• Home
  • News
  • About
  • Privacy
  • Contact

All About Fraser Island

Everything a visitor needs to know

  • About Fraser
    • Fraser Island Facts
  • Island Attractions
    • Towns
    • Beaches
    • Rainforest
    • Lakes
    • Creeks
  • Barges & Ferry
    • Barges at Inskip Point
    • Ferry from River Heads
  • Accommodation
    • Caravan And Camping
    • Private Holiday House Rentals
      • Footsteps on Fraser – Orchid Beach
  • 4WD Driving
    • 4WD Vehicle Preparation
    • 4WD Sand Driving Tips
    • Best Tyre Pressure For Sand
    • Fraser Island Driver Etiquette
  • Fishing
    • Beach, Rock, Reef & Estuary
    • Finding Pipis
    • Beach Worms
    • Mud Crabs
You are here: Home / Island Attractions / Beaches / Fraser Island Whale Watching – Where To See Humpback Whales on Fraser Island

Fraser Island Whale Watching – Where To See Humpback Whales on Fraser Island

March 9, 2021 by Ursula Boston

Humpback Whale breaching off Fraser Island

Can you see Whales from Fraser Island?

Yes you can! Fraser Island is off the coast at Hervey Bay, which is one of the most popular areas in Australia where tourist go whale watching.

This makes, our island home, Fraser island ideal to see the great southern humpback whales as they migrate north.

Where to see Humpbacks Whales on Fraser Island

Best viewing spots on Fraser Island are :

  • Indian Head
  • Waddy Point
  • Platypus Bay

You can get a great view of the whales as they frolic in the waters off Fraser Island.

Indian Head Lookout

At Indian Head you can sit upon the huge cliffs and watch the whales playing and breeching with each other.

It’s a brilliant viewing platform. You see the whales right there. Sit and watch these majestic creatures. Take some great photos of them and soak in the spectacular views.

It’s also a good idea to bring your binoculars, some water and a snack because you might spend more time there than you planned.

Indian head lookout

Waddy Point

Another great viewing spot is the rocks on Waddy Point near Orchid Beach. It’s an easy climb up onto the rocks with a lovely view out into the ocean.

Often the whales will come in close to the point as they make their way into the calm waters of the bay.

Platypus Bay

Platypus Bay is on the western side of the island and can be accessed from Orchid Beach via the Wathumba track.

Not only is it a spectacular location with azure waters and white sand, but it is the playground for the whales and their calves.

This bay is where most of the tour operators come from Hervey Bay for spotting. Pack a picnic, put on your swimmers and spend the day watching the whales frolic about in crystal clear waters.

What to Bring Whale Watching?

We have listed some items you might need on a day of whale watching.

  • Binoculars and a camera
  • Hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
  • Food, snacks and a water bottle

Get yourself prepared as you might spend more time watching than you might have planned on.

Platypus Bay waters

What time of the year is whale watching season?

To see a Humpback whale up close is an amazing, intimate experience and an activity that is a must do if you are in the Fraser Coast region from;

  • Late July to early November

The whales leave the cold waters of Antarctica and make the 5000km journey north to their breeding ground in the warmer waters of the Queensland coast.

During the first few months of the season you will see pods of mainly adults and pregnant mothers.

Then in the later months as the whales turn around and venture back south again they will be accompanied by their newborn calves.

What is the best time of day to go whale watching?

There is not ‘right’ time to go whale watching. Whales can be spotted all day long on Fraser Island.

However, if you’re taking a whale watching guided tour, then the mornings is considered better. As the sea tends to be a bit calmer in the mornings. Which makes viewing a little more pleasurable.

Whale Watching Packages

Whale watching Tour Hervey Bay

Booking a professional and reputable whale watching tour is an unobtrusive way to have interactions with these mammals without having a negative affect on their habitat and lifestyle.

You will also be able to take some amazing photos and videos of your encounter watching the whales slapping and waving.

There are many whale watching tours to choose from in the Hervey Bay and Fraser Coast region.

The tourist information centres have valuable information on all the tours options that are available.

Online tour bookings at Whale watch, has a great Fraser Island whale watching package that comes highly recommended.

The special is called “Fraser + Whales package” and gives you two wonders in one; the up close and personal viewing of the humpback migration and 2 nights on Fraser island with accommodation from your base at Kingfisher Resort on the island.

PACKAGE INCLUSIONS:

  • 2 nights resort hotel accommodation twin share
  • Hot buffet breakfast daily
  • Return passenger ferry transfers ex River Heads
  • Half-day whale watch cruise (shuttle transfers leave from reception to the jetty head)
  • Once on-board, ask the Whale Cruise staff about purchasing an upgrade to a swim with the whales experience (and don’t forget to take your swimmers and a towel).
If you want to learn more about visiting Fraser Island, Join our email list for regular updates about what we have for you on the Island.
 

Note: Hotmail accounts will likely not get delivered unless you white-list our @allaboutfraser.com

Learn About Humpback Whales off Fraser Island

The Fraser Island Humpbacks belong to a group of mammals called Cetacea. This group includes all whales, dolphins and porpoises.

There are two distinct populations of Humpback whales, the Southern hemisphere Humpbacks and the Northern hemisphere Humpbacks.

It’s estimated over 1200 great southern humpback migrate north each year. They come from Antarctica to give birth to their young in the warm Queensland waters during our winter. Then they return south again (babies in toe) for the Antarctic summer.

They are majestic marine mammals. Warm blooded and breathe air just like other mammals. They also give birth to live young that suckle milk from their mothers.

Humpbacks are the 5th largest of all the whales and they can grow up to 15 meters in length and up to 4 Tonnes in weight.

They are easy to identify with their huge pectoral fins and a massive head covered in tubercles ( lumpy growths the size of golf balls ).

Humpbacks also have no teeth, instead they have hundreds of thin plates called Baleen.

They gulp huge amounts of water that is then filtered and sieved through the baleen that traps the food and expels the water.

Read More About Humpbacks Here


If you want to learn more about visiting Fraser Island, Join our email list for regular updates about what we have for you on the Island.
 

Note: Hotmail accounts will likely not get delivered unless you white-list our @allaboutfraser.com

ADVERTISEMENT

Filed Under: Beaches, Island Attractions Tagged With: Indian head, Inskip Point, Kingfisher, Platapus bay, Tourists, Waddy Point

A Little About Us

Kids and sandboarding – awesome fun on Fraser Dunes

We are the Boston family. Rusty, Ursula and our 2 daughters Summer & Lotus. We are long time residents and live permanently in the tiny township of Orchid Beach at the northern end of Fraser Island...
Read More…

Latest Articles

Fraser aircraft landing

Fly-in to Fraser Island Fly-in and Land on a Fraser Island Beach A must-do experience for any tourist is to take a scenic flight over Fraser Island and feel the thrill of landing on one of our … [Read More...]

  • All About Camping on Fraser Island : How To Get the Best Experience With All (K’gari) Fraser Island Camping Grounds
  • Fraser Island Fishing – Beach, Rock, Reef & Estuary Extreme Island Fishing on Fraser
  • Fraser Island Weather – Monthly Climate and Seasonal Conditions For The Best Time To Visit
  • Police Patrol Fraser Island – Be Prepared and Always Drive Carefully
  • Largest Sand Island – Fraser Island Australia
  • The Shipwrecks on Fraser Island
  • Taking a Caravan To Fraser Island – What You Need To Know Before You Tow
  • How Long Is The Drive From Hook Point to Orchid Beach?

Map Of Fraser Island

map-of-fraser

Looking For Something?

Copyright © 2022 All About Fraser All rights Reserved