Enjoy Whale Watching In Australia

Whales have long fascinated people. Many were hunted to near extinction before governments of the world stepped in and placed them under protection. Today, people hunt whales for more benign purposes, mainly just to watch them in their natural environment. One of the most popular regions of the world for whale watching is off the coasts of Australia. Let's take a look at some of the best places to enjoy whale watching in Australia.

Each autumn, humpback, orca, and other whale groups migrate from the cold waters off the coast of Antarctica north to the more temperate waters off Australia's coasts. Here, the cows give birth to their young, who are born without the layer of blubber that keeps the adult whales warm in their colder homes. After the babies are born and grow a bit, the whale pods return to the colder climate where mating takes place and the females are impregnated with the following year's calves.

With this regular migration route and knowledge of when to expect the whales to appear and leave, many businesses have sprung up along both the east and west coasts of Australia that allow people to go out on a boat and watch the whales as they swim, feed, and give birth in the subtropical waters. There are some spots that are extremely popular for whale watching because people are guaranteed a whale sighting or they are taken back out free of charge.

These migration routes lie close enough to the coast that whales can often be seen from the prominent headlands that dot the coastline. In general, the best time to view whales from land is at midday. This is because the sun is directly overhead and does not create a glare that could hide them. For viewing at other times of day, the best bet is to go out on the tourist whale watching boats.

Hervey Bay, Stradbroke Island, Bryon Bay and Merimbula are among the best locations for whale viewing along the east coast. Hervey Bay has one of the best climates in the world. In addition, it features sixty kilometers of unspoiled beaches, game reserves, and river inlets. The city has kept the coast free from development, making it an ideal zone for watching the whales in their natural environment.

Another popular destination lies along the southern coast of the continent. The Head of Bight is one of the best places in the world to see the rare, Southern Right whales.

The west coast of Australia features its fair share of whale watching vantage points and fleets that take people out to see the whales up close. Some popular locations are Albany, Exmouth, Denham, Geographe Bay, Broome, Hillarys, and Kalbarri. Here people go out to watch the whales in deep water and are treated to a special sight. The majestic humpbacks have become used to the whale watching fleets and often interact with the boats. In addition, these huge animals have been known to leap completely out of the water, a truly wondrous sight to behold.

It is plain to see that the coasts of Australia offer some of the best opportunities and locations for whale watching in the world. Lying right along the annual migration routes taken by the whales to and from the waters where they birth their calves and raise them, people have learned when to expect the whales to be passing through. Many have opened up businesses and/or built special boats specifically for the purpose of taking people out to observe the whales in their native environment. These creatures are endangered, yet they hold many other interests for the average person.