in qld is known as the humpback highway because whale traffic heads in both directions from the middle of august. In eastern australia, whale watching occurs in many spots along the pacific coast. The good thing about the humpback whale migration is that they like to pay a visit to the entire coastline and it all starts with the gold coast. This lengthy whale watching season means you have up to 25,000 viewing opportunities from the gold coast. Where to go whale watching in queensland a little at large. Whale watching gold coast, departs surfers paradise. Any location with an ocean view may yield whale sightings, and morning light with the sun at your.
The whale season in gold coast is quite long and they look a lot. Local whale watching company spirit of the gold coast whale watching. Whale watching season yes its finally whale watching season, be spellbound as they perform some of the most amazing acrobatic displays that only mother nature could choreograph. On the east coast, southern right whales tend to migrate between cape byron and antarctica, but have been seen as far north as hervey bay, queensland. It is a huge sea to be finding these wonderful creatures, we saw in the distance a female with her cub. The iconic rare white whale migaloo has been spotted making its annual migration off the coast of australia, just days after his 30th birthday. While whale watching season on the gold coast runs from may to november every year, the best time to catch the migration is between june. Where to go whale watching in queensland, australia. Gray whales migrate south from their feeding grounds in the bering and chukchi seas around alaska from middecember through january. Join the marine experts at sea world cruises for a whale watching. Guide to whale watching in brisbane visit brisbane. Sea worlds senior whale watch tour guide, tess mckeown, says their journey begins in antarctica. New south wales national parks and wildlife took an active role in 2010 during the peak southern whale watching season between may and november with the launch of its whale watching site.
Whale watching on the gold coast maynovember bel air. Get the latest sightings, learn whale facts and plan your next coastal adventure. The first whales spotted off the gold coast this morning. Whale watching season on the gold coast runs from may to september and you can catch these incredible humpbacks in their natural environment aboard spirit of gold coast who have over 20 years experience and plenty more whaley good facts. Cruises and tours run during the main part of the season usually from around 1 june to 31 october. Humpback whale successfully freed from shark net off. Humpbacks on the move off nsw with 2019 migration season. It was the first whale this year to become entangled off the gold coast during the southern migration season. First humpback whales of season spotted off the gold coast. See southern right and humpback whales during australias whale watching season between may and november. In migration season, majestic humpback whales swing by south east queensland on. Whales in paradise is the original gold coast whale watching company having been operating since 2004.