There are three phases of the whale watching season on the gold coast. The power of a tail slap from a 40 tonne sea creature will have you in awe. Passengers had a whale of a time off the gold coast this week with playful whales unafraid to put on a show. Whales seen breaching off gold coast waters in great. Spirit of gold coast whale watching main beach 2020 all. Gold coast inside stories whale watching season is here. 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. Cruises and tours run during the main part of the season usually from around 1 june to 31 october. 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 watching capital of the world. Whale app app wild about whales nsw national parks. Convenient departure location, walking distance from surfers paradise hotels. Board the luxury superyacht sun goddess and tour in style. Since late april this year, we have spotted the humpback whales of the coast of mooloolaba.
Gold coast adventures whale watch from the gold coast. During this time the annual humpback whale migration passes the coast. As the original gold coast whale watching company, and the only one to provide a rivercanal cruise, whales in paradise will stand out as the highlight of your next gold coast holiday. They travel to the north looking for more temperate waters since this is the best place to give birth to their calves. Humpback whales are such majestic and amazing creatures, the stretch of water along the coast is called the humpback highway as the whales. With over 70% of all tours starting here, the eastern coast with queensland and. Theres nothing quite like a wild whale encounter to put life into perspective. Whale watching off the gold coast is perfect for fathers day the first sunday of september, as the weather is usually sunny, mild and calm. The first whales spotted off the gold coast this morning. First humpback whales of season spotted off the gold coast. In migration season, majestic humpback whales swing by south east queensland on their 10,000km trek to the warm, tropical water up north. But your surest best to see whales on the gold coast is with a. The gold coast is also home a world class research group humpback and highrises, led by dr. The whale watching season on the gold coast runs from late may through to november, we had a fantastic time with whales in paradise and i wouldnt hesitate to recommend them thanks for a wonderful day.
May 22, 2018 people on watercrafts are being urged to take more care around whales this winter. Sea world whale watch ten years ago, you would struggle to see a couple of calves in a season but now there are a few weeks of. Humpback whale freed from shark nets in delicate rescue. Receive notifications when whale sightings are logged along the coast. Spirit of gold coast whale watch from the gold coast. Winter is here on the gold coast once again, and you know what that means whale watching season is upon us.
There are many great vantage points from byron bay to point lookout to view these majestic mammals as they embark on their mammoth journey from the cooler antarctic waters to the subtropical. Best time to visit gold coast weather, season and temperature. With a 100% whale sighting guarantee that offers a free return cruise if no whales are spotted, you can be confident that sea world cruises are the masters of gold coast whale watching. Whale images spirit of gold coast whale watching tours. There are several whale watching gold coast companies that run regular tours, and most have a 100% whale sighting guarantee. The gold coast is one of australias most loved destinations. It is a huge sea to be finding these wonderful creatures, we saw in the distance a female with her cub. Witness the beauty of the humpback whales as they migrate past the gold coast from june to november. Join the marine experts at sea world cruises for a whale watching.
The whale watching season officially starts on june 1. Gold coast versus hervey bay whale watching abc news. 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. Seasickness if you are prone to motion sickness or could be affected by adverse sea conditions we strongly recommend you take advice from a chemist prior to. We have lots of high quality whale watching images taken on board the spirit of gold coast. Thousands of guests have boarded whale watching cruises on the gold coast in 2019, departing either at mariners cove or runaway bay marina. In october and november, they travel back south, making hervey bay, gold coast, byron bay and coffs harbour the best places to watch them. Whale watching on the gold coast is a very unique and special experience. The whale watching capital of australia, hervey bay, is a popular spot for our biggest coastal visitors, the humpback whales from june to november.
The 2020 gold coast whale watching season is just beginning and will run until november. Meet the food truck teams from season 12 the great food. Supplied image from sea world whale watching of a mother and calf simultaneously breaching off the gold coast. You can swim with humpback whales on the fraser coast and sunshine coast from june to october, and minke whales in tropical north queensland in june and july. The mysterious minke whale turns up every june july to hang out on the great barrier reef. Whale watching on the gold coast whales in paradise. Migaloo the rare white whale is spotted off the coast of. Join gold coast adventures for a threehour whale watching cruise on a highspeed, luxurious wave piercing catamaran tours depart daily from mariners cove marina so you can head straight out into the broadwater in search of the majestic humpback whale. Its prime time whale watching season on the gold coast so dont miss out on the opportunity to get up close to witness the gentle giants of the sea. Queensland whale watching whale watch tour bookings. Queensland boasts some of the best whale watching destinations in the world. While whaling in the 19th century had a dramatic impact on the population, the whale numbers are recovering, and tasmanias east coast is still one of the best places to spot them. Spirit of gold coast whale watching 6070 seaworld drive, main beach, gold coast, queensland 4217 rated 4. Best time for whale watching in australia about australia.
Yes its finally whale watching season, be spellbound as they perform some of the most amazing acrobatic displays that only mother nature could choreograph. The 40tonne, 15metre humpback albino whale typically turns up in new zealand in late june before heading to cape byron or the gold coast in late july. Half and fullday whale watching cruises run from brisbane to surfers paradise, sea world, and the gold coast, aboard specially equipped boats with large viewing decks and underwater microphones so you can listen to the whale songs. Whale watching on the gold coast coomera houseboat holidays.
Thats when boat charters and tour groups will start taking people out to view the whales, and tourists flock to. This lengthy whale watching season means you have up to 25,000 viewing opportunities from the gold coast. Whale facts infographic whale watching in queensland. Other amazing destinations to experience a memorable whale watch include the sunshine coast, brisbane, the gold coast and noosa. Local whale watching company spirit of the gold coast whale watching experienced a bumper season of whale watching in 2017, with a record number of. The best time to see whales in queensland brisbane kids.
Whale watching season has started and residents are being urged to download a new smartphone app to help with research into the giant. Lets go humpback whale watching gold coast budget travel. Catch a glimpse of the majestic humpback whale in its natural habitat. Spirit of gold coast whale watching ms king said a record 27,000 whales are expected to migrate this season, based on previous estimates. First whales of the season sighted off gold coast abc news. Whaling in australia took place from 1788 to 1978 and was once commercially. You can expect to find the cheapest deals on accommodation and flights, but there will not be any boat tours or parties going on during these months. Pdf coastal fronts utilized by migrating humpback whales. 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. Humpbacks on the move off nsw with 2019 migration season.
Australia the best tips for whale watching in australia whaletrips. Northbound pods pass from march through may and cruise closer in, just beyond the surfline. So, depending on the area, the main season for whale watching is earlier or later in the year. Whales seen breaching off gold coast waters in great beginning to season. Whale watching in australia is a popular recreational pursuit and a tourist activity along various coasts. Sea world whale watch tours depart from the sea world cruise terminal in the carpark outside sea world at main beach, gold coast, queensland, australia. The best whale watch tours and destinations are presented here for. 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.
Guide to whale watching in brisbane visit brisbane. 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. The whales can usually be seen from the beach, headlands and beachfront balconies as they make their migration along humpback highway. Whale watching in australia is a popular recreational pursuit and a tourist activity along various. Gold coast whale watching season is closed for 2018. See how the season progresses with the whale sightings counter. We were told that oct is not ideal as it is almost the end of season but we saw in sydney while at the beach and gold coast in the tour. To take advantage of the california gray whales 12,000mile migratory route from a gold beach standpoint, southbound migrating whales move past the oregon coast dec. Whale watching season in gold coast goldcoastaustralia. Gold coast whale watching with whale watch australia. The whale season in gold coast is quite long and they look a lot. Legend has it that the residents of hobarts suburb of taroona used to complain about being kept awake by the sounds of whales in the river derwent. Their annual migration from antarctica to queensland covers 10,000 kms 5000km each way between may november.
Our big, beautiful friends are beginning their migration north to the warmer waters of the pacific to. Whale watching on the gold coast if youd rather keep your feet on the ground but still yearn for the special experience of seeing a whale, australias east coast is the best place to spot whales from the beach. Our winter whale season has finally arrived, and we are so excited to share even more of these absolutely magical experiences with you. Gold coast whale watching whale watch tour bookings. On the oregon coast, several whale species, especially gray whales, may be seen yearround, and the state trains volunteers to assist tourists in the winter months, during whale migration season.
We expect whale watching tours start up again for the 2019 whale watching season from late may 2019 and run through to early november 2019. Oct 04, 2016 its prime time whale watching season on the gold coast so dont miss out on the opportunity to get up close to witness the gentle giants of the sea. In california, good whale watching can be found yearround on the southern california coast. Spirit of gold coast whale watching tours australia. More than 7,000 whales holiday in the fraser coast on their 5,000km migration from antarctica to teach their baby calves sweet skills like breaching, spy hopping, tummy flashes and plenty of other survival tools. The period from june to august is an ideal time for whale watching. Take a cruise with boattime charters for your chance to see the beautiful humpback whales off the gold coast. Top spots for whale watching in australia tourism australia. Whale watching on the gold coast maynovember bel air. About sea world whale watch join the marine experts at sea world cruises for a whale watching experience of a lifetime.
As the whales migrate up and back down the east coast of australia each winter, the gold coast is able to double dip as the whales head north and then again as they return south. Get excited and be amazed on this 3hour gold coast whale watching tour. I finally took the advice of a longtime friend and went whale watching with her. Cruise out of the beautiful gold coast through clear blue waters.
Hundreds of primary school children will be serenading at popular spots along the queensland coast as the whale watching season gets underway today. Jul 29, 2011 gold coast versus hervey bay whale watching. Feel free to upload images of whales, dolphins or any other sea creatures. Spirit of gold coast is the only company to have sighted migaloo, the white whale for 3 consecutive years 10th july 2003, 2nd june 2004 and 16th july 2005, and again in 1st july 2009, 27th september 2012 and last year on 10th august 2015, 10th august 2015 and this year on 11 th of july 2017. White whale migaloo makes another splash in to gold coast for. Now is your opportunity to witness the humpback whales in their natural environment with the stunning gold coast skyline glistening in the background. Nov 06, 2014 gold coast whale watching with whale watch australia whalewatchaustralia. All you need to know about whale watching in australia. As the whales migrate up and back down the east coast of australia each winter, the gold coast is able to double dip as the whales head north and then again as they return south the whale watching season on the gold coast runs from june november. When your whale watch cruise returns you can spend the rest of the day visiting the gold coast s famous beaches, hinterland, national parks, theme parks and many other attractions.
Jun 07, 2011 the gold coast whale watching season has officially begun, running from june to november each year. Highlights guaranteed sighting or return free trip. Whale watching cruises operate along the west coast around perth and. Be the first to join boat charters gold coast whale watching for the journey of a lifetime. There are plenty of fun adventure activities and sightseeing tours on offer all year. Whale watching app helps research gold coast bulletin. Most importantly, people ask about when the best time to see the whales is, and the real answer is during the months of june, july. Whale watching gold coast main beach 2020 all you need. Between may and july youll find the whales making their way north to breed, and from august onwards youll see them heading back south with their young. Whales in paradise are the original gold coast whale watching company and the only whale watch operation whose cruises depart from the heart of the gold coast in central surfers paradise. Queenslands top whale watching area, hervey bay just 3hrs north of brisbane is widely regarded as one of the best whale watching spots in the world. With tours operating daily, youll enjoy a fun excursion out on the water so be camera ready for these shy creatures. 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.
Setting sail from the pristine waters of the gold coast, the spirit of migaloo ii is australias newest and most advanced whale watching vessel. Brisbane pickup locations whales in paradise australia. Where you can go swimming with whales in queensland. May 26, 2018 whale watching season officially kicked off on the gold coast this morning. 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. Aug 17, 2017 whale watching season on the gold coast typically lasts from may until november.
First whales of season spotted off gold coast gold coast. Humpback whale locations were recorded off the gold coast. Sep 18, 2017 migaloo the white whale has once again been spotted in the waters off the gold coast, delighting whale watchers and biologists with his antics. Sea world whale watch main beach 2020 all you need to. Tourism minister jann stuckey said the childrens welcoming of the whales ceremonies were being staged simultaneously from the gold coast right up to tropical north queensland. Whale watching is an incredible experience and a magnificent nature education for children and adults alike. This is one of the best whales watching adventure on the gold coast.
Whale season on the gold coast mi gold coast tourism. Rescuers have managed to free a whale that became entangled in a shark net off the gold coast. Get up close and personal between june and november. Whaletrips australia the best tips for whale watching. Whale watching season is officially here and spirit of gold coast is something.
The best times to almost guarantee sightings would. The department of agriculture and fisheries said the sixtonine metre humpback whale was spotted. The gold coast is a great whale watching destination. 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. Whales in paradise owner, anthony ardern, said the first whale. Sea world whale watch from the gold coast whalefree. If you come from brisbane its a leisurely 60 minute drive down the m1 to surfers paradise, with plenty of parking available nearby at.
Aug 05, 2019 the following is an article from a guest who finally took the plunge and went whales watching with seaworld whale watching, departing from seaworld every day. The months from november to april form the low season for tourism in the gold coast. The whale watching season in queensland runs from jun october. 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. The ribbon reefs is the only place in the world where you can snorkel with these beautifully elusive creatures on a researchbased trip. Jul 05, 2018 gold coast gold coast cruises gold coast whale watching humpback whales visit gold coast by 50 shades, july 5, 2018 kathy was a 50 something year old when she started up this blog 6 years ago, but has since turned over another decade and is now in her early 60s. The whale watching season on the gold coast runs from june november. Where to go whale watching in queensland, australia. Whales travel at different speeds, some also not going the whole distance.
From skydiving and four wheel drive experiences to gold coast whale watching and glow worm tours, theres a gold coast activity suitable for everyone. Whale watching season on the gold coast starts 30th of may, finishing early november. This season migaloo, the gold coasts most famous cetacean visitor, has been spotted several times on his annual round trip from tropical waters to antarctica. Best time for whale watching on the gold coast australia. Jan 30, 2015 scared dog never wagged her tail until she met her foster dad blossom the dodo duration. The best time for whale watching in this region, however, is between july and september. This familyowned and operated business with over 20 years whale watching experience is committed to offering you the best customer service and memories to last a lifetime.
Whale watching season queensland in early june the whales begin cruising up the queensland coast and by early november they are heading home with their newborn calves. Have a whale of a time your guide to whale watching in brisbanes moreton bay. We are extremely fortunate on the gold coast that every year from june to november, our coastline plays host to the annual humpback whale migration. Between may and november, you can spot majestic whales from many scenic spots along australias coast. Our crew have over 10 years whale watching experience and are dedicated to providing you with the closest whale encounters.
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