| Whale watching on the east coast of Australia is fast | | | | cruise passengers. |
| becoming one of the most popular activities during the | | | | - Popular whale watch spots include Sydney, Jervis |
| Australian humpback whale migration season. Where | | | | Bay, Coffs Harbour, Port Stevens, Byron Bay and |
| is the best whale watching, and are there any | | | | Tweed Heads. |
| differences between watching the whales in | | | | Queensland |
| Queensland or New South Wales (NSW)? | | | | - Whales stop to breed or birth their calves in several |
| The humpback whales migrate along both the east | | | | locations from Hervey Bay through to Port Douglas. |
| coast and west coast of Australia to find warmer | | | | - Many choices for whale watch cruises to cater for |
| waters during the Antarctic winter for breeding and | | | | visitors to Queensland during the winter months. |
| giving birth to their calves. Humpbacks travel up both | | | | - In Queensland whale watch cruises must go out to 3 |
| coasts, stay for a while and then return to their | | | | miles offshore before they are allowed to commence |
| Antarctic feeding grounds for the summer. | | | | watching the whales. |
| The Australian whale watch season is approximately | | | | - Queensland has a more temperate weather during |
| from May to November each year. The whales arrive | | | | the whale watching season as it is closer to the |
| earlier in the southern part of the east coast and as | | | | equator. Water temperatures are warmer and visitors |
| late as July in far north Queensland waters. | | | | can enjoy warmer days on the water making it more |
| East coast whale watching is probably more popular, | | | | comfortable to watch the whales. |
| not because it is any better than the west coast, just | | | | - Queensland's south east coast whale watching |
| that there is a greater population and a greater density | | | | enjoys one of the longest whale watching seasons |
| of tourist or commercial whale watching operations | | | | with whales going in both directions during the mid |
| based at various points on this coast. | | | | season. |
| Most of whale watch cruises operate from NSW or | | | | - Popular whale watch spots include Coolangatta |
| Queensland. Here are some of the pros and cons for | | | | Tweed Heads, Gold Coast, Brisbane's Moreton Bay, |
| each location. | | | | Sunshine Coast, Hervey Bay, Whitsundays, Cairns and |
| NSW | | | | Port Douglas. In south east coast of Queensland there |
| - Often first to spot whales and the last to wave | | | | are many whale watch cruise operators . The two |
| goodbye at the end of the season. | | | | most popular areas are Hervey Bay and Gold Coast. |
| - No breeding grounds, the whales are mostly on the | | | | There are certainly far more opportunities to go whale |
| move either north or south. | | | | watching in Queensland. The weather is usually |
| - In NSW whale watching boats are allowed to watch | | | | warmer and kinder to the whale watchers too! |
| whales at any distance from the shoreline. | | | | My advice? Wherever you are, if there is an |
| - Water and daytime temperatures are cooler further | | | | opportunity to go see these magnificent creatures get |
| south therefore less comfortable for whale watch | | | | out there and enjoy it. It is an experience of a lifetime. |