Fewer sights are as spectacular as a 52-foot long, 50-ton animal lifting itself out of the ocean and breaching, causing a splash that seems too elegant for a mammal of that berth. Such a sight can be seen in Queensland, Australia, at Hervey Bay in late July. Hervey Bay is known as one of the best whale-watching destinations in the world. Humpback whales spend their summers in the cold waters of the Antarctic eating krill until ice begins to form in the waters during the fall months. It is at this time that they begin to migrate to the waters of Australia where they mate and give birth. And Hervey Bay is one of the best places to catch sight of these magnificent creatures.
Hervey Bay is located in Queensland, Australia, one of the most temperate places one could visit. It is located 3 ½ hours from the capital city, Brisbane, and boasts long, sandy coastlines. It is easily accessible by airplane, helicopter, or car rental. Its assets include Fraser Island, the Great Sandy Strait, and the wetlands, as well as Hervey Bay. It is a backpacker’s paradise; hostels are a popular accommodation after a long hike along Hervey Bay’s coastlines. Tourists flood the city especially from July through November with the coming of the whales. In fact, approximately 1.23 million overnight visitors go to the region each year, many international. Fisherman also flock to the region for whiting, flathead, and sport fish, as well as many other reef species.
Some people never have the opportunity to see a humpback whale as close as they would in Hervey Bay. Their songs and behaviors mesmerize those who have the opportunity to listen. Their beauty and gracefulness are contrary to their immense size. Their intelligence amazes the biologists who study them. There is some concern about the behavior of mothering calves when vessels come close to them, as is the case in Hervey Bay, but otherwise, whale watching under guidance of an experienced boatman is the best way to observe these animals in their natural habitat. Anyone who has had the opportunity to do so will walk away more than satisfied with the experience.
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