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Some questions that will help you with your trip
What types of whales will I see and will I see whales at all!
The most common whales seen on our cruises are humpback whales, we have seen Southern Right whales, Minkes, Orcas, and Pilot Whales – the most entertaining is of course the beautiful Humpbacks, we seem them every day.
Yes you will see whales – how many depends on the day - WE GUARANTEE that you will see WHALES every time – we have not missed since 2006 – that’s right every single time we see them – SO YES YOU WILL DEFINATELY SEE WHALES
What Else Will I See?
We often see common dolphins, they may come straight to the boat and swim under the bow. We often see bottlenose dolphins in the river, sometimes even before we leave the jetty, a variety of bird life, especially the fabulous Gannet, Terns, Albatros, Pacific Gulls, Albatros, Shearwaters.
Will I see Migaloo (the white humpback whale)?
Only if we are very lucky. Each whale swims past on their northern and southern migration, sometimes at night or when we are not out there and sometimes many miles out to sea. We saw Migaloo in 2005 and in 2009 off Coolangatta, we have connections up and down the coast and are constantly looking out for him. He normally goes past the Gold Coast in July and travels back again late September, we missed him last September 2009 by a few hours, but were lucky enough to see him on his way North on our 9am trip on the 1st July 2009. We missed him in 2010, maybe 2011 will be the one !!
How close do we get to the whales?
As responsible whale watchers we don’t approach to within 100m of the whales. That doesn’t mean the whales can’t come to us – they do. Whales often display a measure of curiosity – they will dive for a few minutes and come up where you least expect them, close to the boat! Be ready for anything. Most of our close encounters happen during August and September, when the water is calm and they are making their way south again – my favourite time.
What happens if it rains or we encounter bad weather?
Light rain is no problem, we have undercover areas and an inside cabin area with windows all around, so you can be warm and undercover. Bring a spray jacket if it looks like rain. In heavy rain and rough sea conditions we don’t go to sea, you will be offered a trip for another day or a full refund.
What about motion sickness, will it be rough?
We are on the ocean and it is always better to come prepared. Visit your Chemist for sea sickness tablets/remedies. We recommend Travelcalm originals or Kwells. We do not recommend Ginger. If you are still concerned, check with a pharmacist and eat lightly before embarking.
Are there toilets on board?
Yes
Is Morning or Afternoon better?
It really depends on the day, each day is different. Sometimes the wind is blowing in the morning but drops off in the afternoon and vise versa. The whales don’t seem to be more or less active as the day progresses, we always recommend morning trips as they nearly always go. Afternoon trips are number dependant.
What are the important things to look for in a whale watching boat?
1. Success - Experience - safety - you want a boat that sees the whales safely – do they see many(or any) whales on each trip? Do they offer a Guarantee? How long have they been whale watching?
2. What is their attitude over the phone – is it friendly and informative
3. Viewing space and decks – size of boat – facilities on board – can you get around the entire boat - especially up front of the boat – upstairs deck.
4. How long has the company been operating? What material do they provide for “first time” whale watchers. Will you learn anything
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