Ride the Humpback Highway in the Sunshine State

It’s cold down south, so the gentle giants of the sea are migrating north to warmer waters and they’re happy to say hi along the way. Welcome to the Humpback Highway!

I’ve never seen a whale up close, so when Spirit of Gold Coast invite me to get my ‘whale song’ on to attract a friendly humpback encounter, I jump right on board.

Who could say no to this?

Running until November, Spirit of Gold Coast provides a 2.5hr whale-watching experience set on a comfortable 24m catamaran that’s custom-built for spotting humpbacks. The boat offers 360-degree views over two decks, which allow you to see the whales from every angle. This is handy, as they’re an acrobatic bunch who like to move around!

I’m a keen bean to get as close as I can, so I pop myself outside at the front of the boat (not recommended for weak stomachs). With the sun beaming down, the cool breeze, and some playful dolphins guiding us to our destination, there’s a moment of relaxation. But the feeling is short-lived, as the crew announce that they’ve picked up something on the radar and urge us to begin our ‘whale song’. Maybe I’m a bit off tune, but our new orca friends decide to tease us by hiding below the surface a little longer. I hope I haven’t offended them!

Stunning weather, perfect for whale spotting 🙂

Suddenly we see a huge white shape below, and I shriek thinking it’s the infamous Migaloo! The ‘White Fella’ hasn’t been spotted off the Gold Coast since 2009, but is expected to pass by within the week. My excitement subsides slightly as the whale breaches and I discover that the white was just their belly; all the same, I’m in awe.

Note the scale of the boat against the whales – these beauties are HUGE!

These creatures blow my mind: they’re mammoth in size, gracious, intimidating, and majestic all at the same time. It’s a first encounter that I’ll never forget.

We cruise alongside the pod for well over an hour in the hopes of seeing them breach. However, although they’re curious enough to bob their heads by the boat, slap their tails on the surface and give a good spray with their blowholes, today’s humpbacks aren’t too fussed on dancing about :(.

The Surfers Paradise skyline sets the scene for our whale show

As we continue to cruise, the staff brag about their most memorable encounters and share their knowledge of the life and habits of humpback whales. It’s clear from their tales that each trip is unique, so I’ll definitely be coming back for more. Next time I might even see Migaloo!

Book a Spirit of Gold Coast whale watching tour for yourself.

Have you had a memorable whale encounter? Share it with us in the comments!

• Flights to the Gold Coast
• More Gold Coast experiences
• Gold Coast hotels