Three decades of scientific study has proven that Hervey Bay is unique along Australia’s east coast as a whale stop-over. Fluke identification has confirmed many of the same humpbacks return each year – staying for up to two weeks to rest and nurse their young calves. It is thought this recuperation time is essential for calves and younger humpback whales in preparing for the Southern Ocean and the serious predators they will encounter. 

For a large part of the season Hervey Bay becomes a “whale nursery”, making whale watching in our waters most special. Many describe coming face to face for the first time with these graceful 40-tonne giants of the deep ocean as a spiritual experience. Because they are relaxed and not migrating, the whales are just as interested in the whale watchers as the watchers are in them – sometimes spending up to an hour fin-slapping, spy-hopping and breaching close to boats.

The World’s First Whale Heritage Site

Hervey Bay’s status as one of the best whale-watching destinations in the world is underlined by the region’s selection in October 2019 as the first Whale Heritage Site declared by the World Cetacean Alliance.

Hervey Bay pipped Durban in South Africa, which was the second site chosen, in a field of candidate sites, including Vancouver Island in Canada, Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand, Mosaic Jurubatiba, Brazil and Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica.

Visitors who take tours with the Hervey Bay fleet can now be secure in the knowledge they are supporting sustainable whale watching practices judged amongst the best in the world.

The World Heritage Site accreditation scheme for whale-watching destinations was initiated by the London-based World Cetacean Alliance in 2016, to recognise the best global destinations for responsible whale and dolphin watching.

As well as ensuring respectful human-whale interactions, a Whale Heritage Site has to show active engagement by their communities and tourists with marine life through art, music, science, education and celebratory events.

What WHS recognition means to Hervey Bay is best summed up in the words of World Cetacean Alliance honorary president, Jean-Michel Cousteau, who said Whale Heritage Sites would become the gold standard for responsible whale watching destination worldwide “as they have so much more to offer, by interweaving natural and cultural elements and placing communities at their very heart” .

“These sites will become places where people respect, celebrate and protect cetaceans and their habitats long into the future.”

As well as amazing personal experiences on the water and through observing the various art pieces and sculptures paying tribute to the humpbacks, visitors can learn more about the these beautiful creatures at the Fraser Coast Discovery Sphere in Pialba, a centre dedicated to native flora and fauna in The Great Sandy Strait, including humpback whales. The Discovery Sphere features a 30-tonne statue of one of our region’s most beloved whales, Nala.

Whales are also celebrated annually during the month-long Hervey Bay Whale Festival, which features  events like the Blessing of the Fleet, the Whale Parade and Concert, and the Paddle Out for Whales.

The humpback nursery

The journey

Thousands of Humpback whales pass our coast each year during their annual 10,000km return journey from the feeding grounds in the Antarctic to the breeding grounds in tropical waters to our north – the longest mammal migration on earth.

Along the way Humpback mothers, pregnant during the previous season, give birth to calves and these juveniles often ride in the slipstream of their parent to keep pace. It is a constant journey, either north or south, depending on the time of the season. But there is one special place on Australia’s east coast where the whales stop to take a break – Hervey Bay.  It’s here in this nursery environment calves practise the incredible behaviours whale watchers yearn to see, from breaching, spy-hopping to tail slapping.

The humpback nursery

The journey:  Thousands of Humpback whales pass our coast each year during their annual 10,000km return journey from the feeding grounds in the Antarctic to the breeding grounds in tropical waters to our north – the longest mammal migration on earth.

Along the way Humpback mothers, pregnant during the previous season, give birth to calves and these juveniles often ride in the slipstream of their parent to keep pace. It is a constant journey, either north or south, depending on the time of the season. But there is one special place on Australia’s east coast where the whales stop to take a break – Hervey Bay.  It’s here in this nursery environment calves practise the incredible behaviours whale watchers yearn to see, from breaching, spy-hopping to tail slapping.

A natural haven: Like homing pigeons, the whales head to the warm, shallow waters in the lee of K’gari Fraser Island, where humpback mums take the opportunity to feed and bond with their babies.  Underneath a whales’ tail or fluke is a distinct marking that, like a human fingerprint, enables each whale to be identified. It’s this discovery that has enabled scientists to prove many humpbacks return to Hervey Bay each year, staying for up to 10 days!

Milestones: The gestation period for a Humpback whale is on average 11 months and once born, calves are nursed until their first birthday. The little giants are already 5 metres long at birth and can weigh up to 2 tonnes, but they don’t stay that small for long! Drinking up to 600 litres of milk a day, calves gain weight rapidly.

The recovery: Eastern Australian Humpback whales were nearly wiped out by commercial whaling and while the population is recovering, this whale species is still at risk from a range of threats including entanglement, pollution, habitat degradation and vessel strikes.

Inspirational artwork: In 2019 for the World Whale Conference, Artists Cave Urban and the Fraser Coast community, created a stunning bamboo art piece that you can find at the Hervey Bay Visitor Information Centre. This eco-friendly creation aims to inspire change while protecting the cetacean habitat from ocean-destroying plastics.

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