The 2026 humpback whales are heading for Hervey Bay again. Season runs July–October, with the best encounters in August–September. If you’re ready to go, choose a tour and book early.

Celebrate humpback whale season in Hervey Bay

EACH Queensland winter, the calm waters of Hervey Bay become one of the best places in the world to see migrating humpback whales up close.

From July to October, thousands of humpback whales arrive in the sheltered waters between Hervey Bay and K’gari, pausing on their long journey south to rest, socialise and nurture their young before continuing on. It’s one of nature’s great annual spectacles — and a defining part of winter on the Fraser Coast.

The whale season traditionally begins with the Blessing of the Fleet in mid-July, a much-loved local event that marks the official launch of the Hervey Bay whale season and honours the region’s strong connection to the sea.

From there, the annual Hervey Bay Whale Festival builds on that excitement with a vibrant program of community events celebrating the return of these majestic visitors. Locals and visitors can enjoy marine discovery experiences, talks, touch tanks, live music, lantern-making workshops, art installations, community parades and family entertainment.

One of the festival’s most meaningful traditions is the Paddle Out for the Whales, a gathering of paddleboards, kayaks and surfcraft on the bay to honour the ocean and the humpbacks that migrate through these waters each year. It’s both a celebration and a reminder of the importance of protecting marine life for future generations.

Festival events also often recognise the deep cultural connection of the Butchulla people to sea country, with storytelling, art and illuminated marine displays forming part of the program.

While dates, locations and activities can vary from year to year, the festival’s purpose remains the same: to celebrate the whales, the bay and the unique bond between them.

For details, visit https://herveybaywhalefestival.com.au/

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Aerial view of a Humback Whale with her calf above her.

FIND OUT WHEN AND WHERE TO SPOT HUMPBACK WHALES

The haunting songs of humpback whales

As we welcome humpback whales back to the bay each winter, one of the most fascinating parts of their journey is something most people never hear — their song.

Male humpback whales are famous for producing long, complex songs beneath the surface, made up of moans, cries, grunts and repeating patterns that can last for up to 30 minutes and be repeated for hours. Scientists believe these songs play an important role in communication, particularly during breeding season, although much about them remains a mystery.

What makes humpback whale songs so remarkable is that they evolve. Whales in the same population sing the same song, but over time the pattern changes, almost like a tune being rewritten each season. Researchers have found these new “versions” can spread across oceans as whales interact with other groups along migration routes.

Here in Hervey Bay, the sheltered waters provide a rare resting place for mothers and calves, as well as younger whales and escort males. It’s often during these quieter moments that underwater microphones capture the haunting calls and songs drifting through the bay.

For whale watchers, hearing a humpback song live through a hydrophone can be one of the most unforgettable parts of the experience. It’s a reminder that beneath the splashes and breaches is a rich, unseen world of communication still being explored.

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.

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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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Photos: Shutterstock

The 2026 humpback whales are heading for Queensland again. Season runs July–October, with the best encounters in August–September. If you’re ready to go in Hervey Bay, choose a tour and book early.

Have a Whale of a Time on the Sunshine Coast

Each winter, humpback whales make their epic migration along Australia’s east coast, creating one of the country’s most spectacular wildlife experiences.

From June to October, thousands of humpback whales travel north from Antarctica to warmer waters, passing the Sunshine Coast before continuing towards Hervey Bay, K’gari and the Great Barrier Reef. Later in the season, many return south with newborn calves in tow.

For travellers, this creates two very different but equally memorable whale-watching opportunities.

On the Sunshine Coast, places like Mooloolaba offer front-row seats to the migration itself. It’s a chance to watch whales powering north, breaching, tail-slapping and socialising in open ocean waters. Some operators even offer swim-with-whales experiences, giving adventurous visitors the rare opportunity to enter the water and observe these giants up close, always on the whales’ terms.

Further north, Hervey Bay is often called the whale-watching capital of Australia for good reason. Unlike the passing migration seen off Mooloolaba, humpback whales often stop and rest in the calm, protected waters between Hervey Bay and K’gari. It’s here that mothers nurture calves, juveniles play, and escort males compete for attention, creating longer, more relaxed encounters for visitors.

Together, the Sunshine Coast and Fraser Coast form a remarkable whale trail, offering different perspectives on one of nature’s great annual journeys.

Whether you choose the thrill of open-ocean encounters on the Sunshine Coast or the intimate bay experiences of Hervey Bay, whale season is one of Queensland’s most unforgettable winter attractions.

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Whale watching: take the plunge!

Swim with whales cruises are restricted to a maximum of 15 participants, who are outfitted with wetsuits, fins, masks, and snorkels. whales - swimming with whales

The crew first spots the whales, then the vessel is positioned ahead of the humpbacks’ predicted route, and snorkelers enter the water and wait for the magic to happen.

“The rest is completely up to the whale,” Sunreef Mooloolaba’s Philip Hart said. “If they want to come to you, they come to you – and more often than not, they do. They’re just as interested in us as we are in them. They’re very curious creatures.”

Swim with whales cruises start from 1 July, with daily cruises (subject to conditions) through to October. Adult tickets include all equipment, expert commentary and guiding, and refreshments.

Visit Sunshine Coast CEO, Matt Stoeckel, said that the whale watching and swimming tours support Sunshine Coast’s reputation as a leading nature-based tourism destination.

“We know our whale experiences are top of our visitors’ to-do list across the winter months.”

More than just a migration

Humpback whales are among the most acrobatic of all whale species, known for their spectacular breaches, tail slaps and pectoral fin waves. Scientists believe many of these behaviours help whales communicate, play, or even dislodge parasites from their skin.

One of the most fascinating humpback behaviours is bubble-net feeding — a hunting technique where whales work together to herd schools of fish into tight circles by blowing curtains of bubbles beneath the surface. Once the fish are trapped, the whales rise through the middle with mouths wide open. While this behaviour is more common in feeding grounds like Alaska, it’s one of the reasons humpbacks are considered among the most intelligent and cooperative marine mammals.

Along the Queensland coast, visitors are more likely to witness behaviours such as breaching, spy-hopping and tail-lobbing during migration. Younger whales, in particular, are often playful, while mothers with calves can be seen teaching their young the rhythms of the journey.

This is one reason Hervey Bay has become such a prized whale-watching destination. The bay’s sheltered waters offer a kind of nursery and rest stop, allowing whales to slow down and spend more time at the surface. For photographers and wildlife lovers, that can mean longer encounters and more chances to observe natural behaviour up close.

Further south, the Sunshine Coast offers a different energy — the excitement of seeing the migration in motion, as whales push northward through open ocean waters on one of the longest mammal migrations on earth.

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

Planning a Whale Watching Trip?

Whether you’re visiting the Fraser Coast for a weekend or a longer Queensland road trip, whale season offers a chance to witness one of Australia’s most remarkable natural spectacles.

Bring a camera, pack a light jacket, and don’t forget to look up from the viewfinder occasionally. Sometimes the most memorable moments are the ones you simply experience.

Make the most of your Fraser Coast getaway with these travel essentials:

Stay Near the Marina

Many Hervey Bay whale watching tours depart from Urangan Marina, making nearby accommodation a convenient choice.

Oaks Hotels & Resorts offers a range of accommodation options within easy reach of Hervey Bay’s waterfront, restaurants and tour departure points.

OAKS HOTEL

Explore Beyond the Whales

Planning to discover more of the Fraser Coast before or after your cruise? A hire car makes it easy to visit Maryborough, Toogoom, Burrum Heads and other local attractions.

Avis Car Rental offers vehicle hire options for travellers arriving by air, rail or road.

AVIS CAR RENTAL

Travel With Confidence

Travel plans don’t always go exactly as expected. Travel insurance may help protect against unexpected disruptions, cancellations and medical expenses.

AllClear Travel Insurance specialises in cover for travellers, including many pre-existing medical conditions.