Whale-watching season begins in Australia

Australia's Gold Coast will prove a popular destination with wildlife lovers over the coming months as its whale-watching season gets underway.

From June to November, thousands of humpback whales embark on a migration that takes them along the eastern coast of Australia.

A number of companies offer whale-watching tours, including Sea World Whale Watch, which operates excursions departing every day, weather permitting, with departures at 11:00 local time.

The firm experienced a 100 per cent rate of whale sightings during its inaugural season last year.

Trevor Long, director of marine sciences at Sea World, said: "Whale-watching is a truly wonderful experience and it's something that everyone should do at least once in their lifetime.

"The humpback whale population that migrates along our east coast is growing by between eight and 13 per cent annually, and we are expecting to see about 12,000 whales pass the Gold Coast in 2009."

Travellers interested in visiting the east coast of Australia can catch flights to Brisbane, Sydney, Bundaberg and other cities with airlines such as Emirates, Qantas and Cathay Pacific.

Posted by Teddie, 29 May 2009 15:20

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