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Byron Bay Whale Watching Guide
Byron Bay whale watching will always be one of the top three seminal pleasures for visitors here right on the edge of Australia's east coast. The remaining two involve beach-bums and hippies, so unless a visitor falls into one of those two categories, it's best to stick to the whales. These are humpbacks that arrive here for the winter after a dangerous and long journey from the icy waters of Antarctica.
Article Source: TravelFreeGuides.com
Byron Bay is technically within NSW, but it is farther from Sydney and closer to Brisbane which is only 165 km. Visitors coming here will find a holiday-loving beach resort with a sub-tropical climate. Not so long ago, this was a whaling station that waylaid and harpooned the gentle giants. But nowadays it is only the tourists armed with a zoom lens and sun-block who waylay the humpbacks.
The humpbacks and all sorts of marine life including bottle-nose dolphins, sea turtles and many migratory bird species can be seen here from June through November. From June to August, they head towards the Great Barrier Reef. From Aug-Nov, they retrace the route on their way back to Antarctica with new-born calves.
Tour boats are launched daily from Cape Byron. The whales pass by tantalizingly close to shore here, on their way to or from the Great Barrier Reef. There will be many tours scheduled throughout the day, and each tour lasts between 2 to 3 hours.
The main attraction is to watch the whale surface and blow water, and then splash back down with a mighty tail slap. As a bonus, passengers can use a hydrophone to listen to whale songs. They can also see the creatures under the surface using underwater cameras.
In addition to up-close contact with humpbacks, a trip to the Julian Rocks Marine Reserve may also be on the itinerary. Tour guides will be present to explain what the whales are doing and what passengers should do (or not). Many boats provide drinks and snacks, along with essentials like sun-block, life-jackets, etc.
All that passengers really need to bring along is a hat, camera and/or binoculars. For those who have never seen these gentle creatures up close and in person, Byron Bay whale watching tours can be a life-changing experience. It is part of the lasting charm of this place, and one of the reasons why so many visitors keep coming back every year - same as the whales.
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by: Byron Jonas
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Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2011 Time: 11:42 AM -
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