31 JULY 2026
This morning offered a quieter but no less memorable whale-watching experience, with plenty of incredible wildlife encounters along the way.
Just off Broughton Island, we spotted our first pod of whales. They were incredibly relaxed, spending long periods beneath the surface between breaths, making for a peaceful start to the day. As we continued around Fingal Island, we found another pod—a mother and calf steadily making their way south.
Adding to the excitement, a Jet made a low fly-by over the area before looping back around Fingal Lighthouse and passing overhead once more. It certainly looked like he had spotted the whales too!
The birdlife was just as impressive. Five majestic albatross glided effortlessly above the calm ocean, sharing the water with the quiet whales below. A real highlight was the appearance of a giant petrel—a species we don’t often encounter. It came so close to the boat that it almost landed on the rear platform, giving everyone an unforgettable view.
Although there was some whale activity further offshore, we chose to remain in the shelter of the islands where conditions were more comfortable. We spent time alongside two adult whales travelling at a leisurely pace. Their long surface times gave everyone fantastic viewing opportunities, and they rewarded us by swimming incredibly close to the boat, even crossing directly in front of us. We were also treated to a pod of seven playful bottlenose dolphins near Yacaaba Headland.