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Whale Watching in Hervey Bay

From late July to early November, Hervey Bay is privileged to have the magnificent Humpback whales grace its calm and crystal clear waters. People come to the Bay from all over the world to view these amazing mammals in a truly unspoilt and scenic environment. Over the years, the humpback whales seem to have become at ease with the fleet, often being so close you can almost reach out and touch them.

Even though tour boats are bound by strict guidelines, the whales are not and swim where they like. It is not unusual for a mother and calf to swim within metres of a whale watching vessel. In fact sometimes you are left wondering who is watching who.

The clean clear waters of the Hervey Bay Marine Park are sheltered from the South-Easterly trade winds by Fraser Island, generally providing lake-like conditions and superb viewing opportunities. It is not uncommon for thirty or more whales to be present at one time in the whale watching area, providing a feast of spectacular displays of breaching, tail flapping and torso slapping, leaving the visitor with lasting memories.

There is a wide range of vessels and cruises available to choose from, such as early dawn trips, fast half-day tours to three quarter and full day tours with lunch. Even a sailing cruise is available for those who just want to soak it all in and relax to and from the whale watching area. Click here for for more information about the boats and cruises that can take you whale watching in Hervey Bay

History of whale watching in Hervey Bay
The fact that Humpback whales entered the waters of Hervey Bay each year was no secret. Often a radio call to the Air Sea Rescue was overheard reporting the position of whales and a warning of danger for the faster smaller vessels on the water. Occasionally people would stop for a quick look, but generally the whales had been regarded as part of the environment and taken for granted along with the dolphins and thousands of dugongs.

Then at some point through the 1980's the world re-discovered whales.

Tremendous interest began to be shown by both the public and media in wanting to see the whales which appeared in the Bay between the end of July to the beginning of November, (the now established season).

The possibility of turning this new and increasing public interest into whale watch tours was discussed by a number of fishing charter operators, in particular Rex Bacon, owner of the "CRAB". Rex never saw commercial whale watching in Hervey Bay, but ironically the day after his funeral, the "CRAB" went on its first whale watching trip fully booked.

In early September 1987, Brian Perry was the first to advertise and operate whale watching trips in the Bay. His boat the "TASMAN VENTURE" was soon followed by the "CRAB", "PRINCESS II" and the "ISLANDER". The Fleet has now grown even larger and special purpose-built boats designed for whale watching have been introduced.

Hervey Bay Marine Park
Three years after commercial whale watching began, our waters became the Hervey Bay Marine Park with the Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Service controlling the number of commercial operators, enforcing whale watch regulations and monitoring the effects of whale watching. Regulation enforcement are not only for water craft but also aircraft and people.

Many research projects are carried out in these waters and the Oceania Project operates yearly tours from August to November.