Latest news with #humpbackwhales
%3Amax_bytes(150000)%3Astrip_icc()%2FTAL-humpback-whale-moreton-bay-australia-HUMPBACKHGWY0725-f660abeebe5e4731ab4c29c9e624f0dd.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
Travel + Leisure
3 days ago
- Travel + Leisure
It's a Record-breaking Year at the 'Humpback Highway'—With Over 45,000 Whales Expected
Each year, as temperatures drop in Antarctica, a great migration begins. Tens of thousands of humpback whales—more than 45,000 by some estimates—set off on an epic 6,200-mile journey north that runs along Australia's east coast. They are bound for warm tropical waters where they breed and calve before taking the same route back to the Southern Ocean. Locals call it the Humpback Highway, and from June through November, it offers one of the world's most reliable and awe-inspiring whale-watching experiences. At the heart of the spectacle is Moreton Bay, a protected stretch of water just offshore Brisbane that the whales pass through. The migration reaches its peak in August, when larger pods appear and there is a surge in social behavior: tail slapping, pectoral waving, and the unmistakable breach. This year, the outlook is especially promising. Sightings are already up, and with the humpback whale population increasing, some skippers are predicting it could be the most active season yet. For travelers, access couldn't be easier. Brisbane is one of the only major cities in the world where you can leave your hotel after breakfast and be scanning the ocean for whales by midmorning—no long drives or complicated transfers required. Tour companies like Brisbane Whale Watching pick up guests 40 minutes north of the city and boast a whale-sighting guarantee. For larger groups, or a small, VIP experience, Sovereign Lady Charters has a 74-foot private-use yacht that fits up to 35 guests and departs 30 minutes east of downtown Brisbane. You might also be able to glimpse the massive migration by taking a ferry to North Stradbroke Island in Moreton Bay and watching from. Cape Moreton on Moreton Island is another land-based viewing point. To reach the cape, take a ferry to Moreton Island and walk the Cape Moreton track to the Cape Moreton Lighthouse, Queensland's only stone lighthouse. It is a great place to catch the Humpback Highway as it passes by the shores of the island. Not all whale watching requires a boat. North Stradbroke Island (known to locals as 'Straddie') is reachable by ferry and offers commanding views from Point Lookout, a clifftop path where whales can often be seen breaching just offshore. For something even wilder, head to Moreton Island, a national park of towering sand dunes and quiet beaches. From the ferry landing, hike the Cape Moreton Track to the historic Cape Moreton Lighthouse (the only stone lighthouse in Queensland) and take in sweeping views of the Pacific. Whale season off the coast of Brisbane runs from June to November and peaks in August. According to new research from Griffith University, Moreton Bay is becoming more than just a migratory corridor—it's now a key resting and nursing zone for mother whales and their calves on their return journey south.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Yahoo
Boat full of tourists 'in tears' after once-in-a-lifetime encounter off Aussie coast
A tour operator has shared the remarkable moment a boat full of tourists ticked an incredible encounter off their bucket lists off the coast of Australia. The video, taken in Queensland's Hervey Bay, shows two curious humpback whales coming up to say hello to a group of swimmers in the water and getting within inches of the group. Blue Dolphin Marine Tours owner Peter Lynch told Yahoo News the visitors in the water, as well as those on the boat, were left with "tears in their eyes" directly after the once-in-a-lifetime experience. "They were blown away," he recalled of the exciting moment in August last year, which was reshared online ahead of the start of the season this Saturday, July 12. In recent weeks, whales have been spotted making their way up both the east and west coasts of Australia as part of their annual migration from the cooler feeding waters of Antarctica to tropical regions of the Great Barrier Reef, where they mate and give birth. Queensland is one of the top spots to see the humpback whales up close, with Hervey Bay particularly special, according to Peter. Unlike parts of the east coast in Victoria and New South Wales, the bay's sheltered waters between Queensland's coastline and K'gari, make it a place for resting, nursing their young and socialising. It's a common rest stop, where the animals may stay for up to a few weeks before continuing their migration. The video, he said, "Shows you why Hervey Bay is Australia's premier whale watching destination." Getting in the water with one of the gentle giants, Peter believes, is a humbling experience for his customers. "It fills their soul," he said. Whale boat operators in the area have licences to conduct commercial activity, and part of that licence is the ability to swim with the whales, so long as a code of conduct is adhered to. "We don't swim with mums and calves, or aggressive animals. If a shark's inside the area, we don't swim. So we only swim with those curious, friendly whales that tend to come to the boats and look at people anyway," he explained. Peter said that it's "not overly common" to get quite so close to the whales, like the lucky tourists in the video, because several factors are at play. "You're relying on nice weather, calm seas, the clear water visibility and then the friendly whales wanting to check you out," he said. Peter said that his company doesn't charge extra to tourists who want to get in the water, so as not to put pressure on the experience. "We do it on the whale's terms, we don't charge extra because it's opportunistic. It happens when it happens," he explained. But even if the opportunity doesn't arise to get in the water, he believes that visitors can still witness "a great mugging" or incredible breaches. 🤍 Aussie's 'dream-like' moment during incredibly rare ocean encounter 🐳 Photo of elusive creature off Aussie coast reveals incredible feat 🛥️ Incredible event 'triggered by full moon' off famous Aussie coast Peter has worked with whales and dolphins for over 40 years and even met his wife Jodie when she was a customer on the boat. But for him, the biggest thrill is "seeing the joy on people's faces". "We don't do this as a job, this is a passion and a lifestyle choice. We feel really honoured to take people out and give them an experience of a lifetime." He says he still gets contacted by former guests who tell him it was one of the "best days of their lives". "We take what we do seriously in the sense it's people's discretionary spending. They've entrusted us to give them the best possible experience," he said. "It's a real privilege to take people out who want to be there." This season, he's looking forward to supporting the citizen science project Happy Whale, where everyday Aussies and tourists get the opportunity to document and photograph the whales. "A humpback whale's tail is like a fingerprint," he said. Each individual's tail is unique, which makes it easy to identify them. Anybody can upload a photograph and then be contacted whenever that whale is spotted again. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
SBS Australia
06-07-2025
- SBS Australia
Behind the scenes of Australia's whale census; citizen scientists explain why they keep taking part
Every year, Australians gather along the country's eastern coastline to document the world's longest mammal migration. Around 40,000 humpback whales undertake the journey from Antarctica to the warmer waters along the Australian coast where they mate, calve, and nurture their newborns. It is a distance of 5,000 kilometres made over three months. Weighing 36,000 kilograms, the humpback whales are not the fastest swimmers but they make up for it by travelling non-stop for days at a time. From the sweeping coastline at Port Stephens in New South Wales, these members of the public have been volunteered to help count sightings of whales - including the humpback - over a 24-hour period. Voxie 1: "Well, it is a beautiful day to be out. And it's quite special looking at whales. I actually got to see one breach (when a whale propels its body out of the water) - so that's amazing." Voxie 2: "We're looking for whales so we can get good photographs and pictures of whales." Voxie 3: "And I used to come out here as a child many years, decades ago - and it wasn't a thing because I suppose there were so few. Whale watching wasn't something people knew about - or did. And I suppose the increase in numbers is really made it (whale watching) such a popular thing now." The conservation group that organises the event is called ORRCA - or the Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia. Vice President Steve Trikoulis says it is the 26th year of the census - and each time seeing the animals is memorable. "What's fascinating I think is because getting out to the water is not easy - or accessible for everyone. So being able to see these majestic creatures just from the headland, so close to you. And just having that experience, I think is a breathtaking experience for all. When they get to the tropical waters, they start breeding and the newborns start playing around, start mucking around. And everyone gets really excited. And then when they commence their southern migration (return journey to Antarctica) around August period, they obviously get really excited when they're at the headland because that's when the calves slap and breach and do all sorts of cool tricks that we all love to watch." He says it is heartening to see everyday Australians take part in the citizen science project, described as one of the longest running in Australia. "Citizen science plays a key role in helping scientists do the important work that they do. And one of the cool, amazing things about the census is we get to monitor patterns, behaviours - and we might even get lucky and potentially even see a southern right whale sneak through the coastline. It's very unique because there is only on the east coast of Australia - two or three hundred that do migrate. So there are not many out there."] All sightings over the 24-hour period are recorded using an online reporting system. This year's count has already broken the 2023 record of 5,000 sightings - that could include repeated sightings of the same animal. The full tally is still being finalised. The growth of the humpback whale population in particular has been encouraging for conservationists, growing from a low point of hundreds in the 1960s. Volunteer Susan Moody says she has participated in the census for the last five years. "It's very rewarding knowing the humpback population is thriving. And this year, we're hoping to get a more accurate number. We estimate between 50- and 60,000. But the southern right whale is only the hundreds - as far we know - and we haven't had many sightings this season. Although they do tend to go a little bit later. And there is a little of crossover when the humpbacks are coming, some of the southern rights are passing." Kristyn Glanville, a local councillor with the Northern Beaches Council, who also made the time to take part in the whale count. As an environment and planning law solicitor, she says she doesn't consider herself to be the most skilled citizen scientist - but feels it is important to take part. "I don't think I'm a very good citizen scientist because I'm not very good at spotting the whales, but when you have species that are in decline, are endangered and under threat. Every bit of information that residents and citizen scientists can collect is really important to inform the picture of understanding how many of that species is out there. And I think having people help collect the data makes them also appreciate more that we do live in harmony, hopefully, ideally with animals and being able to help collect the data gives (results in) investment and policies that help to keep that species healthy."
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Yahoo
Whales are drawing in 'crazy' crowds to this Newfoundland town
Humpback and minke whales are making their annual rounds near the shores of Newfoundland and Labrador, and one town on Newfoundland's Avalon Peninsula has a front-row seat to the spectacle. St. Vincent's-St. Stephen's-Peter's River has become a hotspot for visitors looking to catch a glimpse of the massive mammals because of its beach and how close the whales come to shore. "This year, it's the biggest crowd on record. On Sunday it was crazy," Mayor Verna Hayward told CBC Radio's The Broadcast. The beach parking lot is often full, there's campers and cases of people sleeping in their vehicles around the community. Hayward credits the growing turnout to the extended cell coverage that now reaches the beach. People are now live streaming, she said, and using popular social media apps like Snapchat and Instagram to document their experience. And as the capelin begin to roll she expects the area to be even busier with both whales and visitors. "We're only an hour and a half from St. John's. Thousands of people are doing the Irish Loop, which is a beautiful drive," she said. "People are here because they chose to skip the U.S. this year" But the hustle and bustle of non-residents visiting the area is causing a little friction in the town. Hayward said there have been complaints about the crowds, but she's asking residents to be understanding and suggests putting up private property signs. "We can't control that," said Hayward. "We're all trying to do the best we can to keep everything going during this busy, busy time and we enjoy it and we welcome everybody to our area and to our town." Even with some light frustration, businesses in the area are cashing in. Hayward said food trucks, the grocery store and restaurants are seeing big crowds. "Most businesses have ran out of food, it's been so busy," she said. Hayward said tourists are showing up from across Canada and parts of the U.S. who seem to be very happy with what the town and province has to offer. "We had somebody say to us from Ontario, 'Yes, I come for the whales, and yes we come for the puffins, and yes we come for the icebergs, but the most important thing is your people [are] friendly,'" said Hayward. And when people message her directly about coming to see the whales, she tells them to be prepared. "Come dressed in layers. It was 15 degrees in your car. It's not 15 degrees by the north Atlantic. And you need to wear good proper footwear. You cannot walk our beach with flip flops," said Hayward. This week also marked the beginning of Whale Fest, which runs until Sunday with card games, a dance, bonfire and musical performances. Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Sign up for our daily headlines newsletter here. Click here to visit our landing page.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Yahoo
Aussie's rare 10-minute encounter left tourists 'completely blow away'
In 17 years of swimming alongside humpback whales in Tonga, Tris has witnessed just about everything – mothers guiding their calves, thunderous breaches, curious eyes peeking from the roaring waves of Ha'apai. But nothing prepared her for what she saw on a recent drive. Originally from Yallingup, in the southwest of Western Australia, Tris has run her business from the Pacific Island nation for almost two decades. There, she leads tours through the surrounding waters, giving travellers the rare chance to swim alongside some of the ocean's most awe-inspiring giants. For most people, swimming beside humpback whales, which are known to grow up to 18 metres long and weigh 40 tonnes, is a rare enough experience. But swimming beside a "porcelain, pure-white" coloured calf? That's practically unheard of, Tris said in an interview with Yahoo News Australia. "It was like a dream," she said of the September encounter. "I just felt like I was holding my breath. I've swum with thousands and thousands of whales and calves, and to me, it didn't seem real." "I couldn't help thinking it was more precious than everything else." Due to the genetic mutations that cause their lack of pigmentation, white whales are extremely uncommon. True albinism is the result of a recessive gene that both parents must carry — a rare combination in wild populations. Leucism, another condition that causes pale or patchy colouring, is also unusual and not well understood in whales, making this experience all the more extraordinary. At the time, Tris had heard reports that an all-white calf was swimming in the area with its mother, while a friend spotted another in Vavaʻu, about 100 nautical miles north. Tris said she'd never seen an albino herself, despite her years of experience, yet suddenly, she was confronted with two young albino females. Initially there was speculation the pair might have been confused as the same individual, but "after analysing photos of the mothers", she "knew we were dealing with two separate calves" in the region. Tris, of Whale Discoveries, was initially hesitant about taking guests to swim with the baby. "I was very aware of the pressure this whale may have encountered or may encounter in the future with people's desire to swim with it," she said. But eventually, she decided she would take a group, but only for a maximum of 10 minutes. "They were completely blown away, even seeing the whale from above the water," she recalled. "We discussed whether we should get in with it or not, ethically. We decided on a quick swim, and they were so grateful and appreciative. "They realised how rare it was. We have strict regulations in Tonga, and we abided by them, but we were extra careful with the white baby." Reflecting on the magical moment she spent with the calf, made even more emotional after having lost her own son, Tris described the encounter as "just indescribably beautiful". "I kind of had expectations that it might behave differently. But in actual fact, mum and baby just acted like any normal mum and baby. We saw it breaching with its mum, playing. It approached us like any other calf might do. The immaculate state of her, no scratches, no cuts. Just pure pristine white. "When she came really close, I looked at her and saw her bloodstained eye. That's when we knew it was true albinism." This week, another white calf was spotted off the NSW Mid North Coast, prompting Tris to reach out to share her remarkable experience and help spark greater interest in these rare sightings. Earlier this month, a white whale was spotted off the Queensland coast near K'gari, generating further excitement. For Tris, she believes it's "definitely possible there's some family connection" to Migaloo, the famous albino humpback first detected in 1991. He was seen frequently over the decades, and very likely mated and produced several generations of offspring, but since 2020, he has seemingly vanished. 🌏 Alarming map surrounding Australia highlights growing danger to whales 📸 Incredible whale spotted just metres from shore thrills tourists 😳 Disturbing photos emerge of famous orcas linked to 'dangerous myth' Though there's no way to tell if any of the recent whale sightings are in any way connected, experts say Migaloo's "genes are still out there". "We haven't proven that Migaloo isn't around anymore — he may have made it to the east coast of Australia the year before, then returned to Tonga to birth the white calf we saw," Tris suggested. "He had a long breeding history, so he may have fathered the calves we're now seeing in Tonga. If the genetics are stretching across the Tongan whales, that's an interesting thought." Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
