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Chasing Whales in Hervey Bay

Find out why Hervey Bay is the whale watching capital of Australia

Waking up to a stunning sunrise over the Urangan jetty set the stage for our day ahead.

We were in Hervey Bay on the Fraser Coast of Queensland, well known as the whale watching capital of Australia, on a family adventure to spot humpback whales.

Every year between June and October thousands of whales migrate up and down the east coast of Australia and the protected calm waters of Hervey Bay is a favourite transit stop for them as they rest and play.

We jumped on the early morning whale watching tour with the folks from Hervey Bay Whale Watch and their boat Quick Cat II. And we were in good hands, owners Brian and Jill Perry are the pioneers of whale watching in Hervey Bay, having started the industry back in 1987.

As we departed Urangan Harbour the water was calm and the lighting soft, and whilst the sky a little overcast we could hardly complain and I remember saying out aloud, “hey, not bad for the middle of winter!”

Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia

It wasn’t long before our kids got their first treat for the day. Hot chocolate and pancakes were on offer and every child on board receives a Children’s Activity Booklet. Winning so far!

Caz and I enjoyed our coffee and a light breakfast as we cruised towards the open bay, enjoying the fresh air and the serenity of the girls sitting still for fifteen minutes.

Kalyra loves to learn about wildlife and the world around her and within no time had read through her whale booklet whilst little miss Savannah was enjoying her games, puzzles, and pictures.

Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia

Captain Brian increased the speed as we headed towards the open bay with the sun starting to poke its head through the breaking clouds. His crew were providing commentary and tips on photography and the morning was getting better by the minute.

Whale watching in Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia

Whale watching in Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia

Whale watching in Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia

The only other time we’d been whale watching was in the open ocean and trying to take a photo in the choppy and windy conditions was like stumbling around trying to pin the tail on the donkey blind folded.

I could already tell why the whales enjoyed spending up to 10 days on their migration in Hervey Bay using the time to socialise and rest.

20 years of research has confirmed that the Fraser Coast is the only genuine stopover along the migration route where up to 10,000 whales deviate from their annual journey back to Antarctica.

Being patient

Unfortunately our whale-watching tour didn’t initially go to plan.

Our boat came into engine trouble, we lost electrical power to one engine shutting it down which meant we sat idle for 90 minutes in the bay, just hanging out. Teasingly, we could see some whales way off in the distance and for a moment we thought the only ones we would be seeing up close were those in our Lonely Planet guidebook.

Whale watching in Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia

We used this time to take photos (including a few selfies) and enjoyed the rare moment of doing nothing, surrounded by glimpses of Fraser Island off in the distance.

Whale watching in Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia

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But never fear, after a slow start there was a happy ending in store for us…

Whales are worth the wait

Whether you’re on safari in Africa or whale watching in Hervey Bay, these are wild animals we’re talking about living in the open and they come and go as they please.

Captain Brian and crew did an excellent job of getting us going again and as soon as our boat was fixed, we sped off, quickly discovering why Hervey Bay is known as one of the best whale-watching areas in the world!

We first saw them breaching from a distance and I quickly grabbed my camera and shot some pics on my 70-200 lens.

Humpback whale breaches in Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia

Humpback whale breaching in Hervey Bay

The exciting thing is you never know when or where they are going to breach, and even if it’s not right next to your boat it’s still an incredible sight.

Humpback whale breaches in Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia

Humpback whale breaches in Hervey Bay

Humpback whale breaches in Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia

Humpback whale in Hervey Bay

And then the day got better!

The whales came to play right alongside our boat, waving hello with their tails and swimming right by. How’s this for a close up of a humpback whales tail? Our kids were of course ecstatic!

Whale watching in Hervey Bay, Queensland

Whale watching in Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia

Whale watching in Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia

Whale watching in Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia

They are so majestic. Cruising around flicking their tail.

Seeing the humpbacks up close in their element was like nature at its best. Needless to say, our return trip to the harbour was spent in quiet, gleeful wonder.

We shared photos with other passengers over more coffee, fresh fruit, toasties and fruit cake.

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How’s this for a guarantee

During whale watch season there can be hundred’s of whales within the whale watch sanctuary on any given day.

However, in the unlikely event you don’t encounter humpback whales on your tour, Hervey Bay Whale Watch allows each guest a further whale watching tour to use with no restrictions or give away to someone else.

They were the first whale watching operators to offer this guarantee, almost 30 years ago.

And being the great operator that they are, because our tour was delayed for 90 minutes, everyone on board was also offered this condition, even though we saw whales. I thought that was awesome!

Whale watching tours

Hervey Bay Whale Watch offer morning and afternoon tours and a whale swim between July and October:

  • Adults $115
  • Children $60
  • Family of four $299
  • Whale swim $95 on top

Tours last from 4 – 5 hours.

Other things to do in Hervey Bay

We didn’t have long in the town itself, but here’s a few things we got up to.

Walk the Esplanade at sunset

Sunset in Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia

We arrived late Friday afternoon and took a gentle stroll along the Esplanade just before sunset.

The 14km long shared pathway stretches all the way from the Urangan Harbour at the eastern end of the city to Gatakers Bay in the west, making it a great cycle path or long-walk. We did the section along Scarness Beach and enjoyed the sunset at the jetty.

It’s also a great spot for BBQ’s and fishing off any one of the small jetties along the way.

Walk the Urangan Pier

Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia

Taking a morning stroll at sunrise is best here at the Urangan Pier. This is where I took my sunrise photo before our whale watching tour.

Tip from one of our readers:

Just across the road from Urangun pier is a fish and chip shop, small, looks a bit dodgy even (no offense to owners), but it has THE BEST fish I’ve ever tasted. Only been twice with six years between visits and the quality was the same, melt in your mouth!

Breakfast at Enzo’s on the Beach

Enzos on the Beach in Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia

Enzos on the Beach is a locals favourite cafe.

Step off the Esplanade and into the relaxed atmosphere of Enzos with uninterrupted ocean views of Hervey Bay and Fraser Island. The style is beachy, you’re right on Scarness Beach and set in a cute little cottage with a charming patio overlooking the sands.

We loved the beanbags under the umbrellas and our kids enjoyed the playground next door that entertained them whilst we zoned out – winning again!

Two other coffee houses recommended were Minimalist Coffee Roasters and Bean Beat Espresso Bar.

Eat & Drink at Dan and Steph’s

We came to Eat at Dan and Stephs for some good coffee. We didn’t get to eat here though as we arrived after kitchen closed at 3pm.

It’s popular, with Dan and Steph being the local celebs as previous winners of My Kitchen Rules in 2013, and you can expect to find some contemporary dishes. They work onsite, serving and cooking for their customers.

Dan is famous for his sausages, and we also heard their Kadek Nasi Goreng (Indonesian fried rice with braised ham hock scotch egg and fried shallots) was one of their winning dishes on the TV show.

Where we stayed

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We stayed overnight in a lovely self-contained apartment, The Bay Apartments which is right on the Esplanade with water views and if you don’t feel like cooking, your an easy walk to several restaurants and take-away food outlets along the strip.

If your going to visit Hervey Bay, why not time it to coincide with the migrating whales. It’s one of Queensland’s best natural holiday destinations and we had a whale of a time (sorry couldn’t resist!)

You’re also within easy access to World Heritage Listed Fraser Island. Stay tuned, we have an article on Fraser coming up soon!

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Thanks to Visit Fraser Coast tourism for hosting our stay. For a complete list of things to do in the region visit their website.

Have you visited Hervey Bay?

Please share any tips in the comments below.

Chasing Whales in Hervey Bay
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