Visitors on whale boats are often surprised by how close the whales come to the boats. They are huge and inquisitive and seem to be as interested in us as we are of them. The whales are very active on Hervey Bay's shallow surface, and often slap their tails and fins on the water and execute magnificent breaches by lifting their huge bodies above the water. 

Humpback Whales occur worldwide, living in deep coastal waters and tend to breed in shallow water often between islands. Their migratory paths follow the shorelines from the tropics to the Antarctic. It is the longest migration of all whales.

The warm calm waters of Hervey Bay's "Platypus Bay" invite the Humpback Whales for a brief rest on their migratory path each year between August and October. This rest period gives the calves time to develop a protective layer of blubber so they can follow their mothers through the South Pacific and Southern Oceans to the cold Antarctic waters. When these mammals reach Hervey Bay they have travelled about 5,000 km from the Antarctic. After mating, birthing and fasting for several months, Platypus Bay is a restful haven.