They call it the Humpback Highway. Each year, between June and November, more than 17,000 humpback whales make their annual migration up the east coast of Australia.
The whales head north from Antarctica up to calve in the warm waters of the Whitsunday Islands between July and August and then use the journey home for the baby calves to learn life-skills required to survive in the cooler waters of Antarctica.
The travel experts at Cheapflights.com.au had a whale of a time, research the top spots along the Australian Eastern seaboard to see these gentle giants of the ocean.
The humpbacks complete the longest migration of all whales, covering more than 10,000km (5000km each way) and an average swimming speed of two knots per hour on their way north and a cruising speed of up to five knots on the homeward stretch, there’s plenty of places for whale watching.
Bruny Island, Tasmania
A short drive from Hobart will take you to Adventure Bay where the whales regularly stop to take shelter. The best time for whale watching here is between May and July on their journey north and then again between September and December when the whales are on the last leg of their passage home to Antarctica.
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Susan Sullivan, Public Relations for cheapflights.com.au Media Release
