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Humpback Whales

Updated Thu 02 Jun 2022

whales, whitsundays

The magnificent humpback whale visits the Whitsunday Islands every year during the months of late July through till October on their annual pilgrimage to warmer waters. On this journey, large males or Bulls play together giving you the opportunity to see natural whale behaviour up close. Whether it be a cheeky glance or fin slap, to an enormous breach in which the whale can soar up to 3 meters into the air and come crashing back down into a plume of water and white spray.


Females accompany their young during this journey or for the very lucky you can witness a whale birth first hand and watch the mother teaching her offspring to swim and take its first breaths. Truly a once in a lifetime experience! Watch these gentle giants of the oceans from the serenity of your vessel and learn more about their behaviour from our experienced and knowledgeable crew. Many people say that seeing whales in the wild is a life long dream and here in the Whitsundays is where that dream may become a reality!

whales, whitsundays

Whale watching involves many senses. As well as seeing whales, you can hear the characteristic sounds of the blow, breach, or fin slap. The beautiful whale song can be heard by both divers and snorkelers alike, so keep your ears open!

Adults range in length from 12 to 16 metres and weigh approximately 36,000 kilograms. That's 36 TONNES! Males produce a complex whale song, which lasts for 10 to 20 minutes and is repeated for hours at a time. The purpose of the song is not yet clear, although it appears to have a role in mating.


Humpback whales typically migrate up to 25,000 kilometres each year. Humpbacks feed only in summer, in cold waters, and migrate to tropical or sub-tropical waters to breed and give birth in the winter. During the winter, humpbacks fast and live off their fat reserves. The species diet consists mostly of krill and small fish. Humpbacks have a diverse repertoire of feeding methods. Like other large whales, the humpback was and is a target for the whaling industry.

Whale, Migration, Humpback Whales, Whitsundays

For more information on when to visit and how to see these incredible creatures during whale season, chat to our friendly team today! 

Book a whale tour today!

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