Each year, between May and November, over 20,000 whales migrate North along the east coast of Australia in a stunning display of acrobatics. One of the best places on the east coast to catch these majestic creatures is Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) where you can watch them from both land and sea.
North Stradbroke Island is less than 2 hours from Brisbane and the Gold Coast, meaning you can choose to stay for the weekend or just go for the day. The island can be accessed via a ferry leaving from Cleveland or you also have the option of embarking on a whale watching cruise from Brisbane.
Yalingbila Tours is a new whale watching boat offering visitors of South East Queensland the opportunity to discover the sparkling blue waters of Minjerribah as they watch humpbacks leap from the ocean. The new boat leaves from Raby Bay Harbour and from Brisbane, making this one of the most convenient new whale watching tours for Brisbanites. The boat ride from South Bank in Brisbane takes about an hour and Quandamooka guides discuss the ancient history of the area as the boat meanders along the river.
What really sets these tours apart from others, is the cultural elements interwoven into the experience. Quandamooka guides tell stories about the surrounding islands and the bay as you venture out into the waters of Minjerribah. The tours leave bright and early from both locations in order to make the most of the day and food and drinks are provided and available for purchase on the boat, ensuring a comfortable journey.
Minjerribah isn’t the best whale watching location just for it’s tours though, with amazing land based whale watching activities to discover. Venture over to North Stradbroke Island between May and November and it’s almost guaranteed you will catch a majestic humpback on its annual journey, as sometimes up to 400 whales can pass by Minjerribah in only one day.
The best place to set up for some land-based action is definitely Point Lookout, thanks to the green grassy knoll looking out over the expansive waters of Moreton Bay. You will also have a birds eye view over the crystal clear water, so don’t just expect to see whales, the waters surrounding the island is also home to sea turtles, dolphins and dugongs.
So if you want to experience some of the best whale watching on the east coast, be sure to visit North Stradbroke Island this winter to witness these majestic creatures making their annual journey north.