EACH year about 7500 humpback whales pass the Gold Coast between June and the end of October. These magnificent giants of the deep frolic and play in the open waters off the Gold Coast for all to see, making it one of the premier whale watching locations in Australia

We’ve even sighted rare white whales for the last few years. The beautiful humpback whales begin heading north from the Antarctic to warmer oceans in June before heading back several months later

It usually takes three to four days to travel from Port Stephens in NSW to the Gold Coast, Queensland, with whales arriving on the Coast six weeks ahead of the Hervey Bay season.

The Gold Coast has a longer whale-watching season than Hervey Bay and because of our geographical location, the Gold Coast has whales passing through all season. It is one of the rare points on the East Coast of Australia where, from the middle of August, whale traffic heads in both directions past the Gold Coast.

It also sadly explains why Byron Bay – just south of the Gold Coast and today a haven of peace and spirituality – was one of Australia’s most active whaling stations in the 1950s and 1960s, killing more than 1100 whales before shutting down.

But these days, the only shooting of whales off our coast is done with cameras.

Whale watching is one of the most exhilarating and humbling experiences you can ever witness and is a must if you are on the Gold Coast during their season.

There are several whale watching boats and charters but to ensure you are getting the best value ask if they are members of the Gold Coast Whale Watching Association.

Most half-day tours cost between $85-90 for adults and full day whale-watching tours range from $120 to $130, but check out the package thoroughly to see if it suits your needs because details of each tour can vary greatly. (Some even play whale songs over the ship’s sound system) Several of the whale watching tours depart from the marina precincts around Marina Mirage, Main Beach.

There is plenty of free parking here and it’s only five minutes drive from the heart of Surfers Paradise. There are other launch sites as well, all conveniently located. Once aboard your tour you will head out via the Southport Seaway into the Pacific Ocean where the whales are migrating north and south.

The beauty of whale watching on the Gold Coast is that you don’t have to venture too far off shore to be right on top of the humpback whales,. They generally pass within a kilometre or two of the beach, making it easy to spot them.

Along the way you can expect to see dolphins, possibly sharks, plenty of other fish and even sea turtles.

A couple of cautions though. Whale spotting conditions are best on clam seas. If it is choppy, the giant mammals are harder to see. If you are susceptible to sea sickness, see your doctor or pharmacist beforehand for medication that will stop you from being queasy.

Good whale watching tour operators obey strict guidelines about how close they can approach the whales so our annual ocean visitors trust us and don’t fear the boats, meaning they often come right alongside to say hello (as whales do) and give onlookers the thrill of a lifetime.

Each year, the Gold Coast Bulletin photographers capture some of the most remarkable antics and play of the humpback whales with stunning images.