The 2021 whale watching season is in full swing on the Sunshine Coast, with more than 35,000 humpback whales expected to migrate north through the region’s clear waters this winter.

The Sunshine Coast is home to some of Australia’s premier whale watching experiences, and was the first destination in Australia to offer a swim with humpback whales encounter. Since its launch in mid-2020 Saltwater Eco Tours has focused on sharing the stories, traditions and culture of the traditional owners of the Sunshine Coast – the Kabi Kabi people.

This winter, they are continuing to connect people with place with a new Cultural Whale Watching tour, departing Mooloolaba. The two-hour experience is led by Indigenous guide Aunty Bridgette Chilli who shares cultural songs, ancient stories and deep connection to these majestic ocean dwellers as they migrate through Sunshine Coast waters. The experience is run collaboratively with local business Adventure Rafting on board their vessel specially equipped with HD underwater cameras and an underwater hydrophone to live stream the whales as they play and sing. 

There are very few opportunities in life where you can come face-to-face with a humpback whale. But in the waters off the Sunshine Coast you can do just that, with Sunreef Mooloolaba offering Australia’s first swim with humpback whales experience. Sunreef Mooloolaba offer the swim with whales experience from July to mid-October. 

Living in such a pristine natural environment comes with a certain responsibility, and many of the Sunshine Coast’s whale watching operators are focused on much more than simply spotting these majestic mammals in their natural environment. With the whales migrating through Sunshine Coast waters to breed it’s not uncommon to spot a mother whale and her calf swimming past, making it an unforgettable experience. 

Whale Watching Experiences Here

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