Hervey Bay is one of the world’s best places to see humpback whales up close. If you’re ready to plan your trip, these whale tours will float you into the best viewing zones and often get inquisitive, close encounters.

How to Optimise Your Voyage to see Humpback Whales

ARE YOU looking to go whale-watching? You’re not alone! Every year, more and more tourists flock to Australia’s east coast to see the annual humpback whale migration.

But, before you make the trip down to your desired destination, it’s important to understand the migration system of these creatures first.

Knowing when they are most likely to be around will help ensure that your experience is memorable; after all, who wouldn’t want to witness something so awe-inspiring?

In this blog post, we’ll take a deep dive into humpback migrations, what they mean, where they go, and why choosing the right time is so important for getting the most out of your next whale-watching voyage.

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Meet Humpback Whale Researcher Dr Wally Franklin

Humpback whales are fascinating creatures, and renowned marine scientist and Oceania Project co-founder Dr Wally Franklin can attest to that.

Dr Wally and his late wife, Dr Trish Franklin, dedicated more than three decades to studying humpbacks. While Dr Trish focused on their behaviour, Dr Wally delved into the statistics and scientific data behind their lives.

Humpbacks evolved into their present form millions of years ago and belong to the baleen whale group. Unlike land animals, they experience neutral buoyancy in the ocean, Dr Wally explained, only feeling the weight of their enormous bodies when they breach.

Their lives are largely governed by two things: breeding and feeding.

Female humpbacks generally give birth every two years and don’t experience menopause. Some, including Hervey Bay favourite Nala, have continued producing calves for decades.

Humpbacks breed in tropical waters around the Great Barrier Reef before migrating south to their Antarctic feeding grounds, where nutrient-rich waters support phytoplankton and Antarctic krill.

Eastern Australian humpbacks usually migrate alone or in small groups. In Hervey Bay, however, larger groups form as whales congregate to rest, socialise and care for calves and younger whales.

Understanding this annual journey between breeding and feeding grounds is key to understanding humpback behaviour.

How Humpback Whale Society Differs from Ours

There is a significant difference between the social organisation of humpback whales and humans, Dr Wally said.

Dr Trish completed a piece of work based on 361 whales, in which she documented sighting histories ranging from two to 25 years, that showed the migration was dominated by two groups of mature females.

First, there’s a group of mature females who lead the migration early. These females are either pregnant or taking a break from caring for their calves. They leave the breeding area first, usually in August and September, and they are accompanied by a young cohort of whales. These young whales are between one and six years old.

So, during the early part of the migration, these mature females travel and socialise with the immature whales. They all leave Hervey Bay by the end of August.

The next group to arrive in Hervey Bay was the mature females with new calves. They don’t start coming into the Bay until early September because it’s the peak breeding month up in the Barrier Reef and the mothers keep the calves up there until they are strong enough and developed enough to begin the migration south. By the time the females bring their calves into Hervey Bay, they are already a few months old. So, these mature females are at the back end of the migration.

There are also three groups of mature males mixed in with the females. There are mature males without lactating females, mature males with lactating females, and males of unknown maturity without lactating females.

The calves are sighted in Hervey Bay in September and October.

Dr Trish discovered these calves return as yearlings in August of the following year. As they grow older, they begin to join the migration later each year until they reach the age of six, when they become socially and sexually mature. By the age of seven, they start mirroring what the adult whales do.

Isn’t that incredible? Humpback whales have such an interesting social structure, and it’s so different from what we experience as humans.

The Matriarchal World of Humpback Whales

There is a significant difference between the social organisation of humpback whales and humans, Dr Wally said.

Research by Dr Trish, based on the sighting histories of 361 whales tracked over periods ranging from two to 25 years, revealed a migration largely shaped by two groups of mature females.

The first are females that are pregnant or taking a break from caring for calves. They lead the southern migration, arriving in Hervey Bay during August accompanied by younger whales aged between one and six. Here, the mature females travel and socialise with the immature whales before leaving the Bay by the end of August.

Next come the mothers with new calves. They generally arrive from early September, after spending the peak breeding period farther north near the Great Barrier Reef while their calves grow strong enough for the journey south. Mature males are also present throughout the migration, mixing with the female groups.

Dr Trish found another intriguing pattern. Calves seen in Hervey Bay during September and October return as yearlings the following August. As they grow older, they progressively join the migration later each year.

By six, they are socially and sexually mature; by seven, their migration patterns begin to mirror those of adult whales.

Isn’t that incredible? Humpback whales have a fascinating social structure, and one remarkably different from our own.

Why Female Humpbacks Remain Unmarked

Another discovery made by Dr Trish is the behaviour of humpback whales in groups.

There is a particular group known as the competitive group, believed to be a group of males vying for a single female. Dr Trish noticed something fascinating: the males in these groups exhibited strong agonistic behavior towards each other, which resulted in horizontal and lateral marks on the males’ bodies, but the female participating in the group remained unmarked.

This led Trish to identify non-agonistic social groups consisting mostly of young whales. These groups interacted with each other as they developed socially and also interacted with mature females. In Hervey Bay, these non-agonistic groups are present before the arrival of mature females with calves, who primarily interact with mature males who are seeking mating opportunities.

Dr Wally said the social organisation of humpback whales was comparable to nomadic indigenous groups in Australia. It lacks the traditional family structure found in our modern societies.

There is no evidence to suggest that humpback whales form family groupings, as do dolphins, orca whales, and humans. However, the bond between mother and calf humpbacks is well-documented.

Calves stay with their mothers for a full year, learning important skills such as how to feed on the Krill in Antarctica, and bringing them back to the point of origin so they complete a cycle of migration in their early life.

By the time the mothers get back with the calves towards Hervey Bay again, the calves are separated from their mothers and join the young cohort. Then it appears all the females are involved in looking after the whole of that young cohort.

It’s truly remarkable how humpback whales navigate their annual migration cycle, ensuring their calves thrive in their early life.

Unforgettable Encounters with the Humpback Whales

Whale-watching is an incredible experience that allows you to become enveloped in the fascinating world of these majestic creatures.

Specific steps can be taken to make your voyage even more memorable, from picking the perfect tour and time of day to properly preparing yourself beforehand so that you can make the most out of your experience.

Through strategic planning and some luck, you will be rewarded with a thrilling and unique encounter with humpback whales. Who knows? Maybe you’ll have one of those once-in-a-lifetime moments when a whale swims by only a few metres away from you.

Now, if that doesn’t sound like an unforgettable experience worth having, we just don’t know what does.

Be sure to check out The Oceania Project website at https://www.oceania.org.au/ for more fascinating information on humpback whales before embarking on your journey.

 

Photos by Jocelyn Watts, Hervey Bay, 2014.

Humpback Whale Migration Questions & Answers

Q: Where’s the best spot for whale watching in Queensland?
A: Hervey Bay is the ultimate place to witness whales in Queensland. It’s even considered the world’s first official Whale Heritage site, setting the standard for whale watching everywhere. However, humpback whales can be seen right along the Australian east coast from Antarctica to the Great Barrier Reef.

Q: When is the perfect time for whale watching?
A: Humpback whales migrate to Queensland between June and November. In the early part of the season, they travel north to the shallow waters of the Great Barrier Reef to give birth to their calves. Towards the end of the season, they bring their calves back to Antarctica. So, their return journey is when you’re most likely to see the calves.

Q: Do whales breach in the shallow waters of Hervey Bay?
A: Absolutely! Mothers use the shallow waters of Hervey Bay to teach their calves essential skills they’ll need in the deep and cold waters of Antarctica, so, in the latter part of the season, you’re likely to see mothers teaching their calves to breach.

Q: When is the best time of day to see humpback whales?
A: Humpback whales are most active in the morning and late afternoon, so those are the ideal times to catch them in action.

Q: What can I expect to see on a whale watch tour?
A: Whether from the coast or a whale-watching boat, you’ll be amazed by their impressive displays, like blowing, breaching, and tail-slapping. Sometimes, the whales may even come close to the boats and swim around them. While the boats maintain a safe distance, the whales might just come by to say hello!

See Vimeo film for examples of tail-slapping at  https://vimeo.com/106634103  and breaching in Hervey Bay at  https://vimeo.com/59781809

Whale season is short: July–October 2026, with peak sightings in August–September. Book your tour now to secure your date and avoid the rush.

Plan Your Whale-Watching Getaway

If you’re heading to Hervey Bay or another whale-watching destination, these trusted travel partners may help you plan your trip.

Stay Close to the Action

Oaks Hotels & Resorts offers comfortable accommodation in popular coastal destinations, including Hervey Bay, making it easy to enjoy whale-watching tours, waterfront dining and local attractions.

OAKS HOTEL

Explore at Your Own Pace

Whether you’re flying in or planning a regional road trip, Hertz Car Rental can help you discover more of the Fraser Coast and beyond.

HERTZ CAR RENTALS

Travel with Confidence

Unexpected disruptions can happen when travelling. AllClear Travel Insurance offers cover options, including for many travellers with pre-existing medical conditions.

ALLCLEAR TRAVEL INSURNCE

 

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