Best ways to see the humpbacks
Where to spot them this season
With the annual whale migration in full swing, there’s no better way to spend a lazy Sunday than by packing a picnic, and heading out to watch these majestic creatures frolic off the local coastline.
Some of the best land-based vantage points are Ballina North Wall, Ballina Lighthouse Hill car park, Angels Beach viewing platform, Flat Rock viewing platform, Skennars Head, Boulders Beach headland or Rocky Point, Pat Moreton Lookout at Lennox Headland, Broken Head, Cape Byron Lighthouse or further north, the Hastings Point headland.
If you want to get up even closer, consider a boat tour. Local operators include Byron Bay Whale Watching, who offer a three-and-a-half-hour tours departing from Byron Bay priced at $89 for adults and $69 for kids, with a portion of your fare going to whale research. The boat is equipped with a hydrophone so you can hear the whale song. www.byronbaywhalewatching.com.au.
Blue Bay Whale Watching offers whale watching trips departing daily from Brunswick Heads, with each tour going for a minimum of two-and-a-half hours. There’s even a money back guarantee if you don’t see a whale. Adults are $85 and children 5-12 $60. Family/group discounts are available. www.bluebaywhalewatching.com.au. Departing from Ballina is
Out of the Blue Adventures, who offer two to two-and-a-half hour tours around the Lennox Headland including a interpretive talk from a marine biologist. Prices: $99 for adults and $70 for kids under 12, www.outoftheblueadventures.com. Also try the Wild about Whales app, a NPWS smartphone app that allows you to see where the whales are in real time, publish your own sightings and share your whale shots. It’s available free on the App Store and Google Play.