Hervey Bay is widely regarded as the best place to watch humpback whales in the world.
The magical experience of whale watching has grown in popularity over the last decade and whale watch tours have popped up across Australia. But what sets Hervey Bay apart is the up-close and personal experience you can have with the whales here.
Unlike other destinations where the whales are passing by on their annual migration from Antarctica, in Hervey Bay the whales stop over for a number of days.
From July to November Hervey Bay has whales everywhere, resting and playing in the calm waters sheltered by World Heritage listed Fraser Island. The whales are so relaxed here and in such great numbers that it is simply the best place to watch whales in Australia, if not the world.
The result is the inquisitive humpbacks whales curiously approach whale watching vessels to within metres for extended periods - you can expect to get up-close and personal to a humpback whale in Hervey Bay.
There are 8 whale watching tours and 1 swim with the whales tour departing from Hervey Bay daily from mid-July to late October.
Tours vary in duration, style and vessel meaning there is plenty to choose from and your sure to find the right tour for you.
Swimming with the whales is operated by the Hervey bay Dive Centre but Quick Cat II also offer a swim with the whales experience during their whale watch cruise.
All whale watch tours depart from Urangan Boat Harbour in Hervey Bay.
Most of the tours depart from the Great Sandy Straights Marina in Urangan, Hervey Bay. The Hervey Bay Dive Centres Swim with the whales experience departs from the Boat Club Marina in Urangan, Hervey Bay.
The whale watching season in Hervey Bay runs from July - November. The whales start to arrive in July and tours begin in the middle of the month. By late October there are fewer whales in the bay and operators end whale watching on the 31st of October. However, whales can still be seen in to November.
The best time to whale watch in Hervey Bay is from early August to late September when the whales can be seen with their calves and are at their most playful and plentiful.
