Top/favourite whale encounters #3
So here we are now with my TOP 3 whale encounters. Hilariously, these have all happened either ON or around my birthday. I’m not saying that has anything to do with anything but… 🤷🏻♀️😜
#3 Held hostage by P!nk-loving whales!
I realise most of you are probably going “What the hell is she sniffing?” 😂 Allow me to explain.
Late last July, a couple of days after my birthday, I went out whale watching with Tweed Gold Coast Dive Charters (owner Dave, his wife Tammie plus there were a few Instagram friends also on board!). We left from Tweed, hit the open ocean at the Tweed Bar (basically right beside the NSW/QLD border), and headed further offshore in search of humpies.
And then we proceeded to have our MINDS BLOWN for over 3 hours.
Top/favourite whale encounters #4
Here we go – bucket list time!
#4 My first time swimming with the whales! (August 2019)
Did you know you can swim the whales right here in Australia? There are a few operators on both the east and west coasts that run whale swim tours, so you don’t even need to leave the country (or, in my case, state)! There are rules about how/when to enter the water or how many people are in the water at once, but if you follow the rules you can have one of the most breathtaking experiences. EVER.
Top/favourite whale encounters #5
The next in this series of my top/favourite whale encounters is a little special because it was QUITE unexpected.
#5: My THIRD encounter with MIGALOO! (September 2017)
You are reading that correctly. I’ve actually had THREE encounters with Migaloo and this one happened only two months after my second encounter with him! 😮
We weren’t actually expecting to see him – last I’d heard he was way up north on the reef somewhere around the islands – so I don’t think anyone was even looking for him. And then THERE HE WAS.
But allow me to backtrack a little…
Top/favourite whale encounters #6
Continuing on from yesterday’s post, next on my list of top/favourite whale encounters is…
#6: My second encounter with MIGALOO! (July 2017)
Yes, I have been lucky enough to have MORE than one encounter with the famous white whale. 😁 For those who don’t know about Migaloo, he’s an all-white humpback whale that generally migrates up and down the east coast of Australia. His name means ‘white fella’ and he was named by the Aboriginal elders of the Hervey Bay area.
The White Fella
Migaloo just hanging for us at the Seaway Our encounter this day was planned, to an extent, as we’d had reports that Migaloo was making his way north and was due on the Gold Coast in the next 24 hours or so. I headed out in the morning with Whale Watch Australia in hopes we could find him…
Top/favourite whale encounters #7
Well, it’s World Environment Day and what better time to start this next series of posts! I’ve been whale watching since 2007 but this is my 10th consecutive year. 😊 Today (and every day, lbr) I’m talking WHALES. Specifically, I’ll be counting down my top/favourite whale encounters. So without further ado…
#7: SUPERPODS and HEAT RUNS!
Part of the 2015 superpod I’ve had two encounters with superpods (or competition pods) – the first consisted of 10 whales (2015), the second was 13 whales (2017)! 😱
Try and picture 10+ 30-40 TONNE (yes, TONNE!) animals charging through the water after a female, competing for mating rights. If you’re having trouble imagining that, don’t worry – it’s hard to visualise but go for ‘whale washing machine’ with a lot of huffing and grunting and you’ll be close. 😂
