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Date: May 2005
Location: Hervey Bay, Queensland Australia
Hervey Bay has long been known
as the whale watching capital of Australia,
but it seems these are not the only creatures being drawn to this waterfront paradise,
reports Jessica Reid.
With its pristine water, golden beach coastline and relaxed cosmopolitan atmosphere,
its no wonder the area boasts the second fastest growing population in Australia.
Five years ago, Hervey Bay was nothing more
than a laidback coastal village, but today this family-friendly destination is
quickly earning its place on the map.
Situated 320km north of Brisbane, Hervey
Bay is having to quickly redevelop itself to keep up with the constant influx
of people. The recent $13.5 million upgrade to the Hervey Bay Airport has made
the region much more accessible with direct daily flights from Sydney
and Brisbane.
With property prices also more than doubling in the last few years, its no surprise
developers have been quick to take residence in Hervey
Bay. And even with seven major developments underway and another eight awaiting
approval, the council remains determined to avoid the trademark city skylines
and prohibits any structures to be over six storeys high.
And while all these impressive developments take place on land, it is still the
magnificent whales which draw thousands of tourists to the area each year. With
guaranteed humpback whale sightings on all cruises during the season, Hervey
Bay is one of the few areas in the world that can afford to be so confident
about the success of their tours.
Every year from late July to November,
the warm Hervey Bay waters play host to
pods of humpback whales who each spend a few days R&R in the bay before continuing
south on their migration to the Antarctic Ocean. Visitors to the region can choose
from an aerial tour, or one of the many morning, afternoon, or full day whale
watching boat cruises, which depart the Urangan Boat Harbour daily.
From the harbour, the tours take a one-hour journey to commence their search for the ever-captivating whale. Cruising alongside dolphins in the crystal clear ocean makes it easy to forget the humpback search you are on. That is until a sudden blow of water breaks the oceans calm surface and signals the first spotting of a pod of whales.
Weighing up to 45 tonnes and measuring between 10 and 15 metres in length, adult humpback whales can be spotted from quite some distance. Once the boat has come as close to the whales as is permitted, everything is silent and anticipation fills the air.
With the ability to hold their breath for up to 30 minutes, it is easy to think the whales have disappeared. But then suddenly, in an awesome display of strength, these mighty creatures launch themselves out of the water and crash back in the ocean with a thundering splash. Moments later they are rolling around, waving their fluke (tail) and showing off right next to the boat. Then as quickly as they appeared, they disappear again and the boat takes off searching for the next pod.
During the cruise the captain will also drop a microphone under the water to project the whales eerie song. The romantic singing is thought to be some kind of courtship where the males may sing to the females for up to half an hour.
And even though all tours can guarantee whale sightings, they can never quite predict exactly what the whales will do. One pod might stay at a distance and only give a shy wave of their fins, but the next group will swim curiously right up to the boat and play within an arms length of passengers. But whatever the whales decide to do, their mere presence in the Hervey Bay waters promises an amazing experience to get up-close with these gentle giants of the sea.
On the journey back to the mainland, passengers will pass the World
Heritage-listed Fraser Island on their left.
Stretching over 120km, Fraser Island
is the worlds largest sand island and a place of incredible natural beauty. The
Islands unique ecosystem supports a diverse range of vegetation, all of which
grows from the sand floor. Habitats change so suddenly that one minute you will
be driving through a barren desert, while the next you are immersed beneath towering
palm trees in the lush rainforest. To view the island in its entirety, visitors
to Fraser can choose to four-wheel drive, camp or sign up for one of the many
guided tours, which showcase the islands hotspots.
The Fraser Island Company offers a variety of guided touring options including one day tours, exclusive tours and multiple day luxury camping safaris. Thats right, luxury and camping can belong in the same sentence when it comes to The Fraser Island Company.
Gone are the days of drop toilets, billy tea and sleeping bags, todays style of camping features dishwashers, queen size beds and even heaters for those chilly nights. But regardless of whether guests take a one-day tour or a camping safari, The Fraser Island Company operates all tours in custom-designed 4WD buses operated by experienced tour guides.
Richard Homans works for The Fraser Island Company and admitted he was so passionate about the island he could talk about it underwater with a mouthful of marbles. And he was not wrong! All guides have an incredible knowledge of the islands history, flora and fauna and are eager to pass on their enthusiasm.
Every Fraser Island tour travels along the islands 75 Mile Beach highway to visit the decaying Maheno Wreck, the freshwater Eli Creek and the beautiful coloured sand displays. With some other highlights of the island including more than 40 freshwater creeks and lakes and a myriad native wildlife, this piece of paradise offers something for everyone.
And after a hard day of whale watching or four-wheel driving, why not grab a bite to eat at one of the many restaurants or cafs surrounding the picturesque boat harbour. From ice-cream parlours to seafood buffets, coffee shops and alfresco dining, theres something here for everyone. Sounds tempting doesnt it? Sounds like Hervey Bay.
For more info on whalewatching, visit http://www.whalesherveybay.com.au or http://www.frasercoastholidays.info.
- By Jessica Reid
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