Whale watching
A special privilegeWhale watching is an experience not to be forgotten. To see a humpback whale lift its massive body into the air, or slap the sea surface with its long fins, is a breathtaking sight and a special privilege.
Whale watching involves many senses. As well as seeing whales, you can hear the characteristic sounds of the blow, breach, or fin slap, and feel the sea spray from this behaviour.
Remember! While the humpback whale’s behaviour can sometimes seem playful, it has a purpose and isn’t there for our benefit alone.
The migration of humpback whales along Queensland’s coast is essential for the survival of their species, and must not be disturbed.
Where to see whales
Hervey Bay, in Great Sandy Marine Park, is one of the best places in the world to see humpback whales.
Whale watching permits are also issued for Moreton Bay and the Whitsunday Islands.
The whale management area in Hervey Bay provides for the conservation of humpback whales through management and monitoring to minimise human impacts. The whale management area in Hervey Bay applies from 1 July to 30 November each year.
No one can guarantee you will see a whale at a particular place or time. But on a boat, weather conditions are more important than the time of day.
As seas rise and winds increase, the likelihood of seeing a whale decreases. Please be aware that Hervey Bay is a large area where strong winds and rough seas can be whipped up quickly.
When whale watching, a number of regulations must be followed. These help protect the whales while maintaining whale watching as an enjoyable experience for people.
Female humpbacks that are migrating south are often accompanied by young calves, which are particularly vulnerable to disturbance from people.
Signs of distress can include prolonged diving, evasive swimming with rapid changes in direction or speed, and interruptions to breeding and nursing activities.
If you see a whale and it looks distressed by your presence, please leave the area.
If you see a stranded whale, alive or dead, please call the duty Ranger on 1300 360 898 at any time.
How to prepare
Learn the rules for whale watching, as people on boats must observe a number of regulations. Signs at harbours and boat ramps prominently display the regulations.
When whale watching, bring sunglasses, sunburn cream, broad-brimmed hat with chin cord, long-sleeved jacket, rain-proof coat, and lots of patience.
Skippers who venture into Hervey Bay, Moreton Bay or the Whitsunday Islands must be experienced and have local knowledge of the area and sea conditions. Seaworthy boats must be equipped for open water passages.
If in Hervey Bay, listen to channel 68 on the VHF marine band and you may be directed to whale pods by other whale watchers. Skippers should maintain radio contact with Hervey Bay Air Sea Rescue (callsign VN4HV) or Bundaberg Air Sea Rescue (Burnett Heads) VN4BF.
What to do
Whales are protected by Australian and Queensland laws, which are based on continuing research and management including regular boat patrols.
Please follow these guidelines so the whales remain uninterrupted on their journey. Refer to the Conservation and management of whales and dolphins in Queensland 1997–2001 for specific regulations.
A person in control of a boat must not:
- bring the boat any closer than 100m of a whale;
- bring the boat any closer than 300m of a whale if:
- three or more boats are already closer than 300m to a whale; or
- the boat is moving in a similar direction to or behind a whale; or
- the boat is moving at more than four knots; or
- the boat is within an area of special interest for whales (i.e. that part of the Whitsunday Management Area of the Townsville/Whitsunday Marine Park identified as an area of special interest for whales in the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Plan).
- bring the boat to a position that would cause a whale to come closer than 100m to the boat if the whale continued in its direction of travel;
- move or operate the boat in a way that causes the whale to alter its direction or speed of travel or its behaviour; or
- bring the boat between members of a pod of whales.
A person on a jet ski must not bring it any closer than 300m to a whale.
A person in water must not move any closer than 300m to a whale.
A person must not enter water closer than 300m to a whale.
A person in control of a fixed-wing aircraft must not bring it any closer to a whale than 300m or an altitude of 1000ft.
A person in control of a helicopter must not bring it any closer to a whale than 1km or an altitude of 2000ft.
A person must not do any of the following to a whale in the wild.
- deposit rubbish near a whale;
- make a noise that is likely to disturb a whale;
- make a noise that is likely to attract a whale;
- intentionally feed a whale; or
- touch a whale.
Commercial whale watching is operated under permit using skippers and crew with experience in Hervey Bay, Moreton Bay and the Whitsunday Islands.
A person must not operate a whale watching business other than:
- under a commercial whale watching permit granted under the regulation; or
- if the business is operated in a marine park — under a permission granted under the Marine Parks Act 1982.
These are only some of the regulations which protect and conserve whales from disturbance and harm. The Conservation and management of whales and dolphins in Queensland 1997–2001 explains in detail the obligations of whale-watchers.
Last updated: 22 May 2007
