From around July to October each year, the waters off Fraser Island (K’gari) turn into a genuine humpback whale highway. Around 30,000 humpbacks make up the east Australian population, and with the entire migration corridor running right past Hervey Bay and K’gari on the way to and from their Queensland breeding grounds, it’s estimated that as many as 7,000 or more pass close to the island in a single season. A mature humpback can weigh around 40 tonnes, and adult females grow to around 15 metres long. Mothers travelling with young calves are a regular sight, teaching them to breach in the calmer, more sheltered waters near the coast.
Grab the binoculars and take a seat on one of Orchid Blue’s top decks — the “Eagles Nest” loft level, with its 180° view from Waddy Point to Sandy Cape, is a genuine front-row seat to the migration without leaving the house.