When is Turtle Season in the Whitsundays?
It is always turtle season in the Whitsundays! Turtles live in and around the Whitsundays all year long, breeding, eating, living and laying their eggs around the islands. If you're lucky, you might spot one while you're out snorkelling along the fringing reef, cruising out to Whitehaven Beach, or strolling along the sand, as they are never far from the trained eye!
When is turtle hatching season in Australia?
While many turtles live here all year around, breeding turtles lay their eggs from November to February where they leave their ocean homes and venture up onto the beaches all over the Australian coast. A few lucky people get to see them on the beach looking for a perfect nesting site or digging a hole to lay their clutch in.
The nesting mothers, which have taken at least 30-40 years to reach maturity, might visit the nest several more times over the next few months before the eggs hatch, giving us a chance to see them in a different way than we may have ever before. The little hatchlings are usually spotted from January onwards and hatch at night, crawling out of the sand and into the ocean, lured by the full moon.
Are there turtles at Whitehaven Beach?
There's a chance you could spot turtles during your visit to Whitehaven Beach. The world-famous destination is perhaps better known for visits from baby lemon sharks, sting rays, and small fish species in the shallows of the pristine blue water, but that's not to say you won't see a turtle during your visit.
If you're taking a boat trip to Whitehaven Beach and you're hoping to spy a turtle, there are two prime opportunities to catch a glimpse of the beautiful creatures. Firstly, if you're going to North Whitehaven Beach, it's likely that your tour boat will moor at Tongue Bay, just off Whitsunday Island. While you're there, be sure to keep your eyes peeled, because it's very common for turtles to pop their heads up out of the water around here!
Our favourite Whitehaven and Snorkelling day tours
Your second and very best chance to see a turtle during your Whitehaven Beach tour is if you're in the water snorkelling. Juveniles who haven't yet reached maturity like to hang around the reefs munching on coral, small fish, and jellyfish, while larger, more mature turtles are often found in bays and inlets that are full of seagrass, their main source of food. They are easily spotted coming up for fresh air, which they will do every few minutes!
The Whitsunday Islands are such a great place to visit to try and spot sea turtles in their natural and rightful environment, as they cruise around the beautiful Whitsunday Islands and reefs!
