Humpbacks at Hervey Bay

The coastal town of Hervey Bay, just 20 minutes from where the wedding was held in Maryborough, is particularly known for its whale watching.  Just off the coast there’s a channel where humpback whales pass every year as they migrate from their warm water breeding grounds further north back south to the Antarctic.  I was lucky enough that my time in Queensland was in the middle of their peak migration season, so there was a guarantee to see whales in the area.  So after bidding farewell to the newlyweds, who were Asia-bound on their honeymoon, I hopped on a boat for a few hours on the bay.  The whales certainly did not disappoint.  Nearly the whole time we were on the water there were spouts in sight, more often than not two–a mother and calf together.  Luckily for us watchers, the whales were pretty curious about us as well, swimming right up to and under the boat, slapping their tails and “rolling,” as if showing off.