We love this time of year in Noosa for so many reasons – one of them being the annual humpback whale migration. As the whales travel north up the east coast of Australia, they generally pass through Noosa on their way to the breeding grounds of Hervey Bay, and then again as they start their journey south to Antarctica with calves in tow. Usually we spot them anywhere between July and November, however some years we have seen them in June.
In our opinion the best place to spot them in Noosa is from the rocky outcrop of the Noosa National Park. Not only will you enjoy a spectacular walk with national park on one side and stunning ocean vistas on the other – but you also have the chance to see the resident dolphin pods, sea turtles and even the occasional koalas if you look up.
If you are heading in from the Noosa side of the park then we would suggest walking to Hell’s Gate (around 30-40 min), set up a blanket and make yourself comfy – and just observe the sea for as long as you have time. It may be a distant spray of seawater on the horizon or a mum and calf practicing their skills just off the park headland, but either way its usually an incredible experience to observe these majestic creatures in their own habitat. If you are heading in from the Sunshine Beach end then we would suggest battling the never-ending stairs and parking yourself at Devils Kitchen for a similar experience.
For those wanting to get up close and personal there are a number of boats that depart Mooloolaba, and dive specialists Sunreef do have a tour option that allows you to jump in the water as the whales swim past. In Noosa you can also hire kayaks and do a self-guided tour round the National Park, or if you have time head on a tour with Epic Ocean Adventures who run kayaking trips at Rainbow Beach. Check out one of our previous blog posts and see our awesome video when we did this ourselves and had amazing whale and dolphin encounters.
If you are like us and want to know more about the whales and why they love to visit us here in Noosa and the Fraser Coast, then we suggest listening to the Conversations podcast where Richard Fidler interviews Wally and Trish Franklin who have studied the whales extensively from Hervey Bay. Years of research later – the whales still remain somewhat of a mystery to them also.
We love the abundance of wildlife experiences on offer on the Sunshine Coast and would be happy to assist with private or group transport options within the region. Call the team at Hinter-Coast Transport today for your private group bus hire enquiry.
