THE SOLO TRAVELLER
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Nature and Wildlife
Image courtesy Australia’s Coral Coast.
Following the ‘Humpback Highway’
By Tiffany West
Briefly …
As the annual humpback whale migration gets underway along Western Australia’s coastline, visitors once again have the opportunity to watch, and in some cases swim alongside, these remarkable marine mammals.
Just months after Cyclone Narelle forced the closure of parts of Western Australia’s Coral Coast, one of the region’s most anticipated wildlife events has returned. The annual humpback whale migration is now underway, marking another milestone in the region’s recovery and the reopening of visitor experiences along the Ningaloo coast.
“It’s certainly been a challenging few months for our community,” Jackie Brooks from Ningaloo Lodge tells us, “but seeing the wildlife thriving reminds us just how resilient this place really is. Our tourism operators are providing incredible experiences to visitors and there’s never been a better time to visit Ningaloo. Right now, visitors have the rare opportunity to swim with humpback whales and whale sharks alongside the region’s incredible marine life.”
Each year, an estimated 45,000 humpback whales travel along the Western Australian coastline during one of the largest annual whale migrations on Earth. The first whales of the season have already been sighted off Coral Bay and Exmouth, signalling the beginning of several months of whale encounters, cruises and guided wildlife experiences.
Image courtesy Australia’s Coral Coast.
For solo travellers seeking memorable wildlife encounters, Ningaloo remains the only place in Western Australia where visitors can join guided tours to swim with humpback whales in their natural environment. Tours have already begun from Coral Bay, while the Exmouth season is scheduled to commence in August.
“Tours have already begun from Coral Bay, while the Exmouth season is scheduled to commence in August.”
The timing also coincides with the final weeks of Ningaloo’s whale shark season, giving visitors the chance of encountering two of the ocean’s largest marine animals during a single visit. Together with manta rays, turtles and dugongs, they form the region’s well-known “Ningaloo Big 5”.
Australia’s Coral Coast Marketing and Tourism Development Manager Kelly Leonard says encountering humpback whales in the wild is an experience that leaves a lasting impression. “Few wildlife experiences compare to the moment you encounter a humpback whale in the wild. It’s one of those experiences that stays with you long after you’ve left the water. The overlap of humpback whale season with whale shark season makes this one of the most incredible times to experience Ningaloo and its iconic Big 5.”
Travellers who prefer to stay on board can also join whale watching cruises departing from Exmouth, Coral Bay, Kalbarri and Geraldton throughout the season. Breaching whales, tail slaps and playful calves are regularly seen as the migration continues north before returning south later in the year.
With humpback whale season now underway and much of the Coral Coast welcoming visitors once again, demand for tours and accommodation is expected to remain strong throughout winter and spring. Travellers planning to visit are encouraged to book well in advance.