Whale of a deal on Fraser Island

THEY'RE on the move. The first humpback whales of the season have already been spotted heading north past Fraser Island.

THEY’RE on the move.

The first humpback whales of the season have already been spotted heading north past Fraser Island, on the way to their breeding grounds in North Queensland.

It’s an early start, which bodes well for a bumper whale-watching season during their return journey in August.

Hervey Bay’s whale-watching season runs from August 1 until the end of October with some of the most prolific whale spotting this side of the east coast.

Each year, an estimated 4000 to 5000 whales take time out of their migration down the Australian coastline and back to Antarctica to socialise, play and perform in the warm waters on Fraser Island’s lee side.

Kingfisher Bay Resort head ranger Colin Anderson said researchers believed this happened in only two places in the world: one is in Hervey Bay, the Australian whale-watch capital; the other, Hawaii.

“There’s no doubt the calm waters off Fraser Island offer some of the most jaw-dropping whale watching in the world,” he said.

“That’s why it keeps popping up in those ubiquitous ‘best experiences’ lists.

“And that’s why visitors come back year after year.

“It’s quite a show.”

Kingfisher Bay Resort, on Fraser Island’s western shores, is just a short cruise away from Platypus Bay and the humpback action, and is offering a whale of a deal this season.

The Fraser + Whales package includes two nights’ hotel accommodation with breakfast, half-day whale tour and return ferry transfers for $379 per person, twin-share, or $121 per child when sharing with an adult (some conditions apply). Plus, a bonus third night free applies in the resort for stays in August, September and October. Half-day whale-watch tours leave the resort daily from August 1 and cost $115 for adults and $70 for children.

For more information, visit Kingfisher Bay website or call 1800 072 555.

Originally published as Whale of a deal on Fraser Island