The annual humpback whale migration is underway, with an estimated 45,000 humpback whales travelling along the Western Australian coastline each year, making it one of the largest whale migrations on Earth. The arrival of the season’s first humpback whales has signalled the return of one of nature’s greatest wildlife spectacles along Australia’s Coral Coast.
This week, Coral Bay Eco Tours celebrated its first humpback whale swim of the season, while Ningaloo Discovery recorded its first humpback whale sighting off Exmouth, confirming the migration has arrived at Ningaloo.
Between July and November, visitors have the rare opportunity to witness these magnificent marine mammals up close and, in some cases, even swim alongside them. Ningaloo Reef is the only destination in Western Australia offering guided humpback whale swim tours, providing a truly immersive wildlife experience in the crystal-clear waters of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed reef.
“Every humpback whale swim is unique, and in my opinion can be one of the most mutualistic interactions you can have in the water, said Ellie Farquhar, photographer for Coral Bay Eco Tours.
“They are such intelligent mammals, so every successful swim indicates their willingness to interact with us. This makes humpback whale swims feel like such a privilege”.
Tours commenced on 1 July in Coral Bay, with Exmouth operators preparing to begin their season in August. Adding to the excitement, humpbackwhale season overlaps with the tail end of Ningaloo’s whale shark season, creating the possibility of encountering two of the region’s largest marine species during the same visit.
Ningaloo is also home to the renowned Ningaloo Big 5; whale sharks, humpback whales, manta rays, turtles and dugongs, making it one of the few places in the world where travellers can experience such an extraordinary diversity of marine megafauna in one destination.
“Few wildlife experiences compare to the moment you encounter a humpback whale in the wild,” said Kelly Leonard, Marketing & Tourism Development Manager at Australia’s Coral Coast.
“It’s one of those experiences that stays with you long after you’ve left the water. The overlap of humpback whale season with whale shark season makes this one of the most incredible times to experience Ningaloo and its iconic Big 5.”
For visitors who prefer to stay dry, whale watching cruises operate throughout the season from Exmouth, Coral Bay, Kalbarri and Geraldton, offering spectacular opportunities to witness breaching whales, tail slaps and playful calf behaviour from the comfort of a vessel.
With humpback whale season now underway and visitor demand expected to remain strong throughout winter and spring, travellers are encouraged to secure tours and accommodation well in advance.
