Monday, Aug. 01, 2005
The residents of the small seaside town of Hervey Bay in Queensland, Australia, are getting set for huge fun as the town's annual Humpback Whale Festival approaches (Aug. 6-13). A carnival and illuminated parade provide shore-based entertainment, but the real stars of the show are the humpback whales that visit this protected coastline between now and November, turning Hervey Bay into the country's top whale-watching location. The cetaceans are on their yearly migration from the warm waters off northern Queensland (where their calves are born) to Antarctica—and Hervey Bay is a favored stopover. There are dawn, half-day and full-day whale-watching tours, with expert commentary and refreshments, offered by an armada of boats throughout the season. Humpbacks are surprisingly agile for their size (the average adult is longer than 13 m and weighs about 30 tons), so expect to see lots of blowing, tail slapping and breaching (pictured). Australia's cuddly koalas and kangaroos usually hog the tourist limelight, but this is one time of the year when native wildlife just can't compete. For more information, visit
herveybaytourism.com.au.
- Liam Fitzpatrick
- Guest Stars from The Deep
