Each winter, thousands of humpback whales break their long southern migration to rest, nurse and play in the sheltered, sun-warmed waters of Hervey Bay — the first place in the world to be recognised as a Whale Heritage Site. Rather than simply passing through, the whales linger here for days at a time, which is what makes Hervey Bay so special: encounters are unhurried, and the animals are often as curious about the boats as visitors are about them.
When to go
The season runs from roughly July to November. Early in the season you'll see strong, playful adults; from late August the bay fills with mothers and their newborn calves, who use the calm water behind K'gari (Fraser Island) as a nursery before the open-ocean run south. "Mugging" — when a whale chooses to hang beside a quietly idling boat — is most common in the later months.
What you'll see
Breaching, pectoral-slapping, tail-slapping and spy-hopping are all common. Platypus Bay, on the north-western side of K'gari, gives the fleet flat water and reliable sightings.
Half- and full-day tours depart from Urangan Boat Harbour. Operators follow strict approach distances so the whales always set the terms of the encounter.