Whale Sightings

To make the most of the conditions this morning, we headed south this morning to avoid the larger offshore swell. Our first wildlife encounter came at Tomaree Headland, where we spotted a lone Australian fur seal resting along the rocky coastline—a wonderful way to begin the day.

Not long after, we located our first humpback whales, with several individuals displaying playful surface behaviours including pectoral fin slaps and tail slaps. These impressive displays are always a crowd favourite, sending spray high into the air and giving passengers a fantastic insight into the whales’ natural behaviour.

We soon came across a much larger concentration of whales, with approximately 15 – 20 humpbacks sighted throughout the cruise. Among them were two whales that appeared to be engaged in an exciting feeding frenzy.

Guests watched in amazement as the whales repeatedly surfaced with their mouths wide open, accompanied by energetic head lunges and powerful movements through the water as they appeared to take advantage of a feeding opportunity.

Witnessing humpback whales feeding is a relatively uncommon and unforgettable experience, making today’s encounters particularly special for everyone on board. The combination of dynamic surface activity and the sheer number of whales created an unforgettable morning on the water.

The afternoon cruise offered a more relaxed pace, with many of the humpback whales logging peacefully at the surface as they continued their migration north.

We spent time with a group of 8 – 10 humpback whales, and amongst them was a mother and her playful juvenile calf. The youngster delighted everyone on board with repeated breaches while staying close to its mother, creating a heartwarming display that had cameras clicking from every angle.

Adding even more variety to the afternoon, we were lucky enough to spot a green sea turtle and a pod of oceanic dolphins, rounding out an incredible day of marine wildlife encounters.

From rare feeding behaviour and playful calves to dolphins, seals, turtles and whales stretching across the coastline, today’s cruises showcased just how extraordinary the humpback migration has become. Every day on the water brings something new, and with whale numbers continuing to build, we’re excited to see what tomorrow has in store.

Photo credit: Lee Matthews Photography