Liz and Frank: Winter Whales

Yesterday was one to remember - the last day of winter, and we chose to go on a "Whale Watching" cruise from Urangan Boat Harbour at Hervey Bay. We were picked up by the company we chose - one of 8 Whale Watching companies operating here, and boarded the "Spirit of Hervey Bay" at 8.30 am.

We motored out past Fraser Island till we discovered the first lot of "spouts". We were lucky to see some 20 whales (all humpbacks) up close, in pods of 2, 3 and 4 - there was also a lot more activity further out, but there was no need for us to venture out - too much happening where we were.

Basically the pods we saw were the "teenagers" (immature - premating), the pregnant females turn up in September to calve (12 month gestation) and the big males turn up in October, mate with the females, straight after calving, then not long after that they head south to the Antarctic, babes and all.

They were very active and playful.

Each pod had a general "show off". The skippers keep their boats at a specific distance from the pods - WHEN THEY CAN! We came across a couple of very inquisitive teenagers who just loved this yellow boat. They played with our boat for well over an hour They circled, swam underneath our Catamaran, which was great as this vessel also had "underwater" viewing windows. Head out of water - is called the "SPY HOP'! The Skipper told us that the bigger of the two weighed approximately 25 tonnes, and would grow up to about 40 tonnes - the other player, was quite a bit smaller. Another much smaller Catamaran joined us. They spouted and rolled under both the boats then. We were late getting back, as it was necessary to wait until these teenagers became bored with this game - and left us, then the engines could be started without hurting these big fellas.

Motoring home past Fraser Island to Urangan Boat Harbour.

Some passengers told us how good the food was at the "Boat Club", so we decided instantly to go there for a late lunch.

After a superb and lowly priced lunch we sat out on the Boat Club's large deck, and had a long conversation with a couple who had immigrated from North Yorkshire some 40 years ago, very interesting people.